The Irish standard., 1900-12-08
THE CANAL COMMISSION,
Question in Its Different
Phases,

the president to congress Tuesday 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 5000, 900. This estimate is
much in excess of any heretofore made.
and is due to increased dimensions and
other features not heretofore considered.
Th commission also estimates the cost OF
canal by the Panama route at $l42.3i2,-
3I9, according to one route. or $l56,SIS,21S,
according to another route.
AS between the Nicaragua and Panama
route the commission sums up a number
of advantages favorable to the former.
1T states also that under the concessions
given by the government of Colombia to
the Panama Canal company. that govern
ment 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 1900
words. almost as long as the presidents
message. Although the work of the COM
mission 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.
thorough investigation has been made
not only of the Nicaragua and Panama
route. but of other possible routes, the
commission keeping in mind the indus
trial. commercial and military value of
an inter-oceanic canal and also the
rights, privilege and franchises necessary
TO be secured for the construction OF
canal under the control. management and
ownership of the United States.
After going over the several routes, the
commission considered the Dimensions of
the canal n ht.b b1li1t ID>-p,r n mind the
increasing size of ocean going vessels, it
was determined to fix uDon depth Of 30
leet at mean low water, and Il bottom
width of $50 feet, with some increase of
dimensions at certain points. These di-
mensions 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 in maritime
dimensions is likely to continue A
width Of $50 feet will allow all but the
very largest ships to pass each other in
the canal. while the locks are of a di-
mension TO permit even the largest ships
af1oat to be manuevered. The size of
locks is TAO feet in length. 81 feet in
width, in the clear, with a depth Of IS
feet
Taking UP the Nicaragua route in de-
tail, the commission says that the route
eeNoPSSu
down by the Nicaragua canal commission
in its report of 1S97-1S99. 1t begins near
Greytown on the Atlantic side follows
the San Juan river, enters Lake Nicara-
qua and terminates at Brito on the Pa
cific side. The distance from ocean to
ocean is about 1S6 miles. Plans are given
for the great harbors required at Grey
town and Brito. The most difficult en-
gineering 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 re-
quired for the construction of this DAM
The commission says eight years would
probably be reasonable estimate for the
time of building it. At least two years
will be consumed in preparatory work
and opening a harbor at Greytown, so
that if work on the dam should be COM
menced Immediately thereafter, the time
required for completing the entire work
will be about ten years.
The commission then submits the esti-
mated cost of canal on the Nicaragua
route, which totals S2O054O,00O. This esti-
mate is for canal suitable for naviga-
tion by the largest ships now in exist
ence, and thus in accordance with the
terms of the bill pending in congress.
1t provides for double system of locks,
SO that navigation can be maintained If
one system be closed for repairs or re-
newals. If single lockage system is pro-
Vided the cost will be reduced $19, SIS, ,OOG.
Narrowing the bottom one-third will per-
NIT a further reduction of SIG, 6,949, 900. This
would bring the estimated cost down to
s163, ,913,0 900.
Concerning the Panama route, the COM
mission says its natural attraction lies
in the combination of very narrow 18TH
mus with low summit. The width of
the isthmus is less than IS miles, while
fIoc witt ic 1,or a1xv fea
tide. After a detailed description of the
entire route, the commission gives the
estimated cost Of completing the Panama
canal route as s142, 2,342579.
This estimate is capable of reduction to
sl15,9l,2l5 if single locks and narrow
bottom are adopted. An alternative esti-
mate is submitted. based on having the
Alhajuela dam built to impound the wa
ters of the upper Chagres. This estimate
is $156, ,378, ,258.
The commission reports that the value
of the French work already done is esti-
mated at $33, 1874, 463.
1t Is estimated that the tonnage that
would use the canal will amount to 7,03O, OPT
tons in 1909
The report then goes on to show the
immense commercial advantages to be de-
rived by the United States from the canal
The commission concludes with a care
full comparison of the Nicaragua and PAN
tween Atlantic and Pacific ports are short
er by the Nicaragua than the Panama
route. This Is in part offset by the in
creased time in getting through the Mic
aragua canal. The latter route is report
ed to be more favorable for sailing YES
sells. The Nicaragua route is also regard
ed as advantageous through its develop
ment Of the country through which it
passes.
1t is pointed out that the Panama conces-
sion, now held by the French company,
prohibits cession OF rights to any nation
or foreign government. The concession is
limited, SO that If the United States ac-
quired it there would not be an absolute
ownership in perpetuity, as the concession
lombia after 80 years.
Error Fatal to Amer dment.
Burlington, Ia, Dec. Sit has been
discovered by the Burlinton Hawkeye
that after the passage in the house
of the famous Titus amendment to
the Iowa constitution, providing for
biennial elections, it was not spread
on the house journal, as required by
law, and is therefore utterly null and
void. The discovery is the sensation
Of the hour among legislators and
lawyers, who agree that the error
kills the amendment.
Fatal End Of Family Quarrel.
Excelsior Springs, Mo-, Dec. s.
Thomas McAlullen shot and fatally
wounded his stepdaughter's husband,
A. I. Chambers, on the street here.
The shooting was the culmnation of