Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-12-15

the Canal--Planned 10 be Thirty
fve Feet Deep and One Hundred
and Fifty Feet wide--United states
Chief Gamer.
The isthmian canal commission be-
lieves that ''the most practical and
feasible route for an isthmian canal,
under the control. management and
ownership of the United States. is that
known as the Nicaragua route" After
the commission returned to the United
States it gave attention to the determi-
nation of the proper dimensions for
maritime canal under existing condi-
tons On this point the report says:
"a depth of 80 feet at mean low wa
ter and a bottom width of $50 feet
were adopted as standard dimensions
for canal In excavation by each route.
This width is for straight sections.
On curves with a radius OF less
than $4,000 feet 1t is increased at the
rate OF one foot for each 200 feet re-
duction OF radius, the width thus be-
coming $50 feet on a curve of 5000
feet radius. In open channels, exca-
waited within the shallow limits of har-
bors or lakes, the bottom width Is in
creased to 200 feet. In the San Juan
river to $50 and in the excavated por-
tons of Lake Nicaragua to 800 feet.
In the artificial harbors of Colon. Grey
n..xxA "a t. a.
These dimensions are larger than those
proposed for any previous isthmian
canal scheme. While they may seem
excessive today, the canal is not likely
to be opened within ten years, during
which time the increase In marine d.
mansions which has been going on for
many years is likely to continue.
THE isthmian canal. except In the
two maritime sections. will be a fresh
water canal. The draft of ocean steam
ers Is based on salt water weighing ia
pounds per cubic foot Some large
freight steamers now draw 81 feet at
sea and would draw nearly 33 feet in
fresh water. If the heaviest class of
freight steamers is to use the isthmian
canal, 35 feet is the least depth that
should be adopted. A width of 100
feet Will allow all but the very largest
ships to pass each other in the exca-
waited portions of the canal. Ii two
such large ships meet. one will have
to take the bank while the other goes
by. Smaller ships will pass each other
and larger ships without stopping.
1.-THE most difficult engineering work
In connection with the Nicaragua ca
nal project" says the commission. is
the construction of n dam across the
San Juan river to hold back the waters
of the lake and enable its level to be
regulated. 1t is of great importance
that this dam should be located above
the mouth of the San Carlos river. as
the latter discharges at times as much
as 100000 cubic feet of water per Sec
ond, carrying with it great quantities
of sand. The Nicaragua canal com
mission made search for a dam site
above the mouth of the San Carlos, in
what is called the Aqua Muerta dead
water). One was found at place
about two miles above the mouth of
the san Carlos river. The maximum
depth to hard rock is about ~ feet
below sea level, or about 100 feet be-
low low water in the river at the site,
which will make ii necessary to con-
struct the foundation of this part of
the dam by the pneumatic process.
The dam in the deepest part will then
have height of about $50 feet. As
the pneumatic process is an expensive
and slow one at best. this commission
has made search for an alternative
where the typographical and surface
indications seemed to offer favorable
results. One has been found which
gives promise of a more satisfactory
and less expensive solution Of this
problem.
'The time required TO build the Mica
ragua canal hinges almost entirely on
the time required for the construction
of the Boca San Carlos dam. After
harbor has been opened at Greytown
and railroad constructed the way viii
be open to attack the work from a
great many points at the same time,
SO that If ample funds are then availa-
bic the excavation of the prism of the
canal ought TO be completed In COM
paratively short time If prosecuted
with vigor. The construction of the
dam. however. will be a costly and
tedious operation. Eight years would
probably be reasonable estimate for
the time of building this dam At
least two years will be consumed in
preparatory work and in opening bar
Dor at Greytown. so that If work on
the dam should be commenced immedi-
ately thereafter the time required for
completing the entire work would be
about ten years"
The commission sought by statistical
Investigation. TO determine the amount
of tonnage that would use an isthmian
canal. were II now in existence. and
found that 3,426.752 cargo tons of the
maritime commerce OF the United
States during the year ending June 80.