The herald., 1898-03-03
CANAL SHARpS
PLEASED WITH THE OUTLOOK
IN NICARAGUA
DETAILED REPORT NOT READY
But the Commissioners Are Convinced
of the Entire Feasibility Of the
Great Project
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, March Frank S
Washburn has returned from Central
America where he went with party OF
thirteen to investigate the feasibility
Of the Nicaragua Canal construction.
Among the party We're It. L. Cragin Of
Chicago, and L. T.. Cooley, an authority
on ship canals and the chief engineer of
the Chicago Drainage Canal. Accom-
panying these men were the representa-
tives of nine contracting firms who have
been asked to make proposition to the
syndicate represented by e. L. Cragin
for the construction of the Nicaragua
Canal. Mr.. Washburn said last night
that the committee would be ready to
report to the syndicate in about month.
"As a summary of our opinion" he
added, Il may say that from nearly all
points of view our impressions were
more favorable than we anticipated and
we found conditions better than have
been heretofore reported. The matters
which bear directly upon the question
of the practicability of the canals con-
struction and the cost and the care in
it's maintenance are climatic conditions,
rainfall, labor and the governments Of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. AS regards
the climate, there seems to be no reason
why the work cannot he as well con-
Quoted, so far as the health of the labor
ers is concerned, as in the more favored
portions of our own country. Our OBJ
servation convinces us that the difficult
ties due to rainfall are fully offset by the
frosts in the northern parts Of our coun-
try
1--WE found that the native laborers are
excellent pickers and shovelers and the
record of imported labor from Jamaica
and the Southern States is excellent
1t should be remembered that no labor
can accomplish as much in that country
as in our own. This fact, however, is
partially offset by lesser wages. 1t is
impossible to say what the rate of wages
would be when 10000 or 10000 men are
required for employment on the canal,
but at the present time common labor
in Nicaragua receives what Is equiva-
lent to so cents in gold day.
"There seems to be no fever, except
ing at Greytown, the Atlantic port of the
canal, where we are assured that fatal
case is the exception where men observe
the ordinary rules of health and abstain
from the excessive use Of alcohol. OF
$500 laborers engaged for a year on a
railroad through the
swamps from Greytown, only three
died."
COMMISSION WORK
NEW YORK, March "A letter to
the Herald from Rivas, Nicaragua, says: |
The Canal Commission has finished it's
work on the division of the canal pro-
ject between Lake Nicaragua and the
Pacific, and will cross the lake on the |
Victoria on special trip today or to-
morrow. The revolutionary outbreak
delayed the commission five days, the
Victoria not being available, as the gov
ernment was using the steamer for
troops.
A preliminary report on the canal pro- |
ject could be made, should it be request !
ed, for the present session of Congress |
1t would state that the canal is wholly |
feasible, although specific reports as to
the more important features could not |
be made.
The cost of the canal, based on the
study and observation made up to the |
present time, is reckoned at about $1O0,
oVV,VVVs <AAAANlAS dI OdH SdTIOS, LN5
party will go down the San Juan River
as far as Ocfoa, proceeding from this
point into Greytown, over the line of the
canal. The line has been cleared and
several we'll provisioned camps estab-
ished for the use of Admiral Walker
and his party. The commission will
make thorough observations of the
of the country generally, as
we'll as Of that Immediately concerned
in the canal line.
The present survey will result in a
map, showing 1000 feet
width across the western division, save
n localities where the higher land pre-
walls.
The present is the dry season on the
western side, and it is an open question
whether work on the rainy side or
whether work on the dry side is pre-
'erable. The Alert. whose owners are
o make survey at Brito, similar work
% that now being done by the officers
# the new port at Greytown, arrived
It San Juan del Sur on the night of
February %. The Alert was detained at
Acapulco on her voyage down from San
francisco for week in consequence of
he illness of Lieut.. Young. Lieut..
danus, in his survey and soundings of
Big Lake, has made some interesting
md important discoveries. SURVEYS
# the coast line have developed the
act that the shore line of the lower
md runs out into the lake five miles
urther than existing maps show it. In
'ther words the lake at this point is
i've miles shorter than it mas previously
,een held to be-.
Lieut. Hanus has also found a 3O-foot
hannel running three miles nearer to
he San Juan River entrance at San
,arlos than present plans or charts
how. This would mean a reduction of
hree miles in the amount Of dredging
o be done in the river to deep water in
he lake. While camped at La Flor. the
commission studied the coast line at
3rito. There is no harbor at Brito.
There is merely an indentation of the
coast line. but the construction and
of a harbor are not re-
r0rded aS dif7cu1t