Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-06
NICARAGUA CANAL.
Conclusion That the Best Route is
That Known as nicaragua Route"

That Known as nicaragua Route"
Washington, Dec. 4.-The report OF
the Isthmian canal commission sub
mitted by the president to congress
today is given as the unanimous con-
clusion of that body that the most
practicable and feasible route for the
Isthmian canal, under the control,
management and ownership of the
United States, is that known as the
Nicaragua route" The commission
estimates the cost of this route at
$500, 540,00u. This estimate, much in
excess of any heretofore made, is due
to the increased dimensions and other
features not heretofore considered.
Will Cost $142,342.51s.
The commission also estimates the
cost of the canal by the Panama route
at $142,342 ,579, according to one route
or $156,37S,25S according to another
route.
Nicaragua Route Favored.
The Nicaragua and Panama routes
commission sums up the number OF
advantages favorable to the former.
1t states also under concessions given
by the Panama government to the
Panama Canal company that the COM
pany is not free to grant the necessary
rights to the United States except up
on conditions made by the company.
The report is almost as long as the
presidents message. Altho the work
of the commission is not yet complet-
ed, many of the field parties still being
out, yet it has been sufficiently ad-
vanced to make practicable the pres
ent preliminary report giving the es-
Isential findings.
Other Routes Investigated.
Thoro investigation has been made
not only of the Nicaragua and Panama
routes, but to other possible routes,
the commission keeping in mind the
industrial, commercial and military
value of an inter-oceanic canal. Along
the Nicaragua route it was found that
short section of partially construc-
ted canal is in as good shape today as
! it was when the work stopped. The
(! buildings, however, are all rotten
/ dredges, boats, etc, worthless.
! Visited Officials.
! The commission visited officials OF
Nicaragua and Costa Rico and found
them generally interested in the pro
1 ject and strong sentiment existing in
favor of the Nicaraguan route.
| Depth Thirty-five Feet.
After going over the several routes
the commission considered the dimen
islons of the cana. to be built. 1t was
determined to fix the depth at thirty
five feet at mean low water, the bot
tom IN width to be $50 feet. While
these dimensions may seem excessive
today, the commission points out thu
the canal is not likely to be opened
within ten years, during which time
the increase in maritime dimension.
lis likely to continue.
| Detail of the Route.
The commission says the Nicara
guam route as adopted follows essen
TALLY the lines laid down by the com
mission in it's report of 1S97-1S99.
begins near Greytown on the Atlanti
side, follows the San Juan river, er
tiers Lake Nicaragua, terminated a
Brito on the Pacific, distance c
; about 1876 miles. The most difficult Ell
cheering work is in the dam acros
the San Juan river, to regulate tn
waters of the lake.
The time required to build the cana
hinges almost entirely upon the tim
required for the construction of tn
dam. If the work be commenced in
mediately the entire work can be con
pleted in about ten years.
Concerning the Panama route, tn
commission says it's natural attrat
ton lies in the combination of yer
narrow isthmas with low SUNNI
The width of the Isthmas is less tina
thirty-five miles, while the summit
, barely three hundred feet above mea
, tide.