The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-05

the terms of the bin pending in congress-
IL provides for double system of locks
in order that navigation can be maintain
ed If one system is closed for repairs or
renewals. III single lockage system is
provided the cost will be reduced $ia.61s.-
COO Narrowing the tom one-third will
permit further reduction of si69i9, 900.
This would bring the estimated cost
down 10 1853, sl3 900.
Concerning the Panama route the conn
mission says It's natural attraction lies
In the combination of a very narrow 18TH
mus with low summit. The width OF the
isthmus is less than ahirty-1ve miles.
while the summit IS barely 500 feet above
mean tide. After a detailed description
OF the entire route, the commission gives
the following estimated cost of complet-
ing vhe Panama canal route: Colon en-
trance and harhor, E.334.e73; harbor of
Bohio locks. including levees, $40 us, 2SS;
Bohio locks, including excavations. si0.-
9S2, $40; Lake Boho, s., 7ss. iia; Ohispo gates,
s295. 416: Culebra section. s44,37s. .3S5: Pedro
Miguel locks. including excavation and
dam. sSgas,S2s; Pedro Miguel level sl.i69-
Gil: Mirafores locks. including excavation
and spillway. s.. 7202s3; Pacific level. s12-
3S69l4. Bohio dam s. 500 600: Gigantic spill
way, sl,lsi52i. channel between the
marshes, $i4ts. q7e; Chagres river diversion,
si,s29976; Gatuncillo diversion. 100000:
Panama railroad diversion. 81 i.2675oo. to-
tai. sliS6iS SIG, engineering. police SANTA
tion and general contingencies. 500. 723 1863
Aggregate. sii2.se.57e
This estimate Is capable of reduction to
sli5,9ii, ,2l5 II single locks and a narrow
bottom are adopted. An alternative esti-
mate Is submitted based on having the
Alheiueia dam built 20 impound the wa
iers Of the river Chagres. This estimate
Is s156.s7S. .25s. The commission reports
haf th. afs.-
ready done IS estimated at s3s. .as4, ,i6s
II Is estimated that the tonnage that
would use the canal win amount TO $780,
o2; tons In 1909.
Commercial Advantages.
Referring 10 the commercial advantages
OF an Isihmian waterway the report saws:
"As compared with EUROPE. the rrnlted
states VIII derive from the canal far
Frsater benefits. both Commercially ana
THE commerce Of Europe with the Pa
clhc coast OF North, Central and south
America, under existing conditions, il
somewhat larger han the total volume Of
the present traffic Of the United states
that may be considered tributary to the
canal but his fact does not Indicate the
relative advantages which the canal will
possess for the trade of Europe and that
of me tnited States. As som as Il has
been opened our trade with the west
coast Of South America Will rapidly In
crease. as VIII also the volume OF our
trade with The Orient The amount OF
the American commerce thfxaieh the canal
VIII quickly snrpass the total amount OF
European ira ffc
AN American canal will strengthen the
unity of the national and political inter-
ests ot he United States. develop rs Pa
CHIC territory and promote the commerce
and industries Of the entire country. The
dement's which Europe Will derive from
the cana will be commercial In addi-
ton 20 TINS, ours VIII be political and
Industrial. BY bringing the Eastern and
western sections Of our country Into close
relations, by reducing the time and cost
or transporting our Western products 10
kurope. and by enabling the Eastern,
uthern and Central states to reach the
raw materials and markets of Pacific
countries cheapiy and expedifiousiy the
canal VIII more fully identify onr pl-
iltichl ana social interess and quicken The
Industrial activity Of every section Of the
United States The iron and steel fhe
textiles and the other mapufa etures ~
each Easter and Southern state. the coal
the south and the grain and cotton from
the South and the gain and forest prod-
ucts of the many sections will naW nut
70 foreign countries in great volume.
generally by the ports ~ All our sea-
huards-the Atlantic. the Gulf and The
FAciRc. The canal viii cause the COM
n.sL.i1n ~ ne United siaies win En-
America and the Orient To - much ko.n-
er with The result that the trade OF our
county VIII Increase NOR rapidly than
VIII thHi ~ our rivals. The canal vlii
aid the United states iu securing ana
maintaining a position % pFlmRev Ia lie
international trade of the world"
Two Canals Compared.
The commission concludes With care
ful comparison 81 the NicaGAEUs ana PAN
anna routes o. shows that the distance
between Atlantic and Pacific ports s.
shorter by The Nicaragua than hv re
Panama rQC.s. This 4 in pAri offset hy
The Increased ume IN Eesiins through the
Nicaragua canal Tne iafter route ls re-
ported to be- mara favorable for sauins
vessels, The Nicaragua Feute is also re-