Evening star., 1900-12-04
1oiss~4ng estimassd cdst "a of completing the
Panama canal route:

Pedro Miguel level 1893 Gil
Mirafores locks. including excavation =
and SUBWAY ....................... 0INSo5
Iacnc ieVei.. ........................ lZ,S5oSl4
Gigantic spillway. y..................... l.124524
Channel between the marches ....... l.44s07e
Chagres diversion. Observation-Disclosures. 1,929976
Panama 1 PaiI1osd eedSGR diversion: 1856
Total. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. s1e
eraI contingen les es....a...... 'n 2s,72s 76s
This estimate is capable of reduction to
$1lo941,215 if single, locks and narrow
bottom are adopted An alternative est-
mate is submitted. based having the
Alhajuela dam built to impound the waters
OF the upper Chagres This estimate Is
$156, BIS, ,25S.
The commission reports that the value of
the French work already done is estimated
1t is estimated that the tonnage that
would use the canal will amount to 1890.
OFT tons in 1902
Commercial AdSantages.
referring to the commercial advantages
OF an 1sthmian waterway, the report says:
AS compared with Europe. the United
STATES will derive from the canal far great
er benefits, both commercially and indus
trially. The commerce of Europe with the
Pacific coast of North. Central and South
America, under existing conditions, is some
what larger than the total volume of the
present traffic of the United States that
may be considered tributary to the canal;
out this fact does not indicate the relative
advantages which the canal will possess
Tor the trade Of Europe and that of the
United States.z AS soon as 1t has been
opened our trade with the west coast of
oputh america will rapidly increase as will
also the volume of our trade with the
orient Inc amount of the American COM
merce throughout the canal will quickly
suIpass the total amount of Europe's traffic
AN istnmlan canal will strengthen the
unity OF the national and political interests
OF the United States, develop it's Pacific ter
Iltory and promote the commerce and in
austrles OF the entire country. The bene-
nus which Europe will derive from the
canal Will be commercial In addition to
tnis ours will be political and Industrial BY
bringing the eastern and western sections of
our country into closer relations by reduc-
ing the tlme and cost of transporting our
western products to Europe, and by ena-
pilng the eastern, southern and central
states to reach the raw materials and mar
kets OF Pacific countries cheaply and ex-
pedltiousiy, the canal will more fully iden-
tl1y political and social interests and quick
en- the industrial activity of every section
OF the United States The iron and steel,
the textiles and the other manufactures of
the eastern and southern states, the coal
from the mining regions, the cotton from
tne south and the grain and forest products
from many sections will flow out to foreign
countries in an increasing volume and this
larger trade will be shared generally by
the ports of all our seaboards-the Atlantic
the gulf and the Pacific. The canal will
cause the competition of the United States
with Europe In the countries of western
South America and the orient to be much
keener, with the result that the trade Of
our country will increase more rapidly than
VIII that of our rivals The canal will aid
the United States in securing and maintain
ing position Of primacy in the information
al trade OF the world
Comparison 3Of Routes
The commission concludes with a careful
comparison of the Nicaragua and Panama
routes. 1t shows that distances between
Atlantic and Pacific ports are shorter by
the Nicaragua than9the Panama route.
This Is In part offset by the increased time
In getting through the Nicaragua canal.
The latter route Is reported to be more
favorable for sailing vessels. The Nicaragua
route is also REGARDED as advantageous
through its development of the country
through which ittpassss. =
1t is pointed out that the Panama con-
cession, now held by the French company,
nbits a cession of rights to any nation
or foreign government. The concession is
limited SO that II the United States ac-
quired 1t there would not be an absolute
ownership in perpetuity as the concession
provides that the canal shah pass to Co.
lombia after nirety-nine years. The COM
mission has asked President Hutin of the
French company to name terms upon which
the company will dispose of It's property
and interests to the United States. No
formal reply was received until the COM
missloners report was being closed. The
report says that the conferences have re-
suited in no offer to dispose of the property
of the United States upon any terms, nor
had the company expressed any desire to
negotiate with the United States with ref
10 oh
posed by President Hutin that the United
States might obtain control of the canal
scheme as a ma ajority stockholder of new
organization. The company prefers, how
ever, to reincorporate in the United States
and accord to this government such repre-
sentations its board of directors and
such purchase of interest as it's concessions
permitted.
Final Conclusions of the Board.
The final conclusions Of the commission
are stated as follows:
1. The estimated cost Of building the
Nicaragua canal Is about S5s OOO, 600 more
than that of completing the Panama canal
leaving out the cost of acquiring the latter
property. This measures the difference in
the magnitude of the obstacles to be over
come in the actual construction Of the two
canals and covers all physical consddera-
tions, such the greater or less height OF
DAMS the greater or less depth of cuts
the presence or absence of natural harbors
the presence or absence OF railroad the
exemption from or liability to disease and
the amount of work remaining to be DONE
The New Panama Canal Company has
shown no disposition to sell it's property
to the United States. Should that COMPANY
be able and willing to SELL there is reason
to believe that the price would not be such
as would make the total cost to the United
States less than that of the Nicaragua
canal
II. The Panama canal, after completion.
would be shorter, have fewer locks and
less curvature than the Nicaragua canal
The measure Of these advantages is the
time required for a vessel to pass through.
which is estimated for an average shin at
twelve hours for Panama and thirty-three
hours for Nicaragua.
On the other hand, the distance from
San Francisco to New York is 377 miles. to
New Orleans SO miles and to LIVERPOOL
1856 miles greater via Panama than via
Nicaragua. The time required to pass over
these distances being greater than the diff
ference in the time of transit through the
canals, the Nicaragua line, after compile
ton, would be somewhat the more advan-
tageOus Of the two to- the United States,
Notwithstanding the greater cost Of main
tanning the longer canal.
Ill The government of Colombia in