The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-07
|REPOR0 TO CONGRESS OF THE CANAL
COMMISSION.
NICARAGUA ROUTE PREFERRED
The Commission Gives Its Estimates
b Nicaraguan Routes-The Former
Much the Smaller-The Commission
Givss Reasons for Considering the
Latter the More Preferable OF the
Two Routes-Estimated Tonnage.

Washington, December 4.-The report
lof the isthmus canal commission, sub
United by the president to congress to-
day, gives as the unanimous conclusion
Iof that body that 1.-The most practical
Ible and feasible route for an isthmian
canal, under the control, management
land ownership Of the United States, is
that known as The Nicaragua route.
The commission estimates the cost of
this route at 5000. $40, 900. This estimate
lis much in excess of any heretofore
made. and is due to increased dimen-
lsions and other features not heretofore
considered. The commission also esti-
lmates the cost of a canal by the Pana-
ma route at s142, 342, $40, according to
one route or s156, 1913. 25S according to
lanother route. AS between the Mica
ragua and Panama route. the commits
sion sums up a number of advantages
favorable to the former.
1t states also that under the conces-
sion given by the government of CO.
lombia to the Panama Canal Company,
that government is not free to grant
the necessary rights to the United
Estates except upon conditions made by
the company.
Along the Nicaragua route, it was
found that the short section of partial
lily constructed canal is perhaps in as
Igood shape today as it was when the
work was stopped. The buildings, how
lever, are all rotten n the dredges,
boats, ETC., are worthless. The COM
mission visited President Zelaya and
lother leading officials of Nicaragua and
found them greatly interested in the
project. The occupation of their ter
ritory by the United States for canal
purposes did not seem to be regarded
AS a serious obstacle, provided the SOW
lereignty of the republic was respected.
Along the Panama route, the commits
tSion found a large force of workmen
lengaged upon the canal line, about 1000
in number, according to the Panama
company. The ana had been opened
to some extent at both ends.
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 ar Ameri-
can canal along the Nicaragua route.
Trips were also made along the Darien
route.
The commission having in MIND the
increasing size of ocean going vessels,
Twas determined to fix upon a depth of
lthirty-five feet on mean low water and
"a bottom width of $50 feet, with some
increase of dimensions at certain points.
These dimensions are larger than those
proposed for any previous canal
scheme.
A width of $50 feet will allow all but
very largest ships to pass each other
in the canal, while the locks are of a
dimension to permit even the largest
lships afloat to be m~aneuvre The size
Iof the locks is 740 feet in length, 81
feet in width in the clear, with a depth
lof thirty-five feet.
essentially the lines laid down by the
Nicaragua canal commission in it's re-
port of 1879. 1t begins near Grey
town on the Atlantic side, follows the
San Juan river, enters AXE Nicaragua
land terminates at Brito on the Pacific
side. The distance from ocean to
ocean is about 1S6 miles. Plans are
given for the great harbors required
lat Greytown and Brito. The most diff
Ificult engineering work is the dam
Iacross the San Juan river to
regulate the waters of the lake, on
whose construction hinges largely the
time required to build the canal.
The commission says eight years
would probably be a reasonable esti-
mate for the time Of building it. At
Ileast two years will be consumed in
preparatory work and opening a har-
Ibor at Greytown, so that if work on the
THE dan should be commenced imme-
Idiately thereafter, the time required
flor completing the entire work will b.
Iabout ten years.
Concerning the Panama route, the
commission says its natural attraction
lies in the combination of a very narrow
Iisthmus with a low summit.
The estimated cost Of construction
totals $11S, 618, SIG while the engineering,
policing, sanitation and general con
Itingencies swells the aggregate esti-
innate to $142, 342, $40. This estimate is
lcapable of reduction to Sis, 941, 215 if
adopted.
1t is estimated that the tonnage that
would use the canal will amount to
IL, 030, OPT tons in 1909.