The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-30


Of the preliminary report Of the Nicara-
guam Canal Commission was to-day made
public. 1t is as follows:
Department of state,
Nicaragua Canal Commission,
Washington, d. c., Dec 2G, 1898.
70 the Honorable, the Secretary Of
State, Washington. d. c.:
Strive have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt Of your letter Of the 18th
instant, inclosing a copy Of a resolution
Of the Senate OF the 18th OF December,
requesting a report Of the progress made
by this commission IN investigating the
question Of the proper route, the teasi-
biiity and cost of construction OF the
Nicaraguan canal.
This commission has understood the law
by which 1t IS constituted, approved
June 4. 1897, 10 require that an routes
heretofore proposed having any merit are
to be considered, new routes that appear
to have merit are 10 be developed, and
the entire region Of canal possibilities TO
be examined with sufficient thoroughnesS
10 enable a just and comprehensive com
parison of the various routes TO be made
and most desirable one selected In
short. to enable this commission to make
a complete and exhaustive report.
PERSONALLY INSPECTED.
with this in view. the commission Wis
tied Nicaragua personally, examined 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 I'M Nicaragua with
view 10 obtaining "a full year OF Observa-
tions of that nature.
The required field work has been OBJ
tained.
4 FEASIBLE PROPOSITION.
The reduction OF this field work, to-
gether with the cooailation and compar-
ison of former surveys, going back near
ly fifty years, has been in progress for
more than TWO months. The commission
believes that the construction 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 Company's
route and the Lull route Their estmat-
ed cost is approximated at Sl2i 10000 and
Si230 10000 respectively. The assumed di-
mensiOns are considerably greater than
ever before proposed. both in length Of
locks ana III Width htpkh anu tddihS
Of curyeture Of canal. These increased
dimensions have been made necessary
by the demands of modern commerce,
size and draft of modern ships, etc. This
has necessarily made corresponding
increase in the estimated cost, and is in
no way inconsistent with the estimates
made from former surveys which con-
templated a much smaller and cheaper
canal
A SMALLER CANAL.
A canal Of smaller dimensions. just
sufficient for present trade, & being esti-
mated for Such a canal would cost con-
siderable less than the estimate for a
canal suitable for modern necessities
which is referred TO above.
10 Is the opinion Of this commission.
that Of the two routes herewith es;i-
mated for. the one called the Lull route
Is the more desirable. because il Is easier
Of construction, presents no problems not
well within good engineering precedents.
and will be "A safer and more reliable
canal when completed. IL also believes
that the dimensions and form OF con-
structiOn preferred by the commission.
are better than the cheaper form with
smaller dimensions which would un-
doubtly call for expensive Improvements
within a short time Of its completion.
MAY BE VARIED
Both OF the routes referred 20 above
admit OF variance. which may reduce
the cost These are now being considered
by the commission. The work necessary
for an exhaustive discussion OF and re-
port upon the entire canal problem is be-
ing pushed as rapidly as its great mag
nitude permits ana. when completed. the
report will be submitted without delay
We are. sir. with great respect,
Your obedient servants.
j. r.. WALKER,
Rear-Admiral. U. S. ~, President Of
Commission.
LOUIS NJ HAUPT.
Civil Engineer. Member.
concur with the other members OF
the commission in respect to the progress
Of the work and the feasibility OF the
canal. but think in view Of the increas-
ed size Of the canal estimated and the
difficulties incident to work I'm tropical
countries. that the estimate is lower than
il should be by about 20 per cent
PETER G. HAINES,
Colonel. Corps Of Engineers Member.