The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-05
Oyer Two Hundred Million Dollars
Required for Waterway.
IN EXCESSOFF0 FORMER ESTIMATES
This Is Due to Increased Dimensions
and Other Features Not Hereto
fore Considercd-Dcpth OF
80 Feet, Bottom Width
Of $50 Feet Deter
mined Upon.
Gy Associated Press.)

Dy Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.--The report OF
the Isthnian Canal Commission, submitted
by the President to Congress today, gives
rs the unanimous conclusion of that body
that "the most practicable and feasible
route for an Isthnian Canal under the
control, management and ownership OF
tho United States s that known as the
Nicaragua route.
The commission estimates the cost OF
this route at s2co.54o,GOo- This estimate is
much in excess of any heretofore made,
and is due to increased dimensions and
other features not heretofore considered.
The commission also estimates the cost
Of a canal by the Panama route ut Sl42,-
342.579 according to one route, or SI56,SiS,-
25S according to another route. AS be-
tween the Nicaragua and Panama route
the commission sums up number OF ad-
y:ntage.5 favorable to the former.
1t states also that under the concession
given by the Government of Colombia to
the Panama Canal Company. that Gov
erErnent is not free to grant the necessary
rights to the United States except upon
conditions made by the company.
IN GOOD SHAPE
Along the Nicaragua route it was found
that the short section Of partially con-
structed canal is perhaps in as good shape
to-day as it was when the worh was
stopped. The buildings, however, all are
rotten and the dredges, boats, etc, ere
worthless.
The commission visited President Zeleya
and other leading officials OF NicarE qua
,,,t -t.i in he
project The occupation OF their territory
bv the United States for the canal pur-
posed did not seem to be regarded as a
serious obstacle, provided the sovereignty
OF the requisite WIS respected.
Along the Panama route the commission
found a large force of workmen engaged
upon the canal line. about 2.oeo in number,
according to the Panama Company. The
canal had been opened to some extent at
5otl erT55.
No vn.ue should be given to the plant
now on the I.5thmus. a visit was also
made to President Iglesias, of Costa f;ca,
and h:s Cabinet, and a strong sentiment
found to exist for an American canal
along the Nicaragua route
Trips were also made along the Darlan
route.
THE DIMENSIONS.
The commission having in mind the in
creasing size of ocean-going vessels, 1t was
determined to fix upon a depth OF % feet
al mean low water and a bottom width
of $50 feet, with some increase OF omen
sions at certain points. These dimensions
are larger than those proposed for any
previous canal scheme. a width OF lo0
feet will allow all but the very largest
ships to pass each other in the canal,
while the locks are OF q dimension to per-
NIT even the largest ships atioat to be
1nanouvred. The size of locks is l40 feet
length. 81 feet width, in clear water. with
a depth of So feet.
The Nicaragua route adopted follows es-
sentially the lines laid down by the Mica
ragua Canal Commission in its report OF
1S97-'99. It begins near Greytown. on the
Atlantic side, follows the San Juan hiver.
enters Lake Nicaragua and terminates at
Brito, on the Pacific side. The distance
from ocean to ocean is about 1S6 miles.
Plans are given for the great haroors re-
auired at Greytown and }Brito. The most
difficult engineering work is the dam
across the San Juan River to regulate the
water of the lake, on the construction OF
which hinges largely the time required TO
build the canal.
EIGHT YEARS REQUIRED
The commission says eight years would
probably be a reasonable estimate Tor the
time OF building it. The first two years
will be consumed in preparatory work ana
in opening a harbor at Greytown, so that
If work on the dam should oe commenced
Immediately thereafter. the time required
for completing the entlre "ofh "ouiu oe
about ten years.
The commission then submitted the fol-
lowing estimated cost On the Nlcara qua
route:
Eastern Division. (from Greytown to
Boca San Carlos dam So, 5o2,o wv; A1dd!e
Division. from Boca San Carlos dam 10
Las Lajas) s25,ss5.0c0 Western u Dlvislon,
ifrorn Las Lajas to Br.to) sol ,tse,pV!; %
miles of railroad. 81 COO. Total, asi,-
li7.Co0. Engineering, police, sanitation and
general contingencies. $50, 5,14:3.VyV sggFe-
gate, 500, $4,000.
This estimate provides for & double sys-
tenn Of locks. but a single lockase system
would redEcs tne cost S19GtS.tH- Narrow
ing the bottom one-third Will permit a
further reduction Of Sic, 1900. tn would
bring the estimated cost down 70 lo0,slo,ev'
PANAMA ROUTE.
Concerning the Panama route, the com
mission says its natural attraction lies IN
the combination OF a very marrow isthEnus
with a low summit. Ine es.-l.lateu cost
OF construction totals SilS.6lS,Sl6. White the
engineering police. sanitation, and gen
erai contingency sweiis the assEesated e.
tirnate to S1iaa.SS4a5ia.
This estimate is capable of reduction to
Sill. .215 if single locks and a narrow bot
tom are adopted. An alternative esti-
mate is submitted, based on having the
.Aihaiuel dam built TO inlpeund the water
OF tils. upper Cfiagres. MS estimate IS
s1566, SIS 2aas
The commission reports that. the Falus
NJ stha tSre,1ca work already done is es-
tinated at s33, ,asi, 46a.
n is estimated that the tonnage that
would use the canal will amount to 7,oso,a27
tons in 1909.
BENEFITS TO THIS COUNTRY.
The report says:
AS compared WITH Europe. the United
sta.es Will derive from the canal far great
- benefits. both commercially ana indus
sfrial,y. The canal once opened our trade
with che west coast OF South America
WIN rapidly, increase, as viii also the vol