The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-13
MONSTER SHIP TUNNEL
Proposed as a Feature of a
Panama Canal.
WILL BE 1870 FEET HIGH
And Wide Enough For Four
Ships to Pass at Once.

| North and South America. HIS plan is 10
tunnel through a mountain range. BY
this pen full-rigged ships with mas,e
reaching up $50 feet high coald sail right
through the mountain range four abreast.
The object of such a IRENE adous and IN
heard of undertaking as his s to make
the shortest possible cur through the
islhrlus connecting North and Soulh
! America.
a ~eek ago iris plal u Mr.. Karwiese
was sol mitted to ADMIR- Walker. at he
| Nicaragua Canal commission, who viii
naturally bring it before President Nc
| Kinley when presenting reports on canal
surveys. The proposed Nicaragua canal
which the United States government has
| had repeated surveys made for, Will have
| 10 be 169 miles long. Engineer Kar-
| wiese's proposed canal would be but
| eleven miles long. Only one and two
| thirds nils Of this would be a tunnel
| through the mountain The other nine
| miles would be simply the charging of
existing waterways leading to the Atlantic
and Pacific. The interior of the ship tun-
| mel could be lighted by electricity, and
motor energy supplied by electrical power
transformed from the tides by machines
especially constructed for that purpose.
Such a machine already exists and has
! been patented by William Bowman, of
Norfolk, N Y A single lock at eacn ter
minus of canal construction would Also
lutely control the water level between the
| two oceans. These ocks would, of course,
be necessary to prevent a food tide on che
side Of the isthmus from rushing through
the artificial opening between the CONT
nents. BY this method navigation
through the isthmus in still water and on
ocean level would be practically possible.
No other plan ever suggested provides
for an ocean level canal
Engineer Kerwiese claims that such a
canal could be built in two years for $4S,-
OO00 600. The lowest estimate for hhe
Nicaragua canal is Sis, 100000 and five
years time for construction. So reat an
undertaking as boring a hole through a
mountain range big enough for ships to
sail through would seem impossible were
it suggested by any lesser authority than
Mr. Karwiese. Mr.. KarWiese was con-
sulting engineer in the designing and
building of the canal through the Isthmus
of Suez. and for short time was en-
gagged with De Lesseps in Panama. Al |
most at the start he became convinced !
that the Panama route would ultimately |
be abandoned, and says upon investga-
ton he found that the existing isthmian |
surveys were inaccurate and in many in
stances merely a matter of guesswork. |
Accordingly in 1891 he began a systematic |
survey of the whole isthmus, which he |
has just completed, and is now possessed |
of maps soundings and other records all |
convincing facts. He is, of course, fami-
lar with the Nicaraguan region, and con-
dennis the course there with objections |
similar TO those actually encountered in
Panama.
The proposed new route involves some
features altogether novel in canal build
ing, but it is claimed to be not only short
er, cheaper and far more Yactical than
any other course ever suggested. Mr.
Karwiese's experience in canal bJwling
and fame as an expert assure its con-
sideration by the United States govern
ment. 1t is probable that Mr.. KPrwiese
viii accompany on their surveys the
Isthmian canal commission recently ap-
pointed by the president to investigate all
routes, and viii personally go over the
ground of his work with the officers Of the
government.
According to surveys and estimates fur
nished by Mr.. Karwiese. a ship tunnel
canal can be completed through the lower
isthmus of Panama between the Gulf Of
Darien and the bed Of the Santa Maria
river. This region is known as the Epuci
valley, and is crossed Numerically by
the Cardilhere range OF mountains. which
extends throughout the length Of the 18th
mus, connecting the Andes Of South
America with the ocky mountain system
Of the northern continent. At their poilt
OF intersection with the Apud Galley the
Cardilliere are steep and hin and almost
solid rock Mr.. Karwiese Is ready to
demonstrate 10 the canal commission the
practjcability OF cutting through this
rock, not a canyon, but a tunnel $50 feet
high, with s. feet added for depth OF
water. This interoceanic ship tunnel
would be S,SSS feet. or. approximately, one
and two-third miles long and wide enough
10 allow four ships TO pass abreast.
No such stupend0us engineering feat
has ever been attempted since che De-
ginning Of the world. but Mr. Kedwtese
IS ready u undertake II; and there are
many expert engineers who have long
considered that the execution OF such a
project AZ a favorable point was entirely
feasible and would furnish the most ss:-
isfactory solution Of the whole inter
oceanic canal problem.
The Aputi valley Is adapted f5- succh a
canal n several ways. The actual dis
lance between existing ocean tide Pools ,
on either side q the Cardlelliere Is fifteen
miles so feet and for az but eleven ard
one-eiEthtA miles over the proposed course
navigation Is possible ~ the present
time. Ha-50-s a. each end q The pro-
posed route are OF gravel and firm sand.
and the bed ot The canal 5cse.t would |
Do OF rock, The water - the Saa;a Nara
r.ve- = clear ana 6es7. and there ara M
l1icllsac5s nor alilvial deposits q block
construction, and re1ier perpetual -
sxeayattnE imperative IL order % preserve
.hs usefulrass % -he csEsI Waea bulk.
The Ap1t valley = natura. d.v.s.71
between the tI0 continents u making
BIS first exrlo-atBen q The .sth1aas sf-
-Zerwiess was alone. and Int-ussed hs-- !
self - native Indian g-asea- n uasl-
gated san IlEa=, -arb3~ long rgLsl-su- {
ind arriving AZ the NORA ~ re Sz-sa
MA river Vsas as,oa-sae3 by - gu-.ez
Fao pzradox.ea-ly offered 70 -drap h.n
- stream 10 Inc naaa-azz- Tbs aps4s-- :
III contradiction of r1e saw o. erar.a-
.5a ~as literally accoa-g. sse5 81 3 -ztt :
~ 81 taking advantage u .1e aes1 .sze
.rorn TIE Paesac tae explore ras
-s-e Crossing Ire range c. tooi, re :