Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-11-29

able points OF attack, contributing O
quicken completion, but In either OF these
cases such difficulties as may exist can
be successfully met with suitable organi-
za.ion and efficient appliances.
Labor Scarce There.
The time required for constructing the
Nicaragua Canal will depend largely on
the promptness with which the requisite
force of laborers can be brought to Mica
raRua, housed and organized with the To-
Gallons Of heaviest work along the route.
TIE cut through the divide west of the
lake probably will require the longest
time Of any single feature OF construc.
ton. 1t contains 100000 cubic yards of
earth and rock execration or little less
than 10 per cent of the total work OF all
| classes Included. With adequate force
it can be completed in four years. This
indicates under reasonable allowance for
ordinary delays. IL force and plant
enough were obtainable, to secure q
portions Of work on the route the COM
pletion of the entire work might be exc
| cuted within six years after Its being
started. exclusive of the two years esti-
securing and organizing. Of the great
force of laborers needed, largely foreign
ers. so as to adjust the execution OF the
| various portions of the work to such a
| In a practically unpopulated tropical
| country involves unusual difficulties and
would prolOng the time required for com.
pletion. The greatest single feature OF
| work on the Panama route Is the excava-
ton In the Culebra section. amounting
to about 100000 cubic yards Of hard
clay, much Of which is classed as soft
rock. nearly IS per cent of all classes or
material to be removed
Eight Yeas Required.
1t is estimated that this cut can be
completed in eight years, with allowance
for ordinary delays. but exclusive of
two-year period for preparation and for
unforeseen delays, and that the remain
der of the work can be finished within
the same period. The great concentra-
ton of work on this route and its less
amount will require a smaller force OF
laborers than on the Nicaragua route.
Hence the difficulties and delays involved
In securing them will be correspondingly
diminished. The total length of the Mica
ragua route, from sea to sea, Is lsSoo
miles, while the total length of the
Panama route is 1900 miles. The length
In standard canal section, and on the
harbors and entrances, Is q. Is miles Tor
the Panama route. The length of sailing
line in Lake Nicaragua Is 1921 miles,
while that in Lake Bohio is 12.6S miles.
the canaized San Juan is S9.37 miles. The
preceding physical features of the two
lines measure the magnitude of the work
to be done in the construction of water
ways dlOHS the TWO ROUTES. Inc SSti-
mated cost of constructing the canal on
the Nicaragua route is $i5. $50. 104 more
than that of completing the Panama
Canal, emitting the cost of acquiring the
latter property. This sum measures the
difference in the magnitude of the OBJ
stacles to be overcome in the actual con-
struction of the two canals and covers
all physical considerations. such as the
greater or less height of dams. the great
er or less depth of cuts. the presence or
absence of natural harbors. the presence
or absence of a railroad. and the amount
of work remaining to be done. The esti-
mated annual cost of maintaining and |
operating the Nicaragua Canal is $l'35o-
600 greater than the corresponding
charges for the Panama Canal.
Panama Route Shorter.
The Panama route wuuit De I3457 miles
shorter, from sea to sea. than the Mica
ragua route 1t would have less summit
elevation, fewer locks. and 66.44 miles
less curvature The estimated time for
a deep draft vessel to pass through is
about twelve hours for Panama and thir-
ty-three hours for Nicaragua. These pc
RODS are practically the measure of the
water ways connecting the two oceans,
but not entirely. because the risks to
vessels and the dangers OF delay are
greater in canal than In the open sea.
the time required to pass through the
canals need be taken into account only
as an element In the time required by
vessels to make their voyage between
terminal ports. Compared on this basis,
the Nicaragua route Is the more advan-
Iageous for all transisthmian commerce
except that originating or ending on the
west coast of South America; For the
most interested, that between our Pacific
oorts and Atlantic ports. European and
American, the Nicaraguan route Is short
n by one day. The same advantage ex-
SIS hetWaen q nj the
orient. For our gulf ports the advan-
age of the Nicaragua route is nearly
wo days. For commerce between North
Atlantic ports and the west coast of
horter by about two days. Between
ruff ports and the west coast of South
smerica the saving is about one day.
The Nicaraguan route would be the more
adorable one for sailing vessels, because
Il the uncertain winds In the Bay of
Panama. This is not. however, ma
erial matter, as sailing ships are rapid
Y being displaced by steamships. A {
anal by the Panama route will be sim
ly a means of communication between
he two oceans. The route has been a 8
ears, and railroad has been in oper- /
ton there. for nearly fifty years; but !
his has affected industrial changes but t
title. and the natural features of the t
ountry through which the route passes
re such that no considerable develop q
1ent is likely to occur as result Of the /
obstruction and operation of a canal d
n addition to its use as a means Of COM Il
between the two oceans. a
anal by the Nicaragua route would +,
ring Nicaragua and a large portion of -
osta Rica and other Central American =
tates into close and easy communication = =
nth the United States and with Europe :,
he intimate business relations that =
ould be established with the people of .
ne United States during the period of r
obstruction by the expenditure of vast y
inns of money in these states, and the :
Sc of American products and manufac- n
Tres would be likely to continue after n
he completion of the work, to the bene- !,
of our manufacturing. agricultural h
nd other interests.
Nicaragua the Healthier. d
The Nicaragua route lies in a region
sparse population and not in a path n
ay of much trade or movement of peo- h.
e. Conditions productive of much sick :,
ess do not exist. On the other hand. a
population has long existed
1 the Panama route and 1t lies on a m
of comparatively large trade. CT
ong which currents of moving people OF
ON infected places sometimes converge n
us creating conditions favorable to CT
,idemcs. Existing conditions indicate nj
ygienic advantages for the Nicaragua
ute, although it is probable that no b,
SIS effective sanitary measures must be ri
ken during construction in the one case n,
an in the other. The cost of construct til
e a canal by the Nicaragua route and
completing the Panama Canal with AZ,