Evening star., 1900-11-24
Cost of Nicaragua Route.


There is a difference of opinion In the
commission as to the cost of the Nicaragua
canal, built to depth of thirty feet. 1t is
placed as low as s1O0, 600 900 by some, and
as high as s140 900, 900 by others. Owing to
the recent increase in the tonnage of ocean
carriers, the commission has been forced to
make estimates for very much larger canal
than was originally contemplated; one Of
these estimates giving draft of thirty
five feet. Necessarily, such an increase In
the size will add greatly to the cost as
compared with original estimates, and the
public, not understanding the reason, Will
be led to believe that the present commits
sion finds the canal to be more expensive
undertaking than did other commissions.
This is not the case, however, for quite to
the contrary, the present commission would
give lower estimate than did other com
missions on such canal as was originally
designed. The cost of a thirty-iVe foot
canal would be about SITS, 100000.
The great engineering feat in the con-
struction of either the Panama or the
Nicaraguan canal is the building of an
enormous dam required to regulate the
flow of water through the locks. In Pana-
ma this dam is located at Bohio. and Is
built to form artificial lake to regulate
the storm waters and to supply the canal
through the dry season.
The Panama engineers propose that TINS
dam shall be built of earth and rest upon
a clay bed. which they discovered at this
place at reasonable depth. The boring
parties of the American commission nave
been looking for rock foundation for this
dam and have gone down 13S feet without
finding it. They discovered the clay bed OF
the French engineers. but found that 1t was
not of great thickness and rested on sand
The great dam of the Nicaragua PROJECT to
be built across the San Juan river at Boca
San Carlos is apparently less dangerous in
its physical surroundings. y Even this dam,
iS Di ME
signed 10 hold back the waters OF the great
river and raise the surfaGe of that river
rinety feet, more or Legs. above Its present
level dt .sm
however, in either project. Allowing that the
Nicaragua canal can be built. for Sl2o,ooo,oOO
and that the Panamananal could be COM
pieted for s100, ,O0o, ,O0Osf asIclaimed by the
Panama company, it bis evident that the
United States could ot,2pay the Panama
people over s20,00oO00 for clear title to
bring both enterprises Within the same
financial limit. and there Is no basis for the
supposition that the Panama people Will or
can meet any such figure. Y
The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty.
In view of the unanimityfiwith which the
necessity of an isthmianS canal Is regarded
by the politicians, thedbusiness interests of
the country and the numberless reports
which have been made by distinguished en-
gineers as to its entire feasibility, it seems
impossible that legislation In that direction
should be much longer delayed. 1t can be
said that the administration expects rati-
ficatioH of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty,
though perhaps with some slight modifica-
ton. The Senate will do nothing positive
in regard to the canal until this English
treaty is disposed Of The canal commits
sion is now In session and will not finish
its preliminary work before the first of the
week.
s
The District Commissioners have allowed
John OKeefe. who =is occupying Il part of
the Rupert tract, which has been pur-
chased by them as the site for the proposed
municipal hospital, to remain on the land
until 1t Is needed for building purposes, he