The evening times., 1899-12-20

greSS may not even wait Tor the nnal re-
port OF the Isthmian Commission. as it is
generally believed that the route from
Greytown to Brito is more desirable than
that from Colon to Panama. 1t is also gen.
orally believed that the appointment of the
Isthmian Commission was dictated prima-
rily for the purpose of delaying the con-
struction of the Nicaragua Canal.
Very early in the next century We will
see ships sailing right through Central
America" said Senator on the Canal
Committee yesterday.
The idea Of cutting waterway across the
American isthmus is an old one. 1t was
contemplated early in the sixteenth CEN
tury, when the early navigators, psrceiyiny
the narrow neck OF land separating the two
oceans, were impressed by the advantages
that would follow TO commerce should a
canal be opened through it.
Favorable Features Presented.
A. G. Menocal,. chief engineer of the
Nicaragua Canal Construction Company. in
paper before scientific society, said that
the Isthmus of Panama, being the mar
rowest part of that strip of land. and
Nicaragua, on account OF the evident nat
ural facilities presented by the lake and its
outlet, the River San Juan, have always
been the main points of attraction as pos
sessing the most favorable features for do
ing the work, and as early as 1850, the
Portuguese navigator Antonio Galvao pro-
posed four routes one of which was by way
OF Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River,
and another through the Isthmus of Pan
anna.
AS the confguration of the isthmms be-
came better known, the belief in the prac-
ticabiiity of joining the two oceans by a
canal gradually increased. AT the begin
ming Of the present century Humboldt,
who had studied the problem on the
ground, endorsed the project as feasible
and later, through the united efforts Of the
Central American countries. the great ques-
tion began TO assume well-defined shape.
No surveys had been made. 1t was evil
dent also that the expenditure of a large
sum Of money would be required and
while ii was universally admitted that
the canal would be OF great benefit to the
world at large, it was not equally clear
that the probable traffic seeking it would
be sufficient to pay interest on the capital
invested
The gold discoveries following the acqui-
sition of California by the United States
and the rapid development of the vast
commercial and agricultural interests of
the Territories lying on the Pacific Slope.
eNerted powerful influence in attracting
importance of the canal. What had until
then been regarded as a humanitarian
scheme or geographical desideratum, be-
came political and commercial necessity.
and the attention of American statesmen
capitalists, and scientists was at once di-
rected to finding the most practicable solu-
tion of the problem.
An Old Concession.
There is vast amount of literature on
the canal in the room of the Committee
on the Nicaragua Canal. In one of the
little pamphlets telling of the growth of
the plan to connect the great oceans by
an inland waterway. there is one which
shows that while the idea of establishing
the link between the Atlantic, and Pacific
has for centuries been recognized as the
only means of satisfying all the require-
ments of commerce, there were not only
great geographical and financial problems
10 be overcome. but political ones as we'll
Americans. anxious to meet the increasing
demands for means of communication be-
tween the two oceans consequent to the
rapid development of the Pacific Coast
turned their attention TO an overland route
and having obtained concession from the
Republic of New Granada in 1S49. organ
lied a company and entrusted the surveys
for railroad to Col. G. W. Hughes and
J. c. Trautwine. well known civil en-
gineers.
This was the first authentic survey made
across the isthmus, and resulted in the
Of the Panama Railroad be-
tween 1850 and 1855. In the mean time the
Government of the United States had or
dered reconnaissance of the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec. and by diplomatic negotia-
lions with Nicaragua encouraged and sup
ported, it is said. the organization of the
Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company,
which company had obtained from Nicara-
qua the right to build canal. and pending
the completion of the work to establish
he Pacific Ocean by way of the River San |
Juan and Lake Nicaragua.
Col. o. W. Childs in 1850 examined sew
,ral routes between Lake Nicaragua and |
he Pacific Ocean, and TO him is given cred |
t for the discovery of the lowest depres- |
zion in the COrdilleras between the Arctic |
Sea and Cape Horn. Through this divide |
lie located a route for the canal, extending |
rom the mouth of the River Lajas. on |
he west shore of the lake. to the port of |
3rito. on the Pacific. the main features
If which have stood the test. it is said,
II many subsequent surveys and rectifica-
ions in that region. and il is believed to |
ave been incorporated in the plan of the |
inal location of the canal across that coun-
ry.
Report of q Former COmmission.
There have been many American ex-
lorations on the isthmus from Tehuante-
'ec to the Gulf of Darien. and even now
he Isthmian Commission has a large ex-
'loring force at work in the Darien re-
ZION. Isthmian explorers were especially
ctive during the Administration of Pres
dent Grant. The Commission appointed by
President Grant in 1872 to report upon the
arious plans submitted by the surveying
arties consisted of Gen. A. A. Humphreys,
'hief Of Engineers, U. s. A.: c. p. Patter-
on. Superintendent of the Coast Survey,
nd Commodore Daniel Ammen, Chief of
he Bureau of Navigation, Navy Depart
nent.
This Commission reported on February
1876, that after a long, careful. and
minute study of the several surveys of the
arious routes across the continent, we
report that that known as the
Nicaragua route possesses both for the
obstruction and maintenance of a canal |
reater advantages and offers fewer diff |
ulties from engineering, commercial. or
economical points of view than either of
he other routes shown to be practicable
y surveys sufficiently in detail to enable
judgment to be formed of their relative
lerits."
There were four routes considered by the
commission. These weer the Tehuantepec.
ne Nicaragua, the Panama, and the Altra.
,-Napipi.
The survey OF the Nicaragua route by