The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-12-08
Abstract OF the Report.

The report is a document of about
1900 words, almost as long as the
presidents message.
Although the work of the commission Is
not yet completed, many of the field par
ties still being out. yet it has been suf-
hciHntly advanced to make it practicable
to present this preliminary report givins
the essential findings. a 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
cial and military. value of an inter
oceanic canal, and also the rights, priyi-
leges and franchises necessary to be Sc
cured for the construction of a canal IN
der the control, management and owner
ship of the United States. In all q work
ing parties were organized and sent into
the field, making n force of about 220 en-
gineers and assistants. besides about COO
laborers, bcatnen and other workmen
employed in the various countries, u total
of more than 500. the men,
bers of the commission personally con-
Quoted various branches of the work. One
party went to Paris, where they exam
incd the details of the Panama canal
company. A detailed description is given
of the trip over the several routes. Along
the Nicaragua route it was found that
the short section of partially constructed
canal is perhaps in as good shape to-day
as ii was when the work was topped.
The buildings, however, are all rotten and
the dredges, boats. etc are worthless
and other leading officials of Nicaragua
and found them greatly interested in the
p ,oJef 81: tb hh9 Hrn% 3feddpss tatns on for t nena, terri nnr-
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 a large force of workmen en-
gagged upon the canal line. about 1000 in
number. according to the Panama COM
MANY The cana1 had hpan nnpnel IN soma
extent at both ends. Immense quanti-
ties of machinery. implements and tools
were found along the route Much OF this
property, the commission reports, is i'll
adapted to American methods of work.
and all of 1t is now from Is to 20 wears
old. 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 an American
canal along the Nicaragua route. TRIPS
were also made along the Darien route.
After going over the several routes. the
the canal to be built. Having in mind
the increasing size of ocean going YES
GELS. IL was determined to fix upon a
bottom width of $50 feet, with some in
crease of dimensions at certain points.
These dimensions are larger than those
While they may seem excessive to-day.
the commission points out that the canal
is not likely to be opened within ten
years., uuTIflS WIFI liIiic lHc III III
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, while the locks are of a d.
mension to permit even the largest ships
afioat to be Unanswered. The size of
locks is 70 feet in length. "a feet ir
width, in the clear. with a depth Of Is
feet.
Taking up the Nicaraguan route in de-
tail. the commission says that the route
adopted follows essentially the lines laid
dawn nv. the Nicaragua canal commission
in its report of 1S9I-1S99. 1t begins near
Greytown. on the Atlantic side, follows
qua and terminates at Brito. on the Pa
ciiic side. The distance from ocean to
ocean is about 1s6 miles. Plans are given
for the great harbors required at Gerry
town and Brito. The most difficult en-
cheering work is the dam across the San
Juan river, to regulate the waters of the
canal hinges almost entirely on the time
required for the construction of this DAM.
The commission says eight years would
building. AT least two years will be corr |
stunned in preparatory work and opening
a harhor at Greytown, so that If work
on the dam should be commenced imme-
diatcly thereafter. the time required for
completing the entire work will be about |
ter. years.
lowing estimated cost of a canal on the |
Eastern division 0rom Greytown to
Boca San Carlos damn, So. 662. 900.
Middle division 0rom Boca San Carlos |
dam to Las Lajas), SIS. AS, 900.
Western division (from Las Lajas to
Brito). s51.6 0.0e0.
Ninety-eight miles of railroad $3.50. 05c. |
Total, $I67 iii. 600.
Engineering. police. sanitation and gen. /
eral contingencies $50, 42S, 000.
Aggregate 500, $40. 900.
This estimate Is for a canal suitable for |
by the largest ships now in |
existence, and thus in accordance with [
the terms of the bill pending in congress. |
1T provides for a double system of locks, |
that navigation can he maintained if |
one system be closed for repairs or re-
nev.als. If a single lockage system is
the cost win be reduced $1a,6lS,- |