The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-04
BIC FIGURES.
ISthmian Canal Commission
Submits Its Report.
Distinctly Favors Adoption of
Nicaragua Route.
NO nnCm nOOn 900 900
TO COST 100000, 900
Panama Would Be Cheaper but
Has Many Objections.
Glowing Estimate of Benefits
Following Construction.

Washington, Dec. 4.-The report of the
isthmian canal commission, submitted
by the president 10 congress today, gives
as the unanimous conclusion Of that
body that the most practicable and
feasible route for an isthmian canal,
under the control, management and
ownership of the United States, is that
known as the Nicaragua route
The commission estimates the cost of
this route at $780, $40, 600. This estimate
IS much in excess of any heretofore
siOnS and other features not heretofore
considered. The commission also exit
mates the cost of a canal by the Pana-
ma route at $142, ,342, ,579, according to one
route, or $156, 37S, ,25S according to another
route. As between the Nicaragua and
Panama route, the commission sums up
number of advantages favorable to
the former. 1t states also that under
the concessions given by the Colombian
government to the Panama Canal COM
pany, that company is not free to grant
the necessary rights to the United
States, except upon conditions made by
the company.
The report is a document of about
II 600 words, almost as long as the pres
ident's message. Although the work of
the commission is not yet completed,
many of the field parties still being out,
yet it has been 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 pos
sibIe routes. the commission keeping in
mind the industrial commercial and
military value of an inter-Oceanic canal
and also the rights, privileges and
franchises necessary to be secured for
the construction of a canal under the
control management and ownership of
the United States.
In all 81 working parties were or
ganized and sent into the field, making
a force of about 220 engineers and as
sistants besides about 600 labOrerS,
bOatmen and other WOrkmen employed
in the various countries, total of more
than 800. Meanwhile the members OF
the commission personally conducted
various branches of the work One
party went to Paris, where they exam
ined the details of the Panama canal
project now being executed by the
French company.
TRIP OVER THE ROUTES.
A detailed description is given of the
trip over the several routes. Along the
Nicaragua route it was found that the
short section of partially constructed
canal is perhaps in as good shape to-
day as it was when the work was
stopped The buildings, however, are
all rotten, and the dredges, boats. etc,
are worthless. The commission visited
President Zelaya and leading officials of
Nicaragua and found them greatly in
terested in the project The occupation
of their territory by the United States
for canal purposes did not seem to be
regarded as a serious obstacle, provided
the sovereignty of the republic was re-
spected Along the Panama route the
commission found a large force OF work
men engaged upon the canal line about
1000 IN number, according to the Pana-
ma. company. The canal had been
opened to some extent at both ends
Immense quantities of machinery, imple-
ments and tools were found along the
route Much of this property, the COM
mission reports, is i'll adapted to Amer
lean methods of work, and all OF 1t IS
now from l3 to 20 years old, so that
no value should be given to the plant
now on the isthmus- A visit was also
made to President Iglesias, of Costa
Rica and his cabinet, and a strong SEN
tirnent found to exist for an American
canal along the Nicaragua route. Trips
were also made along the Darien route
After going over the several routes,
the commission considered the dlmen-
SionS of the canal to be built. Having
in mind the increasing size of ocean 60
ing vessels, it was determined to nix
lpon a depth of 35 feet at mean low
wafer and bottom width of $50 feet,
with some increase of dimensions at
larger than those proposed for any pre-
vious canal scheme While they may
seem excessive today, the commission
rOintS out that the canal is not likely
II he opened within ten years, during
which time the increase in maritime
dimensions is likely to continue A
width of $50 feet will allow all but the
ver-v largest ships to pass each OIher
in the canal, while the locks are of di-
mension to permit even the largest ships
afioat to be manoeuvered. The size of
locks is TAO feet in length, "a feet in
width in the clear, with depth Of 30,
feet.
NICARAGUA ROUTE IN DETAIL
Taking up the Nicaraguan route IN de-
tail the commission says that the route
adopted follows essentially the lines iald
down bv the Nicaragua canal commits
sion in its report of 1897-1S99 It begins
near Greytown on the Atlantic side, foi-
lows the San Juan river, enters Lake
Mica ra ey41a and terminates at BrftO, on
tfle Pacific side. The distance from ocean
to ocean is about 1S6 miles Plans are
given for the great harbOrs required at
Greytovvn and Brito-
The most difficult engineering Work IS
the dam across the San Juan river to
regulate the waters of the lake. The
time required to build the canal hinges
almost entirely on the time required for
the construction of this dam. The COM
mission SAYS eight years would probably
be a. reasona Bile estimate for the build
ing At least two years Will be consurn-
ed in preparatory work ana opening
harbOr at GreytOWn, so that if work on
the dam should be commenced immedi-
ately thereafter, the time required for
completing the entire work will be about
ten years. 1ne commission lnCn SUD
mits the following estimated cost of a
canal on the Nicaragua route:
Eastern division lfrom Greytown to
Boca San Carlos damp $50. .662. .000-
Middle division, (frOm BOca San Car
los dam to Las La Jas) 5,425. 600.
Western division. (frOm Las La Jas to
Brito) s51. $50 oOG. Ninety-eight miles of
railroad, $7.350.000
Total $157, III, Coo.
Engineering, police, sanitation and
general contingencies. s33, ,423, 900.