New-York tribune., 1899-06-01
COST OF THE GREAT CANAL.
REPORT OF THE WALKER NICARAGUAN
COMMISSION.
AN ESTIMATE OF siiS1is'7" SUBMITTED
COLONEL HAMS GIVES HIGHER


1,,n,rston May 31--The State Department
4. A.. made public an abstract Of the report
- .ha Nicaragua Canal Commission as present
-, Admiral Walker the head OF the Commits
s,or II is understood to be the intention of the
president TO submit the full report to Congress
=. the beginning OF the next session. The De-
nartnent SAYS that 1t will not be possible in the
mean time to make public more Of the report
than the synopsis furnished to-day.
The Commission understood that II
oured to consider all routes heretofore pro-
posed having any merit. that new routes ap-
pearing to have merit should be developed and
the entire region Of canal possibilities should
Re examined with sufficient thoroughness to en-
able a just and comprehensive comparison Of
the various routes to be made and the most
desirable one selected.
With this view the Commission made care
full study Of all data bearing the Nicaragua
Canal question. and organized a large force.
Much delay to the work and great annoyance
to working parties were caused by attempts at
revolution and by the strained relations between
the governments Of Nicaragua and Costa Rca.
The outbreak Of the war between the United
States and Spain wae also serious matter
THE ROUTE FAVORED.
The report goes into minute details in regard
TO all questions connected with the construction
of the canal, and says that after mature deliber-
alton the Commission has adopted and estimat-
ed for the route from Brito to Lake Nicaragua,
called the Childs route and from the lake TO
Greytown called the Lull route This line,
leaving Brto, follows the left bank Of the Rio
Grande to near Bueno Retro and crosses the
western divide to the valley OF the Latas. which
Il follows to Lake Nicaragua. Crossing the lake
10 the head Of the San Juan River 1t follows the
INNER river 10 near Boca San Carlos thence. in
excavation by the left bank OF the river to the
San Juanillo and across the low country to
Creytown. passing to the northward of Lake
Sinco 1t requires only single dam. with regu-
lating works at both ends of the summit level.
The surveys have in general revealed better
nhvs,cal conditions than were hitherto supposed
TO exist. especially as TO the amount OF rock In
the upper river whereby II is possible greatly
70 reduce the estimated cost of construction
To determine the proper unit prices 1or ex-
cayation the average of prices actually pald 10
contractors on the Chicago Drainage Canal,
which represent cost of plant. prices PAID Tor
work done and contractors profits were taken
To these prices certain percentages were aooed
for the difference in location. climate, etc.
In obtaining the estimates for the cost or
locks the prices actually paid for bulldlng the
Government locks at Saut Ste. Marie were
taken and 80 per cent was added for the diner
ence o: location.
this important question, and with all earnest de-
sire 10 reach logical conclusions, based on sub
stantial facts the Commission believes that a
canal can be built across the isthmus on this
route for not exceeding Sis. ll3.f90
Colonel Hains agrees generally with the views
Of the other members OF the Commission. but
his estimate Of the cost is 4.S1S,3OS