The evening times., 1900-01-05
THE IsTHMIAN CANAL.
Discussing the Availability of the
Different Routes,

| The House Committee on Interstate Com
merce, at its meeting yesterday, decided
to grant hearing on Friday, January u,
to the representatives of the new Panama
Canal Company. While it is apparent that
the advocates of the Nicaragua route are
in the majority, the line between Colon
and Panama is not without enthusiastic
! friends.
In support of their contention they de-
clare that the New Panama Canal Company
has great advantage over any other en-
terprise to successfully and quickly open
a maritime canal between the two oceans.
This advantage, they say, lies in the COM
plete state of preparation which existed
when that company began its work as well
as the important amount of work which had
already been done They say that in wild
and unsettled countries roads and railways
must be built to ensure transportation;
houses must be erected for the accommo-
dation of large numbers of men; work
shops for repairing the plant as well as
general stores to supply all the necessaries
or life must be maintained, yards must be
laid out including a complete railway
system, and finally hospitals must be built
to ensure the necessary medical service
and care that may be needed by large
force of men working in tropical country.
All this, il is said, has already been pro-
YIded by the New Panama Canal Company.
An independent railroad crosses the 18TH
mus and runs along the line Of the canal.
immense storehOuses and workshops are
located at the important centres About
1000 dwelling houses are distributed along
the line of the canal. There is a large hos
ptal at Panama, with seventeen paviIions
well fitted up, and having 3Si beds, with
accommodation for 500 patients. There is
another hospital somewhat smaller at Co
Ion. These hospitals are under the man
agement of Sisters of Charity.
The plant of the new company includes
a dozen powerful dredges, fifty eXcayators.
about 100 standard gauge locomotives l. 200
large cars. great number of narrow
gauge dump cars, hoists OF all descriptions,
and materials for track repairs and main
tenance of trackage. Another advantage
for the Panama route it is claimed, is in
the great amount of work which has al
ready been done. The total amount OF
materials yet to be removed is 65.50O.0 600
cubic yards. There have already been re-
moved 5000, 900 cubic yards.
The statement is made in behalf of the
more southerly route that il is only forty
six miles as against 1S0 miles for the
route through Nicaragua, but the Nicara
guam partisans say that this is not a fair
comparison. In the $50 miles there is an
interior sea and a large river which by
improvement may be rendered nayigable.
Altogether in the Nicaragua route there is
said to be less than half the amount of
canalization required on the Panama route.
Another objection urged against the Pana-
ma route is that for all nOrth-bound ter
minalS the teTmini are 45O miles further
Still another objection is the Panama line
will require an artificial lake for the regu-
lation OF the Chagres River whereas. il is
said, nature has produced a magnificent
ilywheel in Lake Nicaragua covering 3 600
square miles which prevents any food
there. Ii is said that the harbur OF Colon
is a good harbor In quiet water. but that
in storms il is necessary for vessels TO
weigh anchor aud put 70 sea