Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-11-29
canal COMMISSION REPORT |
Nicaragua Route Is the Best and
Cheapest.
COST ABOUT s18s, 864,o62
>Ry the Panama Route the Cost Is Esti-
mated at Se53,374.sss. and in Addition
the Canal Concession Would Cost the
United States SlO8.141,OOO.

The Interoceanic Canal Commits
sion's report is in favor of the Nicara-
qua route and it will be submitted to
Congress before the holidays Here
is the report in full:
The Investigations of this commission
have shown that the selection or Inc
most feasible and practicable routs tor
an isthnian canal must be made between
the Nicaragua and Panama locatoEs'
Furthermore. the complete problem IN,
wolves both the sea LEVEL plan OF canal
and that with locks. The Panama route
alone is feasible for a sea level canal, al
shouSh both are entirely praeticabbe t ana
on the Panama route probably more
with locks. excludes it from favorable
consideration. aside from other serious
features of its construction. 1t is the
conclusion Of this commission. therefore;
that plan of canal with locks should
be adopted. A comparison of the prin-
~cipai physical features. both natural ana
some points of similarity. Both routes
cross the continental divide less than ten
miles from the Pacific Ocean. the Pana.
summit being about double the height
OF that in Nicaragua.
Bot4, Routes Require Costly Dams.
For more than half its length the loca-
<<ton of each route on the Atlantic side
3S governed by the course of a river, the
Glow from whose drainage basin Is the
only source of water supply for the pro-
posed canal; and the summit levels. diff
iering about twenty feet in elevation
Panama being the lower-are formed by
IaiICs. natural in the one case and arti-
hcial in the other. requiring costly dams
and water ways for their regulation and
for the imponnding Of surplus waters to
reduce the effect of floods and meet OPP
era ting demands during low water sea-
sons The Investigations made in con
nection with the regulations of Lake
demonstrated
lake affords an inexhaustible water sup
ply for the canal by that route. The in
the Panama route. is to form Lake Bohio
SO as to yield water supply for a traffic
OF 100000 TONS which can be supple
Client for more than four times that
traffic by means of the Alhajuela reser-
yoir For all practical purposes this
for the Panama route So far as the
practical operation of a ship canal Is
fea lures on both lines are satisfactory.
The difficulties disclosed and likely to be
encountered in the construction of the
dams are less at Conchuda. on the Mica
raeua line. than at Bohio. on the Pana-
ma route Both dams, however, are
practicable. but the cost of that at
ciluGa.
4 less expensive dam at Boho has
It's length il would be underlaid by a de-
post Of sand and gravel. perVious to wa
Ter. The seepage might not prove dan
gerous. but the security of the canal is
directly dependent upon this dam, and
tae policy of the commission has been to
select the more perfect structure, even at
n somewhat greater cost The water
ways at both locations present no seri-
crs difficulties. The advantages in the
in favor of the Nicaragua route. The
system Of regulation at Lake Bohio con-
sists of the discharge of water over the
crest of a weir. as the lake level rises
under the influence of floods in the
Chargres River; The plan of regulating
.y,ie. though perfectly practicable. It in
wolves the operation of movable gates at
such times and to such extent as me
The experience and judgment of the OPP
orator are essential elements to effective
regulation of this lake. The regulation n3I,
means of transportation now found on
the Nicaragua route are the narro ;
miles in length, and the limited naviga-
ton Of San Juan River and lake: but the
Nicaraguan government is now building
town to Monkey Point. about forty-five
miles to the northward. where 1t pro-
poses to establish I,s + fSa asea nrotect
ed by the point, goods and material for
canal purposes can readily be landed
Such piers are in constant use on our
Pacific coast. This railroad and port
would be Of great value during the Pc
eriod Of preparation and harbor construc-
tion and should materially shorten that
period. '-.#f=s .aI' E'.' ..-
Panana Has Railroad in Operation.
don along the entire length of the Pana-
ma route. and existing conditions there
afford immediate accomm T%s H;aa for
route has no natural harbor at either
end. At both the Atlantic and Pacific
may be created by the removal Of ma
teriaI at low prices and by the construc-
ton of protective works of well estab-
protected by islands. already exists at
Panama, and no work need be done there
for either hacbor construction or main
us Of the Panama route. a Serviceable
farbor already exists. 1t has afforded
harhor accommodations Tor many years.
but is open to northers. which a few
times in each year are liable to damage
ships or force, them to put to sea. Con
create a suitable harbor at the entrance
of the canal. which can be easily entered
and will give complete protection to ship
ping lying within.
Excavation Work Compared.
The completion of the harhors. as
planned for both routes. would yield but
little advantage to either. but the bal
ance of adVantages, .ncludlng those Of
in favor of the Panama route. The eX-
sstence of a harhor at each terminus of
the Panama route and q line of railroad
across the isthnus VIII make it practi-
cable to commence work there. after the
are acquired. as soon the
necessary plant can be collected and put
in place and the working force organized.
This period Of preparation is estimated
at one year. In Nicaragua this period is
sstina ted at two years so as to include
also the construction Of working harbors
and terminal and railroad facilities.
The work of excavation on the Mica
ragua route is distributed: it is heaviest
near ,Conchuda. at Tamberoito and in the
divide west Of the lake. On the Panama
route 1T is largely concentrated in the
and Emperador cuts. which are
Method for Concentrating Blood.
A cheap and rapid method for con-