The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-08
TRANsIsTHMIAN cANAL pRoBLEM.
Objections To and Advantages OF the
| Nfcaraguau Plan.
Col. wv. N. LUDLOW. u. s. A.. in Harper.


Col. w. M. Ludlow, U. S. A.. in Harper.
The physics of the route are UNIQUE
Near the northern border of Nicaragua tbs
Cordlllera separates into two branches, one
closely following the Pacific coast line the
other diverging towards the Caribbean
both with diminished elevations, and en-
closing between them the broad valley oc.
eupled by Lake Nicaragua and the smaller
Lake Managua, the former covering some
ZOO square miles, and the latter hVe or SD
hundred. The water shed of the TWO IN
cludeS about twelve thousand square miles
the surplus drainage of which escapes iron
the southeast corner of the larger lake
forming noble river, the San Juan wnlcI
has course of 120 miles. with an average
fall of about ten inches to the mile, and dis
charges into the Caribbean through an ex-
tensive delta. During the rainy season the
river has q powerful flow, and is navlgaole
for light-draught steamers, but in the dry
season 1t is obstructed by sand bars IN tne
lower reaches, by several rapids OF conslo-
cradle extent, and by shallow channels In
the upper reaches.
The Surface elevation Of the lake above
the sea varies with the seasons, with an
indicated maximum range of twelve or Iour-
teen feet, and an average low stage OF ABOUT
102 feet above mean sea level. Its western
shore is only twelve miles from the racine,
and the height of the intervening divide.
154 feet above sea, is the lowest that has
between the lake and the Pacific has been
thoroughly surveyed, and there are no Serl-
GUS obstacles of any kind to the construc-
ton of a canal from the lake to Brito, winch
would complete the waterway between the
two oceans, with a total length OF lIO or lSO
miles, The natural advantages OF this route
via the river and lake are conspicuous, ana
have claimed attention from the beginning;
The main disadvantage is the absence or
terminal harbors Greytown, the Caribbean
outlet, was formerly a fine harbor with
thirty feet depth OF entrance and anchorage;
but the advance Of the delta and the drift or
the waves and littoral currents nave en-
Veloped the entrance with sand bar, ana
converted the harbor into shallow lagoon,
with not more than four or hVe rect or
water on the bar
At the Pacific end the conditions are also
difficult the natural harbors in that vicln-
ity, owing to formidable intervening eleva-
tons, are not accessible from the lake by
canal, which must therefore have its ter
minus at Brto, mere indentation IN the
coast line, with deep water snort dis
lance seward. AT both ends, therefore,
adequate harbors must be created; IN the
one case by massive breakWaters construct
ed in the open Pacific Of such materials and
dimensions as shall withstand the ocean
surges and in the other carved out of the
delta by extensive dredging, and protected
by piers of such extent as to prevent chok-
ing by sand drift.
Another formidable difficulty is the rain
fall. hich at Greytown eXl eeds that known
elsewhere on the western continent OBJ
servations for the three years 1890, 1891 and
1892 gave a minimum of ga inches, an aver
age of 267, and a maximum of 297-nearly
twenty-five feet of water. On the Paclnc
side these amounts for the years 1880 and
1894 are reduced to a minimum OF thlrty-tWo
inches, mean sixty-five and maximum !0o.
In fact, the conditions on the western size
of the lake are in several respects far more
favorable than on the eastern The climate
is drier, the country more level and open,
communication much easier. and the popu-
lation is mainly grouped there. The soil
is of volcanic origin, and wonderfully fer
tile, with a wide range of natural food
products On the Atlantic side the coun-
try is practically wilderness of steep clay
hills and swamrs, densely forested, and
drenched with moisture, through which the
river is in effect the only thoroughfare.
In accordance with the recommendation
made by the commission of 1925, Congress,
in the act of June 4, 1887, has provided for
a second commission to finish the investi-
cation and make final plans and estimates.
This commission is now in the field fully
equipped for it's work, and there is reason
to believe thato within a year or two it
will be possible to decide how the Nicara-
qua canal should be built and what 1t will
cost and which of the two great rival
projects, Panama or Nicaragua, will be the
first to get itself completed, and constitute
the most notable achievement in the annals
of engineering.