The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-05

Washington, Dec 4.-The report Of
the isthmian canal commission. sub
mitted by the president TO congress to-
day, gives as the unanimous conclusion
of that body that the most practicable
and feasible route for an isthmian ca
nal under the control. management and
ownership of the United States is that
known as the Nicaraguan route
The commission estimates the cost Of
this route at 5000 $4,000. This estimate
is much in excess of any heretofore
made and rs due to increased dimeu-
siOns and other features not heretofore
considered. The commission also esti-
ates the cost of a canal by the Pan
anna route at $142.342.5Tg. according TO
one route. or Sl55,S'S,25S, according 90
another route.
As between the Nicaragua and Pan
anna routes the commission sums up a
number of advantages favorable to the
former. It states also that under the
concessions given by the government
of Colombia to the Panama Canal COM
pany that government is not free to
grant the necessary rights TO the Unit
ed states. except upon conditions made
by the company
The report is document of about
Il coo words. almost as long as the
presidents message
Depth 70 be Thirty-fve Feet.
After gong over the several routes,
the commission considered the dimen-
siOns of the canal TO be built Having
in mind the increasing size of OCEAN
going vessels, il was determined to FIX
upon a depth of thirty-five feet at mean
low water, and a bottom width of 100
feet, with some increase OF dimensions
at certain points These dimensions
are larger than those proposed for any
previous canal scheme. While they may
seem excessive today. the commission
says that the canal is not likely 20 be
opened within ten years, during which
time the increase in maritime dlmen-
siOns is likely to continue A width of
$50 feet viii allow all but the very iarg-
est ships TO pass each other in the
canal while the locks are of a dimen-
sion to permit even the largest ships
adoat to be maneuvered- The size OF
locks is 40 feet in length, 81 feet IN
width. in the clear, with depth OF
IS feet.
Taking up the Nicaragua route in de
tail. the commission says the route
adopted follows essentially the lines
laid down by the Nicaragua canal com
mission in it's report of lS9t-sS- IL De-
gins near GreytOWn. on the AJidnu(
side, follows the San Juan river, enters
to- on the Pacific side. The distance
from ocean to ocean is about 185 miles
Plans are given for the great hafDofs
required at GreytoWn and Brio Inc
most difficult engineering work Is the
dam across the San Juan river TO reg
uIate the waters of the lake The time
required to build the canal hinges al
most entirely on the time required Ipl
the construction of this dam The com
mission says eight years would prop
ably be a reasonable estimate for tnt
building At least two years VIII DE
consumed in preparatory work ane
Oueniner a harbor at CireytCWn, so thai
if work on the dam should be com
menced Immediately thereafter the time
required for completing the entire Wofl
will be about ten years
Concerning the Panama route Jn'
commission says its natural aIlfac-toi
lies in the combination of very mar
row isthmus with d low summit 1 h'
width of the isthmuS is less than talr
tv-fve miles while the summit IS pare
" 300 feet above mean tide
Advantages to America
Referring to the commercial aGvan
tages of an isthmian waterway the
report saws:
iAs soon a. it has been opened ON
trade with the Wes- coast of south
/ America viii rapidly Increase as WI
also the volume of our trade with tn'
Orient. The amount Of the AmerI-si
commerce through the canal WE
quickly surpass the total amount oil
European traffic.
An Isthmfau canal VIII Strengthen
/ the unity of the national and Po.,it.
interests OF the United States deVei'I