The age-herald., 1900-12-05
Eight Years Required.

The commission says eight years would probably be a reasonable estimate for the time of 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 commenced immediately thereafter, the time required for completing the entire work will be about ten years.
 The commission submits the following estimates of canal on the Nicaragua route:
 Eastern division (from Greytown to Boca San Carlos damp, $S2 662,0 900.
 Middle division Qrom Boca San Carlos dam to Las Lajas), $25, ,425, 900.
 Western division (from Las Iajas to Bri-' to), $51, ,6S0, GOO.
 Nnety-eight miles of railroad, $7,35O0OO.
 Total, S167, 117, 900.
 This estimate is for a canal suitable for navigation by the largest ships now in ex- istence and this in accordance with the terms of the bill pending in Congress It provides for a double system of Jocks so that navigation can be maintained if one system be closed for repairs or renewals If single lockage system is provided the cost will be reduced $l967S,00O Narrowing the bottom one-third will permit a further reduction of $16,949,00O This would bring the estimated cost down to $163 913OOO.
 Panama Route.
 Concerning the Panama route, the com mission says it's natural attraction lies in the combination of very narrow isthmus with a low summit. The width of the isth- mus is less than thirty-fve miles, while the summit is barely 300 feet above mean tide. After a detailed description of the entire route the commission gives the fol- lowing estimated cost of completing the Panama canal route:
 Colon entrance and harbor S7 334 673
 Harbor to Bohio locks, including leyees $0,71S,2SS.
 Bohio locks, including excavation, $1o,- 9S2,
 Lake Bohio $2, ,7S6, ,44s Obispo Gates, $295, ,436. Culebna section, S44 37S, ,335.
 Pedro Miguel locks, including excavation and dam, $S, S,496,326. Pedro Miguel level, $1,169611. MiraforeS locks, including excavation and spillway, $5, 720, 363 Pacific level $12, 366, ,914 Bohio dam, SS,500000. Gigante Spillway S1,1A524.
 Channel between the marshes. s,44s,076. Chagres diversion, $1 929, 976 Gatuncillo diversion, $100,000 Panama Railroad diversion, $1,267, 800.
 Total s11S,61s,S16.
 Engineering, police, sanitation and gen. eral contingencies s2S, 23765.
 Aggregate, s142, 2,S42,579. Estina ates Can be Reduced.
 This estimate is capable of reduction to $l15 941, ,215 if single locks and a morrow bot tenn are adopted. An alternative estimate is submitted based on having the Alhatuela dam built to impound the waters of the Upper Chagres. This estimate is $156,3 BIS, 25S. The commission reports that the value of the French work already done is estimated at $S3 934 4G3.
 It is estimated that~tonnage that would use the canal will amount to 7,03O O27 tons In 1909.
 Referring to the commercial advantages of an isthmian waterway, the report says
 "As compared with Europe, the United States will derive from the canal far great CT benefits commercially and industrially than any country. The commerce of Europe with the. Pacific coast of North Central and South America. under existing condi- tions, is somewhat larger than the total volume of the present traffic of the United States that may be considered tributary to the canal, but this fact does not indicate the relative advantages which the canal will possess for the trade of Europe and the United States. As soon as 1t has been op- ened our trade with the west coast of South