The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-30

/
text of the preliminary report of the Mic
aragua canal commission was to1ay made
public It is as follows:
Department Of State,
Nicaragua Canal Commission,
Washington, D. c., Dec. IS.
| The Honorable, the Secretary Of State,
Washington:
Strive have the honor TO acknowledge
! the receipt of your letter of the 18th in
| slant, enclosing a copy Of resolution OF
| the senate of the 18th of December, re-
| questing report Of the progress made by
| this commission in investigating the ques-
| ton Of the proper route, the feasibility and
cost of construction of the Nicaragua
cana
This commission has understood the
law, by which it was constituted, approved
June 4, 1897. TO require that al lroutes here
tofore proposed having any merit, are 10
be considered, new routes that appear 10
have merit are TO be developed. and the
entire region Of canal possibilities to be
examined with sufficient thoroughness to
enable a just and comprehensive COMPARE
son of the various routes to be made and
the most desirable one selected In short.
to enable this commission to make COM
plete and exhaustive report.
with this in view. the commission Wis
tied Nicaragua, personally examining the
entire canal region from ocean to ocean,
and employed some seventy engineers,
with their laborers and helpers. for ten
months, in making careful surveys and
examinations of the canal region. Some
meteorological and Neurological observers
are still continued in Nicaragua with
view to obtaining full year of observa-
tons of that nature.
The required field work has been OBJ
tanned The reduction of this field work,
together with the compilation and COM
parison of former surveys going back near
ly fifty years has been in progress for
more than two months.
1.-The commission believes that the con-
struction of a canal across Nicaragua is
entirely feasible.
THE estimates for two of the best known
characteristic routes have been nearly
completed. These routes are known as the
Maritime Canal companys route and the
Lull route. Their estimated cost is APP
proximate.y 1924 900. 600 and SIPS, 900 900, re-
spectively.
THE assumed dimensions are consider
ably greater than ever before proposed,
both in length of locks and in width, depth
and radius of curvature of canal. These
increased dimensions have been made nee
essary by the demands of modern com
merce, size and draft of modern ships, etc.
This has necessarily made a corresponding
increase in the estimated cost and in no
way inconsistent with the estimates made |
from former surveys which contemplated a
much smaller and cheaper canal. A canal |
of smaller dimensions, just sufficient fer |
present needs, is being estimated for. Such !
a canal would cost considerably less than |
the estimate for canal suitable for mod |
ern necessities, which is referred to above |
at is the opinion of this commission that |
of the two routes herewith estimated for |
the one called the one called the LuI |
route is the more desirable, because it is |
easier of construction, presents no prob
lens not well within good engineering pre-
cedents, and will be a safer and more re-
liable canal when completed. It also be- |
lieves that the dimensions and form of |
construction preferred by the commission /
are better than the cheaper FORM with |
smaller dimensions, which would undoubt-
edly call for expensive improve gents with
in a short time after its completion.
Both of the routes referred to above
admit of variants which may reduce the
costs. These are now being considered by
the commission. The work necessary for
an exhaustive discussion of and report up
on the entire canal problem is being
pushed as rapidly as its great magnitude
permits and, when completed. the report
will be submitted without delay.
I'VE are, sir. with great respect, your
obedient servants,
u. I. WALKER, 22s
Rear Admiral T. s N, President.
LEWIS W. HAUPT.
civil Engineer. Member.
81 concur with the other members of the
commission in respect to the construction
work and feasibility of the canal, but I
think. in view of the increased size Of the
canal estimated for and dicuIties incident
to work in tropical countries. that the
estimate is lower than It should be bv
about 90 per cent
PETER C HATNES.
Colonel Corps of Engineers -