The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-30
TWO ROUTES ARE PROPOSED.
NICARAGUA CANAL COMMISSION Es-
INMATES THE COST

INMATES THE ~OST
VIII Cost About SI24,OOO,OOO to DuiId
Canal Suitable for Modern Ne
cessities-A Smaller Canal for Or
binary Trade Can BE Built for Less
Money-Hains Thinks the Commits
sion's Estimate of Cost Too Small.
Washington. Dec. 29.-The fun text of
the preliminary report of the Nicaragueu
canal commission was to-day made public.
Ii is as follows:
Department of State. Nicaragua Canal
Commission, Washington, d. c., Dec. 20,
1S9S.-To the Honorable. the Secretary of
State. Washington: Strive have the hon
or to acknowledge the receipt of your let
ter of the 10th 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 in
vestigahng the question Of the proper
route, the feasibility and cost of construc-
ton of the Nicaraguan canal.
This commission has understood the law
by which it was constituted, approved
June 4, 1897, to require that all routes
Thereafter proposed having any merit are
to be considered; new routes that appear
to have merit are to be developed and the
entire region of the canal possibilities 10
be examined with sufficient thoroughness
to enable a just and comprehensive COM
parison of the various routes to be made,
and the most desirable one selected. In
i short to enable this commission to make
complete and exhaustive report.
With this in view. the commission visit
ed Nicaragua, personally examined the en-
tire canal region from ocean TO ocean,
and employed some seventy engineers
with their iaborers and papers for ten
months, in making careful surveys and eX-
aminations of the canal region. Some me-
| teorological and Psychological observers are
still continued in Nicaragua, with a view
to obtaining fun year of observations
of that nature.
Their Estimate of Cost.
The required field work has been obtain
ed The reduction of this field work, to-
gether with the compilation and comparl-
| son of former surveys going back nearly
| fifty years, has been in progress for more
| than two months.
The commission believes that the con-
| struction of 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 estimated cost is APP
proximately S124OOOOOO and $128 600 re-
| spectively. The assumed dimensions are
| considerably greater than ever before pro-
| posed both in length of locks and in width
and radius of curvature of canal.
These increased dimensions have been
| made necessary by the demands of mod
| ern commerce, size and draft of modern
ships, etc. This has necessarily made a
| corresponding increase in the estimated
| cost and is in no way inconsistent with
| the estimates made from former surveys
which contemplated a much smaller and
! cheaper canal.
Smaller Canal Would Cost less.
A canal of smaller dimensions, just suf-
| icient for present trade, is being estima-
| ted for. Such a canal would cost consid-
| erably less than the estimate for a canal
! suitable for modern necessities, which is
| referred to above
1t is the opinion of this commission that,
of the two routes herewith estimated for,
the one called the Lull route is the more
| desirable, because IL is easier of con-
| struction, presents no problems not well
within good engineering precedents, and
will be a safer and more reliable canal
when completed 1t is also believed that
| the dimensions and form of construction
preferred by the commission are better
than the cheaper form with smaller d-
mansions which would undoubtedly call
! for expensive improvements within a short
time after its completion.
Roth of the routes referred TO above
admit of variance which may reduce the
cost. These matters are now being con-
sidered by the commission.
l. The work necessary for an exhaustive
discussion of and report upon the entire
| canal problem is being prepared as rap
idly as its great magnitude permits, and
| when completed, the report will be sub
| mitted without delay.
We are sir, with great respect, your
| obedient servants.
j. Z. Walker Rear Admiral, U. S. N,
President of Commission.
Lewis N. Haupt,
Civil Engineer, Member.