Evening star., 1900-12-04
THE HTnMlAN CANAL
Unanimous Conclusion Reached by
the Commission.
NICARAGUAN ROUTE PREFERRED
Estimate of the Cost Put at
oo,54o,ooo.
OTHER LINES CONSIDERED

The report Of the isthmian canal commits
sion submitted by the President to Con-
gress today, gives as the unanimous con-
cluson of that body that 1.-The most prac-
ticable and feasible route for isthmian
canal, under the control. management and
ownership of the United States. is that
known as the Nicaragua route" The COM
mission estimates the cost of this route at
S200, $4,000 This estimate is much In eX-
cess OF any heretofore made, and Is due to
increased dimensions and other features
not heretofore considered. The commits
sion also estimates the cost of a canal by
the Panama route at 42,342, SO, accord
ing to one route, or $156,37S,25S according
to another route. AS between the Mica
ragua and Panama route the commission
sums up a number of advantages favorable
to the former.
1t states also that under the concession
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.
Field Parties Still Out.
The report is 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. A thorough investi-
cation has been made, not only nf the
Nicaragua and Panama routes, but of ether
possible routes, the commission keeping in
mind the Industrial. commercial and mill
tary value of an interoceanic canal, and
also the rights, privileges and franchises
70 no
ton Of a canal under the control, manage
ment and ownership of the lTaite1 States.
In all thirty-one working parties were or
ganiZed and sent into the ied making
force of about 220 engineers and assistants
besides about 600 laborers, boatmen ani
other workmen employed in the various
countries, total of more than 500 Mean
while the members of the commission per
sonally conducted various branches Of the
work. One party went to Paris, where
they examined the details Of the Panama
canal project now being executed by the
French company.
The Several Routes.
detailed description is given of the trip
over the several routes. Along the Mica
ragua route it was found that the short
section of partially constructed canal is
perhaps in as good shape today as it was
when the work was stopped. The build
ings, however are all rotten, and tie
oiCd6CS, podtS clC, are WOrtnleSS.
The commission visited President Zelaya
and other leading officials of Nicaragua and
1ound them greatly interested in the project
Inc occupation of their territory by the
United States for canal purposes I'D not
seem to he regarded a serious obstacle,
provided the sovereignty Of the republic
was respected Along the Panama route
the commission found a large force of work
men engaged upon the canal line about
2,oOO In number, according to the .fanama
company. The canal had been opened to
some extent at both ends. Immense guam
titles Of machinery, implements and tools
were found along the route. Much of this
property. the commission reports is ILL
adapted to American methods of work and
ali of 1t is now from thirteen to twenty
years DID, 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
sentiment found to exist for Ameri
can canal along the Nicaragua route Trips
were also made along the Darien route.
The Proposed Dimensions.
After going over the several routes. the
commission considered the dimensions of
the canal to be built. Having in mind the
increasing size of ocean-going vessels it
was determined to fix upon a depth Of
thlrty-five feet at mean low water and
bottom width of 80 feet, with some in
crease of dimensions at certain points
These dimensions are larger than those pro-
they may seem excessive today, 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 larg-
est ships to pass each other in the canal
while the locks are of dimension to per-
nit even the largest ships af1oat to be
maneuvered. The size of locks is 74O feet
length. 81 feet width in the clear, with a
depth of 35 feet.
The Nicaragua Route in Detail.
+aking up the Nicaragua route in de-
tail, the commission says that the route
adopted follows essentially the lines laid
down by the Nicaragua canal commission
in it's report of 1S97-1S99. 1t begins near
Greytown on the Atlantic side, follows the
San Juan river, enters Lake Nicaragua and
terminates at Brito on the Pacific sue The
distance from ocean to ocean is abo4t 1856
miles. Plans are given for the great har-
bors required at Greytown and Prito. 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 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 the dam should be commenced
Immediately thereafter, the time required
for completing the entire work will be
about ten years
Estimate of Cost.
The commission then submits the follow
ing estimated cost of canal on the Mica
ragua route:
Eastern division from GreytOwn to
BOca San Carlos dam. ............... $S2, ,662 900
Middle division from Boca San Carlos
dam to Las Lajas). as).................. 81, 662 900
Western division from Las Lajas to
Br1tO) ............... 70, 425O
Total. .S159, 767 900
Eighty mine miles Of railroad. 1850 900
Total. .$167, II I 900
Engineering police sanitation and gen.
This estimate is for a canal suitable for
navigation by the largest ships now in ex-
istence, 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 renewals.
If a single lockage system Is provided the
cost will be reduced S19,67s. 600. Narrowing
the bottom one-third will permit a further
reduction of S16,949, 600. This would bring
the estimated cost down to $163, ,913, 600
The Panama Route.