The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-11
A STRONG CASE.
Made Out in Favor of the Panama
Canal by Gen Abbot.

New York, Jan 11.-GeneraI Abbot says
the new plans for completion of the PaPn-
anna canal are perfectly feasible and that
the canal can be completed in one-half
will take to dig the Nicaragua canal.
Were the two routes completed today
said General Abbott, Eight vessels to one
would prefer the Panama route, because
it is only 46 miles across and the Nicara-
qua course will be four times that length
and the windings of the San Juan river
are very short and sharp.
There is no reason why this country
should not take hold and finish the Pan
anna canal. President Mckinley has re-
port Of the International technical commits
sion, and the present status of the canal
Comment of the Nicaragua project by this
government and the completion by the
United States of the Panama route.
have been called to Washington for con-
sultation and can talk intelligently on any
subject !i95s concerning the canal
ably the most authoritative document ever
has been prepared With the greatest care.
after the most thorough and competent
Investigation and examination, with most
exhaustive surveys, which cover every
foot of the ground to be treated and by
the most experienced engineers of five
LENGTH OF THE CANAL
''The total length of the Panama canal
is 49, miles, Including 8-S5 miles dredged
in the Pacific deepwater. The profile of
high summit from which the ground
slopes gradually, although irregularly, to-
ward the low ground adjacent to the sea.
THE portions of the canal adjacent to
the sea have been eXcavated and although
the Chagres river has been for years
flowing through them they can be partial
ly utilized. At the present time the top
ography of all the grounds involved in the
project and the character of the materials
to be encountered are accurately known
and delineated; deep and extensive exca-
vations, well soundings and borings,
have made known the subterranean strata
means mean no no doubt is left left as to the soiide
ness of the materials through which, the
canal is to be dug to get depths and on
which the foundations of the locks dams
and other structures are to be established.
Sixteen different plans have been worked
out in detail, including estimates of cost
and time needed for construction. 1t is
on these complete data furnished by the
local engineers and by the observations of
its own members on the isthmus that the
FIRST PLAN FAILED.
pany was to build canal without locks,
freely open from ocean to ocean, but
after eeyerad years OF + york the plan was
walton necessary to cut the central mass
of the mountains (the Culebra) and the
care of the occasional torrential flow of
the river Chagres. The alternate plan
pany is to reduce the material to the
depth of the central excavation and to
establish therein system of locks, to be
properly regulate the flow of the river.
dams will be erected. One of the dams
of locks on the Atlantic side. This dam
will transform the Chagres into a vast
lake, which Oh will extend to Obispo, dis
of over q miles. The dam, besides act
ing as a regulator of the Chagres flood.
canal traverses the bed of the river, an
extremely important matter for ocean
'5rhe other dam will be located at Alba
juela the upper Chagres, about 1-3
miles from the canal. 1t will form PES