The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-12-08

Most Desirable for the United
states.
Washington, Dec. 5.-The following
message of the president, transmit
ting the report of the Isthmian canal
commission, was sent to congress.
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives: l transmit herewith, for the
Information Of the congress- a preliminary
report of the lsthmian canal commission,
dated November 80, 1900.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY,
Executive Mansion, Dec. 4, 1900
Abstract of the Report.
The report is document of about
1900 words, almost as long as the
presidents message.
Although the work of the commission is
not vet completed, many of the field par
ties still being out, yet it has been suf-
| ficieutly advanced to make 1t practicable
to present this preliminary report giving
the essential findings. y thorough inves-
tigation has been made not only of the
Nicaragua and Panama route, but of
other possible routes. the commission
keeping in mind the industrial, CONNER
| cfal and military value of an inter
| oceanic canal. and also the rights, privi-
| leges and franchises necessary to be Sc
cured for the construction of canal un-
der the control, mana cement and owner
| ship of the United States. In all p work
/ ing parties were organized and sent into
| the field. making force of about 22O en-
| Eineers and assistants. besides about goo
J laborers. bcatmen and other wOrkmen
/ employed in the various countries, u total
of more than 800 Meanwhile the mem
| bers of the commission personally corr
| Quoted various branches of the work. one
| party went to Paris, where they exam
ined the details of the Panama canal
project now being executed by the French
| company. "A detailed description is given
| of the trip over the several routes Along
| the Nicaragua route it was found that
| CHI 90
canal is perhaps in as good shape to-day
as it was when the work was stopped:
| The buildings. however, are all rotten and
the dredges, boats, etc., are worthless
The commission visited President Zelaya
and other leading officials of Nicaragua
| and found them greatly interested in the
pi oiect. The occupation of their terri
tory by the United States for canal pur-
poses did not seem to be regarded as A
| serious obstacle. provided the sovereign
| ty of the republic was respected.
| Along the Panama route the commits
sion found large force Of workmen en-
number, according to the Panama COM
pany. The canal had been opened 10 some
| extent at both ends. Immense quaint
ties 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 all OF it is now from l3 to 20 wears
| Old so that no value should be gwen TO
the plant now on the isthmus. \ visit
was also made to President Iglcsias OF
| Costa Rica and his cabinet and a strong
sentiment found to exist for an American
canal along the Nlcaragua route. Trips
| were also made along the Darien route
After going over the several routes, the
commission considered the dimensions of
the increasing size of ocean going ves-
sells, it was determined to fix upon
depth of S5 feet at mean low water. and
| bottom width of l50 feet, with some in
crease of dimensions at certain points
| These dimensions are larger than those
proposed for any previous canal scheme.
| t1nExT auxF 81. 4
| tile commission points out that the canal
| is not likely to be opened within ten
years, during 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 whie aI+ the Se LOCKS KS are a. cot OF d.
afloat to be maneuvered. The size OF
locks is 7i0 feet in length, 81 feet in
width, in the clear, with a depth Of IS
feet
Taking up the Nicaraguan route in do
tail the commission SAYS that the route
adopted follows essentially the lines laid
down by the Nicaragua canal commission
In its report of lS9i-lS9g 1t begins near
Greytown on the Atlantic side. follows
qua and terminates at Brito. on the Pa
cihc side. The distance from ocean to
ocean is about 1S6 miles. Plans are given
for the great harbors required a Gerry
town and Brito. The most difficult en-
gineerng 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
building. At least two years will be cou-
sumed in preparatory work and opening
a harhor at Greytown, so that If work
on the dam should be commenced imme-
diately thereafter, the time required for
completing the entire work will be about
The commission then submits the fol-
lowing estimated cost or canal on the
Eastern division (from Greytown to
Boca San Carlos dam). $50. 662 900.
Middle division (from Boca San Carlos
dam to Las Lajas), S25 425, 600.
Western division Cfrom Las Ldjas to
Brito). $5l est. 900
Ninety-eight miles of railroad S735o, ,O5C.
Engineering police sanitation and gen.
erol contingencies SS, i23, 600
Aggregate 500. SO, 900
This estimate is for a canal suitable for
navigation by the largest ships now in
existence and thus in accordance with
the terms of the bill pending in congress
II provides for a double system of locks.
so that navigation can be maintained If
one system he closed for repairs or re
provided the cost will be reduced Sl967S =
/ 0C0. Narrowing the bottom one-thrd will
permit Il further reduction of $169i9, ,0ON,
This would bring the estimated cost down
to $l63 $4,000
Concerning the Panama route. the COM
mission says its natural attraction lies il.
the combination of a very narrow 18th
mus with low summit The width of
the isthnus is less than So miles while the
tide. After a detailed description OF the
entire route, the commission gives the
following estimated cost of completing the
Panama canal route:
Colon entrance and harbor. $.SS4. 67S
Harbor to Bohio locks, including levee,
SO, 7lS,2SS.
Bohio locks, including excavation, So
9S2, S45
Lake Bohio, So 1854
Obispo gates, 1925, 436
Culebra section, S4l,37S,sS5
Pedro Miguel locks, including excava-
tiOn and dam s, S,496.326
Pedro Miguel level, 81, 1851.
Mira1ore's locks, including excavation
and spillway. $572o.36S.
| Pacific level, Sl2. S66.9l4.
| ISohio dam, IS 500 GOO.