The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-05

upon depth OF thirty-five feet ut mean
loW water and a bottom width OF l50
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 excessiv. to-day. the commits.
sion points out that the canal Is not
likely to he opened within ten years,
during which time the Increase in mari
time dimensions is likely to continue.
a width OF $50 feet will allow all but the
largest ships to- pass each other in the
| canal, while the locks are OF a dimen-
sion to permit even the largest ships
| afloat to be manauvred. Thu size OF
locks Is 14o feet length. 81 feet width In
the clear.
Taking up the Nicaragua route In de-
tall the commission says that the route
adopted follows essentially the Lines laid
down by the Nicaragua canal commits.
sion In its report Of lS97-lS99. 1t begins
near Greyt6wG,3 o. the X,liat:c side,
follows the SGDoJu9n river. enters Lake
Nicaragua ard'9Hrminatts at Brlto, on
the Pacific side. ~
Entire Distance 1876 Miles.
The distance from ocean to ocean is
about lSG mil.s..- Plans a,e given for the
great harhors redulr2.l ut Greytown
and Brito. The most difficult engineer.
ing work is the dam across the San
Juan river. TO regulate the waters of the
lake. the time required to build the
canal hinges almost entirely on the
time required for the construction Of
this dam. The, commission says eight
years would probably be reasonable
estimate for the time OF building it. Al
least two years will b. consumed In pre-
paratorv work AMI opening a mrbor at
Greytown. so that II work on the dam
should be commenced Immediately
thereafter. the time required for COM
pleting .thc entire work will be about
ten years. gn&
The commission then submits the fol-
lowing estimated cost OF 4 canal on the
Nicaragua route,
Eastern division, ffrom Greytown to
Boca San Carlos dam) So. eNco.
Middle division. rrom Bocn San Car
los dam 10 Las Lajas), s25,425.O0O.
Western division, from Las Lajas TO
Brito), 5l.5S0,COO.
Ninety-cisht miles OF railroad. ST.
. $4,000.
Total. slG7.1l7COo.
Engineering. police. sanitation and
general contingencies. s33.i23, O0O
| Aggregate. s200.5i0,000.
| This estimate Is for canal suitable
for navigation 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 sys.
TEN OF locks, so that navigation can be
maintained II one system be closed for
repairs or newals. II single ockagc
Iystem Is provided the cost will be re-
duced Sl9,67S.OO Narrowing the bot
tom one-third will permit a. further re-
duction of sl6,9i9,0oO. This would bring
the estimated cost down to sl63,9l3 ,OOO
Concerning the Panama route. the
commission says It's natural attraction
lies In the combination OF very narrow
isthmus with a low summit. The width
of the isthmus Is less than thirty-fvc
mles. while the summit Is nearly 800
feet above mean tide. After detailed
description Of the entire route. the COM
mission gives the following estimated
cost OF completing the Panama canal
route: Aggregate $li2 ,342.579.
This estimate Is capable OF reduction
TO Sll5,9il,215 II single locks and mar
row bottom are adopted. An nlterna-
tive estimate Is substituted, based or
having the Alhajupia dam bulk to I'm
pound the waters Of the upper Chagrrs
This estimate is slFC.37S.25S.i
The commission reports that the value
of the French work already done Is re-
timaied at s3J.934.i6
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