The times., 1899-09-11


mission is in the hands Of President Nc
Kinley. The construction OF the inter-
oceanic waterway is recommended. This
recommendation is couched in no uncertain
language. The project is declared TO be
practical and the cost is estimated by q
majority Of the Commission at $l1s, 113, ,790,
while in a minority report the cost of the
canal is computed at $lS4SlS.s .sOS. The re-
port deals with every detail of the i'm
portant work. The original Nicaragua
Canal Commission was appointed in 1897.
II consisted of Rear Admiral John G.
Walker United States Navy, President
Capt. o. M. Carter, United States Corps of
Engineers, and Prof. Lewis NJ. Haupt,
civil engineer, members. Captain Carter
was relieved from duty with the Commits
sion and was succeeded by Col. Peter c.
Hams. United States Corps of Engineers.
A preliminary report was made to Presi-
dent Mckinley in December, 1895 but the
complete report was only recently sub
mitted. In pursuance Of an act OF Con-
gress, the President, during last summer,
appointed a new Commission to examine
both the Nicaragua and Panama routes.
That Commission is composed of the mem
bers Of the original Commission, with a
few members added.
The proposed Nicaragua Canal. in favor of
whose feasibility the Commission has so
strongly reported. is to be less than 2o0
miles long, from sea 10 sea. Almost the
entire distance viii be clear sailing, without
locks. Beginning at Greytown, on the At
lantic side OF the isthmus. the canal will
follow, in general way. the line of the
San Juan River, TO the point where the
San E4rfnc fnurG int 1,,-lr rr+fIr
be built in this part of the course. and near
the mouth OF the San Carlos a monster
dam VIII be erected. called the Ochoa Dam
Throughout the upper course of the river
ana across that huge inland body of water,
Lake Nicaragua, vessels may sail or steam
on level course. AT the western end of
the route drop that is short but deep
makes the junction with the Pacific Ocean,
Many years ago, so the Commission finds
the natural outlet of the lake was on this
side instead Of as at present, through the
San Juan and thus TO the Atlantic A few
locks viii pass the vessels either up or
down AT Brito, the western terminus OF
the canal. as at Greytown. the eastern ter
minus, har5or sufficiently large and safe
for commerce is contemplated
Conclusions of the Commission.
The Commission submits that ii has fail
ed TO find any competent authority that
denies the feasibility of constructing
canal across Nicaragua. The feasibility of
the canal is conceded for the following
reasons:
First-There are at this date sufficient
precedents for ship canals capable OF pass
ing the largest vessels, so that any ques-
tion OF the navigation OF such channel is
eliminated.
Second-The ability to construct and
operate locks of the requisite dimensions
is sufficiently established by existing struc-
lures on the Manchester and Keil canals,
al Devils Island on the Ohio and atfhe ST.
Mary's Canal. Michigan.
Third-The possibility of constructing
the necessary dams. weirs. sluices. and en-
bankments, which shall be sufficiently
stable and impermeable TO control the
water required for navigation, as well as
70 regulate the foods is within the re-
sources of the engineering profession, and
is fully demonstrated by the many hun
dreds Of miles of embankments. levees,
and dams both al home and abroad There
is no reason 10 doubt the ability to build
them out OF the native rocks and earth,
and to. give them the required strength
and tghtness TO retain OF to discharge
the water with safety
Fourth-There is no question as to the
adequacy of the supply OF water for all
purposes at all seasons, nor as to its con-
troll IN times Of food
Fiffh-Neither is there any doubt with
reference 10 the ability 10 secure good
supporting ground for the trunk of the
canal. nor suitable sites for locks and
dams.
sixth-The harbor question is only a
matter of money, and il is believed that
good, capacious and safe artificial harbors
can be created ar a reasonable cost. In
brief, the Commission sees no reason to
doubt the entire feasibility of the project.
but IL realizes the necessity OF exercising
due care in the preparation of the specif-
cations and in the conduct of the work,
that the details of construction be thor
oughly inspected and properly executed
under competent supervision.
Features of the Route.
After a careful analysis and comparison
of the physical features and quantities af-
fecting the various variants, the Commits
sion has selected that route which 1t be-
lieves viii give the best results. This route,
starting from the harbor at GreytoEn,
crosses the coastal plain, passes to the north
OF Lake Siiico, and UP the left bank of
the San Juan TO the dam al Boca San
Carlos. follows the improved river channels,
crosses the lake, and traverses the valleys
of the Laias and Rio Grande 10 Brito on
the Pacific IL Is characterized by six locks
on the eastern division having list of IS. Al
feet. all lying east OF the dam, and four
locks on the western division having list
OF 29 feet
The summit level extends from the lock
ezs OF a mile east OF the beginning of the
cut al Boca san Carlos 10 the lock l86
Of a mile west OF Bueno Retro. a distance
- mil he "details Of sta
are given in the reports OF the assistants
The auxiliary works have also been COM
puted for each subdivision separately and
in detail. The calculations are based upon
G minimum elevation OF l04 for the summit
level with depth OF 30 feet and a mini
mum bottom width OF I50 feet
The Commission, after mature delibera-
tion. has adopted and estimated for the
route from Brito to Lake Nicaragua. called
Childs' route, variant No !. and from the
lake 10 Greytown. that called Lull route.
variant No. !. This line, leaving Brito. fol-
lows the left bank Of the Rio Grande 10 near
Bueno Retro. crosses the western divide
to the valley Of the Lajas, which il follows
10 Lake Nicaragua.
Crossing the lake to the head OF San Juan
River, IL follows the upper river 10 near
Boca San Carlos, thence. in excavation, by
the left bank Of the river to the San Juan
lilo, and across the low country to Grey
town, passing 10 the northward Of Lake
Slice. It requires but q single dam, with
regulating works at both ends Of the sum-
nit level.
The new location selected for the dam al
Boca San Carlos eliminates one Of the most
serious engineering difficulties by avoiding
entirely the San Carlos River, with its tor
rental floods and large volume OF sedi-
nenf, and By locking down immediately