New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-09
DATA FOR CANAL WORK
WHAT THE SURVEYS IN NICARAGUA
SHOW
INFORMATION EMBODIED IN LETTER TO COM


Commander J. W. Miller has just received a letter
from his son. Henry Wise Miller. who is one Of the
engineers In the surveying party engaged on the
route of the Nicaragua Canal 1t Is dated 'in
camp" Brito. Nicaragua, March 20. and the part OF
It which is Of public interest is follows:
The Nicaragua Canal may be roughly divided into
q waterway of three radically different Characters
tics namely: % Canal and excavation: 90 an arti-
the Lake Of Nicaragua: 80 the River San Juan.
A traveller through the completed canal will find
as Commonly understood and in order 70 get an idea
Of the varying features Of this project let start
route until we reach Brito.. the western terminus
Succession Stretch of lagoon heavily tim6ered val
ieys flooded and converted into a lake: sixty-four
inland sea- Lake Nicaragua and through narrow
canal on the west of the lake. traversing low arid
after descending the locks. we reach the Pacific
A word first as to the surveys and commissions
canal through Nicaragua. using the San Juan and
the lake for 40 Of the 10 miles of the route
1850 ISL and ISL which was sent down to Nca
' win he 4 y d III M s
company had established trans-isthmian commun-
II. United States e eRpe daeS und
Commando ID .h duil !. s His expedition had
Menocal. who had been chief civil engineer under
the Lul survey made a REORGANIZATION OF the route
The Tar eeC Cnna COMPANY has had
survey parties in the field from 1887 to 1899.
CONSENSUS OF OPINIONS
For Just hf,y years surveyors have been inves-
tigating the possibility OF a canal through Mica
ragua. and the project decided upon by the first
has. with inconsiderable modification though with
some additions. been that settled on by the company
finally organized TO build the canal. This company
commenced work In 1887 and stopped in 1898 owing
harboT Of GTeyiown was opened ana tine, quarters
OF a mile OF canal and eleven of railroad Wee bu
The last investigation to record was that or the
Ludlow Commission OF 1895. Colonel Ludlow and
es b ssns Sg ne ces Of
struction OF the route OF the Maritime Canal Com
passed the senate in January 1855 The report Of
the Ludlow Commission was based personal
The Boards letter Of ,Tansmtta coutains this
Else cs e m sc
sion Of the features Of the canal project Although
the report of the Ludlow Commission made such a
high estimate of the probable cost that the canal
pase IN tne feS OF e9n on four
triSuted over the line. was sent to Nicaragua with
instructions to submit report that should be fina
THE FIRST THREE LOCKS.
Commencing at Greytown. let US review the line
In all probability II will be raining hard-it Ia apt
10 rain In Greytown twelve months IN the year-as
quit the heavy surf Of the Atlantic to pass the
lighthouse marking the entrance TO Greytown Har-
Dor. For ten miles the canal goes straight back
across the country through swampy land to the
foot hills OF the East Divide.
and these. within space OF six miles. raise US TO
the summit level lcs feet above mean tide After
Lock No 8 Is passed steamer may go IA miles be-
fore having 10 pass through another .s ,,.n.,,
side form one of the heaviest and most expensive
parts Of the work deep cut tnrongn
enters the San Francisco basin The site Of the
basin now is heavily timbered valley drained by
the San Juan. which runs parallel to the canal it
Is proposed to fern an artificial basin twelve miles lies
nciency OF data relative 10 the eaugng Of the water
ssphs party Of
camps and four sauging stations on the san FIHn
Commission also thought that the danger OF for.
eign Power destroying the entertainments in time OF
hypercritcal for. as Admiral Walker recently said
a stick Of dynamite under any Of the locks would
destroy the canal as efectualy.
~ THE DAM ON THE SAN JUAN
We have now reached one of the main features OF
fhe canal company's project. This is the dam at
Ochoa the San Juan. three miles below its juno
tion with the San Carlos which will submerge the
valleys Of both rivers and convert them into arms OF
shs Valley al viii 0ise rye a
water highway from within sight OF the Caribbean
s. Of Of rock IN the
and the marking OF the channel by buoys and lights
finding Of suitable Site Of rock bottom for the
DAM Up TO the time OF the oorngs 81 the d pres
The boring party made its first camp at Ochoa ana
IN two weeks reported sucent nS Oh be
same time Mr.: Eble. who with his party had made MADE
WITH With the intention Of looking for suitable site
should the one a: ochoa prove impractlcable re-
We'll. 1t is unnecessary to enter into the relative
advantages Of the two spots; suffice II that the
rardeG as now satisfactorily solved.
We may. then, confidently assert that tne Co i.
G sion. '0' '''' 'N' ' '
INCREASED COST DUE TO MUD.
A provso should be made. however. Recent ad-
vices from Mr. Noyess boring party in the San Fran
cisco Basin report mud depth Of fifty feet below
sea level at the site OF the entertainments. which
will considerably increase the cost there
Engineers in charge OF the work at Ochoa Will
find all necessary. data concerning the discharge
as the first camp OF the photographic party was sta
toned there to remain probably tor year 10 cone;
may be well TO say word as to the auxiliary work
The United States steamship Newport. which
brought the Commission to Greytown has rem aine d
: survey party has completed the topography.
Alternate routes having been suggested 10 ne
valley OF the San Francisco parties were put IN the
field to make investigation Of the region about the
Discovering another route but as the chIet engineer
puts H. 10 bring i to regaf S1noTi es o, river
navigation brings us to Lake Nicaragua which Is
~ miles long aPe 81 e end from the San
Here we find Meutsnant parry c6eased m
OF four officers and Twelve DiueJdcacts csaS tror,
two steam launches brought by the Newport Lieu
tenant Hanus has found a deeper ana straghter
enamel than was supposed. Crossing the lake we
mass the island of Ometepe. with its two volcanic
peaks, rising over mile high and It's excene er,
OF the western end OF the canal
AT THE WESTERN END.
The appearance Of the country In this region has
corn,e;ey changed instead Of the thick forest and
uninhabited regions. with only an occasional
+batched hut on the bank Of the San Juan. we find
-, tho west side that tho country is low and roll
ING the trees sparse. with clurnps Of adobe houses
rooted with large tiles every few miles; dry and
nleasant weather has taken the place Of the In