The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-05
But Expenditure Of Money VIII De
Forty 10 sixty Millions Greater
than by thc Panama Route.
LATTER HAS DISADVANTAGES
WHICH THE UNITED STATES COULD
NOT AFFORD TO IGNORE.
Colombia Unable to Grant Necessary
Rights-No Canal Can he BaiIt In
Less than Ten Years.


the isthmian canal commission submitted
by the President TO Congress to-day gives
as the unanimous conclusion OF that body
that ''the most practicable and feasible
route for an :sthmian canal under the con-
troll, management and ownership OF the
United States is that known as the Mica
ragua route" The commission estimates
the cost OF this route at S2005i0.o0O. This
estimate is much in excess OF any hereto
fore made and is due 10 increased dimen-
sions and other features not heretofore
considered The commission also estimates
the cost of a canal by the Panama route
at Sl42, 2,519 according to one route or sl56.-
31S,25S according TO another route. AS be-
tween the Nicaragua and Panama route
the commission sums up a number OF adj
vantages favorable to the former. 1t states
also that under the concession given by
the government OF Colombia to the Pana-
ma Canal Company that government is not
free to grant the necessary rights to the
United States except on conditions made
by the company.
The report is a document of about 1900
words, within 5000 words as long as the
Presidents message. Although the work
of the commission is not yet completed.
many OF the field parties still being out.
yet IL has sufficiently advanced TO make
it practicable to present this preliminary
report giving the essential findings. A
thorough investigation has been made not
only of the Nicaragua and Panama routes.
but of other possible routes. the commits
sion keeping in mind the Industrial. COM
merciai and military value OF an inter-
oceanic canal and also the rights. privi-
leges and franchises necessary TO be Sc
cured for the construction Of a canal under
the control management and ownership OF
the United States. In all thirty-one work.
ing parties were organized and sent into
the field, making a force OF about 20 en-
gineers and assistants besides about coo
laborers boatmen and other workmen en-
ployed in the various countries, a total
of more than 500. Meanwhile the members
of the commission personally conducted
various branches of the work. One party
went to Paris, where they examined the
details of the Panama canal project now
being executed by the French company.
A detailed description is given OF the trip
over the several routes. Along the Mica
ragua route it was found that the short
section of the partly constructed canal Is
perhaps in as good shape to-day as Ii
was when the work was stopped. The
HONCNtis oAN OH AOlA'h o44'< titc
dredges, boats. ETC., are worthless. The
commission visited President Zelaya and
other leading officials of Nicaragua and
found them greatly interested In the
project The occupation of their territory
by the United States for canal purposes
did not seem TO be regarded as serious
obstacle provided the sovereignty of the
republic was respected.
THE PANAMA ROUTE.
Along the Panama route the commission
found a large force OF workmen engaged
upon the canal line. about 1000 in number.
according 10 the Panama company. The
canal had been opened TO some extent at
both ends. Immense quantities OF ma
chinery. implements and tools were found
along the route. Much OF this property.
the commission reports. is IN adapted 10
American methods OF work. and all OF IL
is now from thirteen TO twenty years old,
so that no value should be given to the
plant now on the isthmus
A visit was also made TO President Igle-
sias, Of Costa. Rica, and his Cabinet and
a strong sentiment found 10 exist for an
American canal along the Nicaragua route.
Trips were also made along the Darien
route.
commission considered the dimensions OF
the canal to be built. Having in mind the
increasing size of the ocean-goiEg vessels.
it was determined to fix on a depth cf
thirty-five feet at mean low water and a
Bottom width OF $50 feet with some Increase
OF dimensions at certain points. These
dimensions are larger than those proposed
for any previous canal scheme. While
they may seem excessive to-day. the COM
mission points out that the canal is not
likely to be opened within ten years, dur
ing which time the increase i'm maritime
dimensions is likely 10 continue. A width
OF $50 feet viii allow all but the very larg-
est ships TO pass each other in the canal,
while the locks are OF a dimension 20 per-
NIT even the largest ships afioat 10 be
meneuvered. The size OF the locks Is 40
feet in length, eighty-four In width, in
the clear. with a depth OF thirty-five feet.
Taking up the Nicaragua route IN detail.
tho commission says that the route
adopted follows essentially the lines laid
down by the Nicaragua canal commis-
sion in its report OF 1879. IL begins
near Greytown. on the Atlantic side. fol-
lows the San Juan river, enters Lake
Nicaragua and terminates at Brlto. on
the Pacific side. The distance from ocean
to ocean is about lSs miles. Plans are
given for the great harbors required NJ
Greytown and Brito. The most dificult
engineering work Is the dam across the
San Juan river to regulate the waters OF
the lake. The time required 80 build the
canal hinges almost entirely on the time
required for the construction OF this dam.
r.ho rosrfntSefon eavs aichs ,.s.~. .......z
probably be a reasonable estimate Tor the