The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-05
1t Recommends tnat the United States
Construct the Proposed Water
way Across Nicaragua.
OPPOSED BY MR.. MORRISON
WHO SUBMITTED A MINORITY RE-
PORT FAvORING PANAMA ROUTE.
Difference in Cost of Construction ant
OperatiOn-What the Panama
Company Asks.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The report of
the isthmian canal commission was sent to
Congress to-day. The commission, as was
anticipated several weeks ago, favOrs the
Nicaraguan route and makes estimate
of $1Ss, ,O62 as the total cost of cOnstruc-
tion of the canal through Nicaragua. The
estimated cost of the Panama route is s144,-
234,35S, but, the report says. it would cost
slO9, ,141 600 to obtain the Panama conces-
sion. The commission values the work done
at $4,000, 600 The report says the Panama
route is feasible sea-level canal, while
the Nicaragua route must be by locks, but
Lake Nicaragua will furnish an inexhaust-
ible supply of water for the canal. The
Nicaragua route has no natural harbors
at either end, but satisfactory harbors may
be constructed. Harbors already exist at
each end of the Panama route. but consid-
erable work must be done at the entrance
Of the harbor on the Atlantic side.
With adequate force and plant the COM
mission estimates that the Nicaraguan
canal can be completed in six years, exclu-
sive of two years for preparation. Ten
years is estimated to complete the Panama.
The total length Of the Nicaraguan route
is 1S3. .66 miles and the Panama route 1900
miles The estimated cost Of operating and
maintaining the Nicaraguan canal annual
ly is $1,350,000 greater than that Of the
Panama canal. The estimated time for
a deep-draught vessel TO pass through the
Panama canal is twelve hours, and through
the Nicaraguan canal thirty-three hours.
The Nicaragua route, the report says, is
more advantageous for commerce. save
that originating on the west coast of South
America. For the gulf ports the advantage
is two days, and for most of the ports of
the Atlantic and Pacific one day. The Mic
aragua route is said TO be better for sail
ing vessels account of faVoring winds.
Hygienic conditions also favor Nicaragua
The commission says the United States
should acquire control of strip of terri
tory ten miles wide, from sea to sea-
through which TO build the canal. The con-
sent of Nicaragua and Costa Rica must be
obtained to construct the canal, but the
report says this can easily be secured.
The concessions granted by the Colombian
government to the Panama Canal Com
pany have many years to run, and new
concessions cannot be granted the United
States.
The report concludes as follows: after
considering all the facts developed by the
Investigations made by the commission,
the actual situation, as ii now stands and
having in view the terms offered by the
new Panama Canal Company, this COM
mission Is OF opinion lndt the most prdctl-
cable and feasible route for an isthmian
canal to be under the control, management
and ownership of the United States. is
that known as the Nicaraguan route"
George s. Morrison, a member of the COM
mission submits minority report favoring
the Panama route He says the estimates
for the Nicaragua canal do not make suf-
ficient provisions for unknown distances
and contingencies. No consideration he
says, has been given TO accidental inter-
ruption of traffic by Nicaragua, which, he
thinks would not be so likely TO occur at
Panama. He believes that better condi-
tions and terms can be arranged through
the acquisition of the Panama Canal Com
pany's rights than by any negotiations wi n
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The govern
ment, after securing these rights, he saws.
could negotiate direct with Colombia for
the right TO construct the canal. He closes
by saying: THE Panama route has ad-
Vantages over the Nicaragua route i'm cost
of construction. in cost of operation and
in Convenience when done. while its use is
less likely 10 lead 10 local international
complications. If the United States govern
ment is to build an isthmian canal the
Panama route is the best"