Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-02
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL
Difficulties Of Construction Not So Serious as
Reported.
WOULD COST A HUNDRED MILLION.
The Canal Commission Has Now Finished
Its Work between the Lake
and the Pacific.

to investigate the feasibility OF the
canal construction. Among
the party were Il. l.. Craign of Chicago
and L. Il. Cooley. an authority on
shipeanals and the chief engineer of
the Chicago Drainage canal. Accom-
these men were the represon-
tatlves of nine contracting firms who
have been asked to make a PROPOSE
ton to the syndicate represented by
Il. l.. Craign for the construction of the
Nicaraguan canal. Mr.. Washburn
said last night the committee would be
ready to report to the syndicate in
about IA month.
''As summary Of our opinion" he
added, 81 may say that from nearly all
points of view our Impressions We're
more favorable than we anticipated
and we found conditions better than
have been heretofore reported. This
matters which bear directly upon the
question of the practicability OF the
canals construction and the cost and
the ease of its maintenance are climat-
ic conditions, rainfall, labor and the
governments of Nicaragua and Costa
Rlca. AS regards the climate, there
seems to be no reason why the work
cannot be as well conducted so far as
the health of the labOrers is concerned.
as in the more favored portions OF
our own country. our observation con-
vinces us that the difficulties due to
rainfall are fully offset by the frosts
in the northern parts OF our country.
I'VE found that the native laborers
are excellent pickers and shovellers
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 Nlcaras
qua receives what is equivalent to so
cents in gold day. The republic OF
Nicaragua will be affected by the canal
in Il greater degree than Costa Rica.
The conservative party which was in
power until n few years ago, and the
liberal party. which Is now in power,
are enthusiastic friends of the canal.
They of course. realize the tremendous
advantages which the canal would
bring to all the people of Nicaragua.
THE government Of Costa Rica., views
the advantages of the canal similarly.
though in n less degree. All the ex-
pressions received from the president
and his cabinet were friendly to the
canal. but we surmised that the present
strained relations and consequent
jeaiousies between Nicaragua and
Costa Rica prevented the same active
interest on the part of President Igles-
las of Costa Rica, as was present in
the attitude of President Zelaya of
Nicaragua.
"'There seems to be no fever. except
ing at Greytown, the Atlantic port of
n fatal case is the exception where
men observe the ordinary rules of
health and abstain from the excessive
use of alcohol. or $500 laborers en-
gagged for n year on u twenty mile rail
road through the swamps from
Greytown, only three died.
WORK OF THE COMMISSION.
New York, March IA letter to the
Herald from RiXas, Nicaragua, says:
The canal commission has finished
its work on the division of the canal
project between Lake Nicaragua and
the Pacific, and Will cross the lake on
the Victoria on Il special trip today
or tomorrow. The revolutionary out
break delayed the commission five
days, the Victoria not being available,
as the government was using the
A preliminary report on the canal
project could be made, should 1t he
requested, for the 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 one
hundred million.
Arriving at San Carlos, the party
will go down the San Juan river as far
as Ochoa. proceeding from this point
into Greytown over the line of the
canal. The line has been cleared and
several well provisioned camps es-
tablished for the use of Admiral
Walker and his party. The commits
sion will make thorough observations
of the topography OF the country gem
orally, as well as of that Immediately
concerned in the canal line. ]. w. G.
Walker and his party have moved
their camp from San Pablo, on the La
Jar, and are now several miles further
westward, the canal line being cleared
inland from the lake for about six
miles. The party is working under in
to determine that the canal
line as laid Mt present Is the only line
and the cross sections are being run
one thousand feet on either side of the
line.
The canal company's cross sections
were run 400 feet The present survey
will consequently result In topo-
map showing two thousand
feet width across the western division
save In localities where the higher land
prevails.
The present is the dry season on the
western side and II II mn open question
work on the rainy east side or
work on the dry west side IL prefera-
Bile. Walkers party has experienced
great difficulty in cutting its way
through the very heavy underbrush
and the progress has been consider
ably retarded In consequence.
The Alert, whose owners are to make
a survey Mt Tlrito. similar work to that
now being done by the officers of the
Mt Greytown, arrived at San
Juan del Sur on the night of February
O. The Alert was detained at Acapulco
on her voyage down from San Fran
cisco for n week In consequence of the
illness of Lieut., Young. Lieut.. Hanus.
In his survey and soundings OF the big
lake. has made some Interesting and
important discoveries Surveys OF the
coast line have developed the fnct that
the shore lire OF the lower end runs out
into the lake i've miles further than
the lake ut this point In five miles
shorter than II has previously been
held to he.
Lieut.. Hands has also found 30-foot |
channel running three miles nearer to |
the San Juan river entrance at San |
Carlos than present plans or charts |
show. This would mean a reduction OF |
three miles in the amount of dredging !