Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1900-12-05
The ISTHMIAN CANAL
COMMISSIONS REPORT
Nicaragua Route Is the Most
Practicable One.
COST OF CONSTRUCTION
1t Is Estimated at 5000, $40, OOO-It
Is Stated That 1t Will Require Eight
the Original Plans.


Is Stated That 1t Will Require Eight
Years to Complete It-Changes In
the Original Plans.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The report of the
isthmian canal commission, submitted
by the president to congress today, gives
as the unanimous conclusion of that
body that 1.-THE most practicable and
feasible route for an isthmian canal, un.
der the control, management and own.
ership of the United States, is that
known as the Nicaraguan route"
The commission estimates the cost OF
this route at 5000, 540, 900. This esti'
mate is much in excess of any hereto
fore made, and is due to increased di-
mansions and other features not hereto
fore considered. The commission also
estimates the cost of a canal by the Pan
anna route at $142, 342, $40, according to
one route, or 1856, 378, 458 according to
another route.
AS between the Nicaragua and Pan
route the commission sums up num-
Der of advantages favorable to the for.
mer. 1t states also that, under conces-
sions given by the Panama government
to the Panama Canal company, that
government is not free to grant the nec'
essary rights to the United States, OK
cent upon conditions made by the COM
panv.
Inc report is a document of about H.
900 words, almost as long as the presi-
dents message Although the work Of
the commission is not yet completed,
many of the field parties being still out,
yet it has been sufficiently advanced to
make it practicable to present this pre-.
iminary report giving the essential find.
ings.
Can Be Completed In Eight Years.
The commission says eight years
would probably be reasonable time for
building it. At least two years will be
consumed in preparatory work and
opening a harbor at Greytown, so that
if work on the dam should be com.
menced Immediately thereafter the time
required for completing the entire work
will be about ten years.
The commission then submits the fol-
lowing estimated cost of canal on the
Nicaragua route:
Eastern division, (from Greytown to
Boca San Carlos dam) $50, 900.
Middle division, (from Boca San Car.
los dam to Las Lajas) $25. 425, 900.
Western division, (from Las Lajas to
Brito) SOL $685. 900.
Ninety eight miles of railroad, 81, $780,.
900.
Total, 1857, 117,O
Engineering, police, sanitation and
general contingencies, 1913, 423,O00.
Aggregate, 5000, $4,000
This estimate is for a canal suitable for
navigation by the largest ships now in
existence, and thus in accordance with
the terms of the bill pending in con-
gress. IL provides for a double system
of locks, so that navigation can be main
tanned if one system be closed for re-
pairs or renewals. If a single lockage
system is provided the cost will be re.
duced $19,678,00 Narrowing tie bot
tom one-third will permit a further re-
duction of SIG, 949, 900. This would bring
the estimated cost down to $163, 913, 900.
The commission reports that the value
of the French work already done is es-
timated at $33, 934, 1853.
1t is estimated that the tonnage that
would use the canal will amount to T.
030,027 tons in 1909.
Estimated Cost of Construction.
The estimated cost of building the
Nicaragua canal is about sos, 900
more than that of completing the Pan
anna canal, leaving out the cost of &C
qniring the latter property. This meas
ures the difference in the magnitude of
the obstacles to be overcome in the &C
tual construction of the two canals and
covers all physical considerations.
In view of all the facts, and particu-
larly in view of all the difficulties of OBJ
tanning the necessity rights, privileges
and franchises on the Panama route,
and assuming that Nicaragua and Costa
Rica recognize the value Of the canal to
themselves and are prepared to grant
concessions on terms which are reasona.
BILE and acceptable to the United States,
the commission is of the opinion that
the most practicable and feasible route
for an isthmian canal to be "under the
control, management and ownership of
the United States" is that known as
the Nicaragua route.
The message of the president trans.
uniting the report is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen.
tatives:
transmit herewith, for the informa-
ton of the congress, a preliminary re.
port of the isthmian canal commission,
dated Nov. 30, 1900.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Tvooutivo Mansion Too 1000