The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-12-05

comparative Cost of the Panama
 canai-DiGioulty of Acquiring Rights Over That Route.
 Washington Dec. 4.--The report of the Tsthmian canal commission, submit ted by the president to congress to-day, gives as the unanimous conclusion of that body that "the most practicable
 and feasible route for an Isthmian ca nal under the control, management, and ownership of the United States, is known as the Nicaragua route." The commission estimates the cost of this route at $20O, $40, OOd. This estimate is much in excess of any heretofore made, and is due to increased dimensions and other features not heretofore consider ed. The commission estimates the cost of a canal by the Panama route at $142,- S42,579, according to one route, or $l56,- SIS ,25s according to another route. As
 between the Nicaragua and Panama
 
 ber of advantages favorable to the for mer. It states also that under the con- cession given by the Panama govern ment to the Panama Canal company that company is not free to grant the necessary rights to the United States except upon conditions made by the company. The >report is document of about 17,00O words.
 A detailed description is given of the trip over the several routes. Along the Nicaragua route, it was found that the
 short section of partially constructed
 canal is perhaps in as good shape to- day as it was when the work was stop 1 ped The buildings, however, are all rotten, and the dredgers, boats, etc, are worthless. The commission visited President Zelaya and other leading of ficers 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 a serious ob- stacle, provided the sovereignty of the republic was respected.
 Along the Panama route the commis- sion found a large force of workmen engaged upon the canal line about 2,000
 in number, according to the Panama
 company. The canal had been opened
 to some extent at both ends. Immense
 quantities of machinery, implements
 and tools were found along the route.
 Much of this property, the commission
 reports, is i'll adapted to American
 methods of work, and all of it is now
 from thirteen to twenty years old, so
 that 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 sen-
 timent found to exist for an American
 canal along the Nicaragua route. Trips
 were also made along the Darien route. THE COMMISSIONS CONCLUSIONS.
 The final conclusion of the commits sion are stated as follows:
 CD. The estimated cost of building the Nicaragua canal is about 5S,000,00O more than that of completing the Pan anna canal, leaving out the cost of ac- quiring the latter property. This meas- ures the difference in the magnitude of the obstacles to be overcome in the actual construction of the two canals, and covers all physical considerations such as the greater or less height of the dams, the greater or less depth of cuts the presence or absence of natural har- bors, the presence or absence of rail- | road the exemption from or liability to disease, and the amount of work re- to be done.
 The new Panama Canal company has | shown no disposition to sell It's property | to the United States. Should that com pany be able or willing to sell, there is reason to believe that the price would l not be such as would make the total l cost to the United States less than that | of the Nicaragua canal.
 CD. The Panama canal after comple- ton would be shorter, have fewer locks, and less curvature than the Nicaragua tages Is the time required for a vessel to pass through, which is estimated for an average ship at twelve hours for Panama and thirty-three hours for On the other hand, the dis .ance from San Francisco to New York S BIT miles, to New Orleans 579 miles, md to Liverpool 3S6 miles greater via ! Panama than via Nicaragua The time 'equired to pass over these distances being greater than the difference in the ime of transit through the canals, the Nicaragua line, after completion, would 1e somewhat the more advantageous of he two to the United States, notwith- the greater cost of maintain ng the longer canal
 The government of Colombia, in which ies the Panama canal, has granted an exclusive concession, which has many vears to run. It Is not free to grant the necessary rights to the United States, xcept upon condition that an agree nent be reached with the new Panama Canal company The commission be- ieves that such an agreement is inn practicable. So far as can be ascer- aimed, the company Is not willing to ell it's franchise, but it will allow the United States to become owner of part f its stock. The commission considers uch an arrangement inadvisable The 'overnments of Nicaragua and Costa | 2ica, on the other hand, are untram- nelled by concessions and are free to rant to the United States such privi- eges as may be mutually agreed upon.
 In view of all the facts, and particu- arly in view of all the difficulties of ,, htainirg the necessary rights. pr;v.-