The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-05
THE IsTHMIAN CANAL.
Discussing the Availability OF a
Different Routes

The House Committee on Interstate Com
merce, at its meeting yesterday. decided
to grant a hearing on Friday. January u
to the representatives of the new Panama
Canal Company. While It is apparent that
the advocates OF the Nicaragua route are
In the majority. the line between Colon
and Panama is not without enthusiast, &c
friends
In support OF their contention they de-
clare that the New Panama Canal Company
has great advantage over any other ell
terprise ia successfully and quickly open
maritime canal between the two oceans
This advantage. they say. lies in the com
piete state OF preparation which existed
when that company began its work as well
as the important amount Of work which had
already been done. They say that in wild
and unsettled countries roads and railways
must be built to ensure transportation:
houses must be erected for the accommO-
dation OF large numbers Of men. work
shops for repairing the plant as well as
general stores To supply all the necessaries
OF life must be maintained; yards must be
lald out, including complete railway
system, and finally hospitals must be built
to ensure the necessary medical service
and care that may be needed by a large
force OF men working in tropical country.
All this IL is said. has already been pro-
Vided by the New Panama Canal Company.
An Independent railroad crosses the 18th
mus aud runs along the line Of the canal.
immense storehOuses and workshops are
located at the important centres. About
Z,e9O dwelling houses are distributed along
the line OF the canal. There is "a large hos
pital at Panama. with seventeen payiliors
well fitted up, and having 3S4 beds with
accommodation for 900 patients. There is
another hospital somewhat smaller at Co
Ion. These hospitals are under the man
agement OF Sisters of Charity.
The plant of the new company includes
a dozen powerful dredges. fifty cXcavatOrs.
about 100 standard gauge locomotives. / 200
large cars a great number or narrow
gauge dump cars. hOists of all descriptions.
and materials for track repairs and main
tenauce Of trackage. Another advantage
FOR the Panama route, 81 is claimed, is in
the great amount of work which has al
ready been done. The total amount OF
materials yet TO be- removed is G.. 500. 030
cubic yards There have already been re-
moved 4f,OYor0o0 cubic yards.
The statement Is made i'm behalf Of the
more souJherly route that il is only forty
six miles as against $50 miles for the
route through Nicaragua but the Nicara-
guam partisans say that this is not a fair
comparison. In the $50 miles there is an
interior sea and a large river which by
Improvement may be rendered nayigabIe
Altogether in the Nicaragua route there h
said 20 be less than half the amount OF
canalizatiOn required on the Panama route
Another objection urged against the Pana-
ma route rs that for all nOTth-bOund ter
miudlS the reruIuf arc 1Iu miles further
SiiN another objection is the Panama line
viii require an artificial lake for the regu-
latnn OF the ChaEres River. whereas. a. is
said nature has produced a magnificent
iyWheel in Lake Nicaragua covering 900
square miles which prevents any food
there. IL Is said that the harbur OF Colon
Is good harbor In quiet water. but that
N storms IL is necessary for ,es5els to
weigh anchor and put to- sea.