Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-30
NICARAGUA CANAL REPORT.
Views of walker Commission
scheme Entirely FeasabIe.

Ncntme .1utiftiy GFA>hbl's
WASHINGTON. December 29.-The full
text Of the preliminary report Of the
Nicaragua Canal Commission was to-day
made public. It IS az follows:
department OF state, Nicaragua Canal
Commission, Washington, d. c., Decem-
Der 2G. 1898 To the Honorable, the Sec
retaIy Of State, Washington, ID. c.: Sir
We have the honor 10 acknowledge the
receipt OF your letter Of the 18th instant,
inclosing a copy Of a resolution Of the
Senate of the 15tr Of December. request
ing a report Of the progress made by this
commission in investigating the question
Of the proper route. the feasibility, and
the cost OF construction of the Nicaragua
canal This commission has understood
the law by which il is constituted, ap-
proyed June T. 1897, 10 require that all
routes heretofore proposed having any
merit are to be considered; new routes
that appear 10 have merit are 10 be de-
veloped. and the entire region OF canal
possibilities to be examined with sutii-
rient thoroughness 10 enable just and
comprehensiye comparison OF the various
routes 10 be made. and the most deslra-
bile one selected. In short, to enable this
haustiVe report.
SCHEME ENTIRELY FEASIBLE.
"The required ie!d-work has been OBJ
tanned The reduction of this held-work,
together with the compilation ana com
parison of former surveys gong Dack
nearly fifty years, has been in progress
more than two months. The commission
believes that the construction OF canal
across Nicaragua is entirely feasible.
"The estimates for TWO of the best
Lnov,n routes have been nearly completed.
These routes are known as tho Maritime
canal Company's route and the Lull route.
Tbair estimated cost is approximately
1924 go 600 and Sl23. 100000, respectively. The
assumed dimensions are considerably
Greater than ever before proposed, both
i'm Length OF locks and i'm width depth. and
radius Of curvature OF the canal. These
increased dimensions have been made
necessary by the demands OF modern
commerce. the size and draft OF modern
sbins etc. This has necessarily made a
corresponding increase In the estimated
cost. and Is ia no way inconsistent with
the estimates made from former surveys,
which contemplated much smaller and
cheaper canal. -.
I.ULL ROUTE BEST.
eft IS the opinion or TINS commission
that of the two routes herewith estimated
Cor The one called the Lull route Is the
more desirable, because II is easier OF
construction, presents no problems not
well within good engineering precedents,
and will be 4 safer and more reliable
canal when completed II also believes
tbot the dimensions and form Of coHtruc-
tion preferred by the commission are bet
Ter than the cheaper form. with smaller
6inensions. which would undoubtedly call
for extensive improvements within a
short time Of its completion.
"We are. sir. with great respect,
''Your obedient servants.
y. T.. WALKER,
"Rear-Admiral United States Navy, Presi-
dent Of Commission.
LOUIS NJ HAUPT.
civil Engineer, Member"
NON AS TO COST.
81 concur with the other members Of
the commission in respect TO the progress
~ tho work and feasibility OF the canal,
Inn, / think. In view Of the increased size
~ th. canal estimated and the difficulties
Incident 10 the work in tropical countries.
that the estimate is lower than II should
be by about % per cent.
PETER G. HAlNES.
colonel, Comps or Engineers, Member"