New-York tribune., 1901-12-05
IA VORS NICARAGUA ROUTE
REPORT OF THE ISTHMIAN CANAL COM
MISSION SENT TO CONGRESS.

Washington. Dec 4.-The report of the 18TH
mian Canal Commission sent to Congress
to-day. The commission, said in these
dispatches several weeks ago, favors the Mica
ragua route and makes estimate of S1S9-
s64.o62 the total cost Of construction of the
canal through Nicaragua. The estimated cost
OF the Panama route is S144 2s33, ,35S, but. the
report says. it would S109 141 900 to obtain
the Panama concession The commission values
the work done at S40Oo0.OO0. The report says
The Panama route is feasible as a level canal,
while the Nicaragua Canal must be by locks:
but Lake Nicaragua will furnish an inexhaust-
fble supply of water for the canal The Mica
ragua route has natural harbors either
END, but satisfactory harbors may be construct
ed. Harbors already exist at each end of the
Panama route. but considerable work must be
done at the entrance of the harbor the At
lantic side. With adequate force and plant, the
commission estimates that the Nicaragua Canal
can be completed in six years. exclusive OF two
years for preparation. Ten years is estimated
TO complete the Panama Canal
The total length of the Nicara qua route is
1896 miles, and of the Panama route, 1909
miles The estimated cost of operating and
maintaining the Nicaragua Canal annually is
Sl,o50,To 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 Nicaragua Canal
=.
report says is more advantageous for COM
merce that originating the west coast
OF South America. For the Gulf ports the ad
vantage is two days, and for most of the ports
on the Atlantic and Pacific one day. The Near
aqua route is said to he better for sailing
sells, on account Of favorng winds Hygienic
conditions also favor Nicaragua.
The commission says the United States should
acquire control OF strip of territory ten miles
wide from TO sea. through which to build
the canal The consent of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica must be obtained to construct the canal,
but the report says this easily be secured.
The concessions granted by the Colombian Gov
ernment TO the Panama Canal Company have
many years to run. and new concessions cannot
be granted to the United States The report
closes as follows:
After considering all the facts developed by
the investiga tions made by the commission the
actual situation as it now stands and having in
view the terms offered by the new Panama
Canal Company, this commission is Of the opin-
ion that the most practicable and feasible route
for an isthmian canal. to be under the control.
management and ownership of the United
State, is that known as the Nicaragua route.
MR. MORRISON PREFERS PANAMA
George s. Morrison. a member of the commits
sion, submits q minority report favoring the
Panama route. He says the estimates for the
Nicaragua Canal do not make sufficient pro-
visions for unknown conditions and contingent
cies No consideration, he says. has been given
to accidental interruption of traffic by Nicara-
qua, which he thinks would not be so likely to
occur at Panama He believes that better con-
ditions and terms be arranged through the
acquisition Of the Panama Canal Company's
rights than by any negotiations with Nicaragua
and Costa Rica- The government after secur-
ing these rights he says. could negotiate direct
with Colombia for the right to construct the
canal He closes by saying:
The Panama route has advantages over the
Nicaragua route in cost Of construction, In cost
of operation and in convenience when done
while its is less likely 70 lead to local inter
national complications. If the United States
Government is to build isthmian canal. the
Panama route is the best.