The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-05
AGAINST PANAMA ROUTE
The Nicaraguan Commends Itself by
Its Superior Advantages.
THE ESTIMATED COST s2OO,54O,oOO
Distance From Greytown on the Atlantic to
Brito on the Pacific 1856 Miles. The
Entire Work May be Com
pIeted in Ten Years.

Washington, Dec. 4.-The report Of
the Isthmian Canal Commission, sub
mitted by the President to Congress
today gives as the unanimous conclu-
sion OF that body, that ''the most prac-
ticable and feasible route for an 18TH
mian Canal, under the control, man
agement and ownership of the United
States is that known as the Nicara-
guam route" The commission esti-
mates the cost of this route at $780,
o4O,OOO. This estimate is much i'm
excess of any heretofore made, and
is due TO increased dimensions and 9th
er features not heretofore consider
ed. The commission also estimates
the cost of canal by the Panama
route at $142, 42,579, according to
one route, or $155.37S.25S according to
another route. As between the Mica
ragua and Panama route the commits
sion sums up number of advantages
favorable to the former.
1T states also that under the con-
cession given by the Government of
Colombia to the Panama Canal Conn
pany, that Government is not free 70
y
ted States except upon conditions
made by the company.
Along the Nicaragua route it was
found that the short section of par
TALLY constructed canal is perhaps in
as good shape today as it was when
the work was stopped.
The buildings, however, are all rot
ten and the dredges, boats, etc, are
| |, Loo. 80
President Zelaya and other leading
officials of Nicaragua and found them
greatly interested in the project The
occupation of their territory by the
United States for canal purposes did
not seem to be regarded as serious
obstacle, provided the sovereignty of
the Republic was respected. Along the
Panama route, the commission found
a large force of worlmen engaged
upon the canal line. about 1000 in
number according to the Panama
Company. The canal had been open
ed to some extent at both ends.
No value should be given to the
plant now ON the Isthmus. A visit
was also made to President Iglesias.
of Costa Rica and his cabinet and a
strong sentiment found to exist for an
American canal along the Nicaragua
route. Trips were also made along
the Darien route.
The commission having in mind the
increasing size of ocean going YES
sells, it was determined to fix upon a
depth of 35 feet at mean low water
and a bottom width of $50 feet, with
some increase of dimensions at certain
points. These dimensions are larger
than those proposed for any previous
canal scheme.
A width of $50 feet will allow all
but the very largest ships to pass each
other in the canal, while the locks are
of a dimension to permit even the
largest ships afoat to be manoeuvered.
The size of locks is 74O feet length, S4
feet width, in the clear with a depth
of 35 feet.
The Nicaragua route adopted follows
essentially the lines laid down by the
Nicaragua Canal Commission in its
report of 1S97-1S99. 1t begins near
Greytown on the Atlantic side. follows
the San Juan River, enters Lake Mica
ragua and terminates at Brito on the
Pacific side. The distance from ocean
to ocean is about 1S6 miles. Plans are
given for the great harbors required
at Greytown and Brito. The most
difficult engineering work is the dam
| across the San Juan River to regulate
the waters of lle lake, on whose con-
struction hinges largely the time re-
quired to build the canal.
The commission says eight years
would probably be a reasonable esti-
mate for the time of building it. At
least two years will he consumed in
preparatory work and opening a har-
Dor at Greytown, so that if work ON
the dam should be commenced imme-
diately thereafter, the time required
for completing the entire work will
be about ten years.
The commission then submits the
following estimated cost of a canal
on the Nicaragua route:
Eastern division from Grevtown to
Boca San Carlos damn, $s2, 100000.
Middle division (from Boca San Car
los dam to Las Laias), S25,245.O00
Western division (from Las Lajas to
Brito), $25.425,00O
Eighty-nine miles of railroad, ST.
$4,000.
Total S167,117,000.
Engineering. police. sanitation. and
general contingencies. $33 33,423,000.
Aggregate. $200,540.000.
This estimate provides for a double
system of locks but single lockage
system would reduce the cost $f9.67S,-
900. Narrowing the bottom one-third