Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-26
WHICH SHALL 1T BE, PANAMA OR
NICARAGUA?

NICARAGUA?
The United States government is
about to undertake the construction of
a canal to connect the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, which, when success
fully completed will be the mightiest
event in favor of the peaceful inter
course of nations which the globe pre-
Bents to the enterprise of man. All OBJ
stacles to a choice of routes are re-
moved through the recent treaty with
Great Britain and the invitation of the
Panama Canal company to transfer all
Its rights III Colombia, for a consider
alton in dollars. AS long ago as when
Central America was under the domin-
ion of Spain, survey was made and
the cost estimated, but this was all
Later on, when Central America was
consolidated under one government, it
entered into a contract with Captain
Bailey, retired officer of the British
army to survey the proposed route
from the mouth of the San Juan in
Nicaragua to point on the Pacific
ocean. Capt. Bailey made the survey
complete, except small and unimpor-
tant part of the San Juan river, in the
year 1867. This route contemplated
the utilization of Lake Nicaragua 1928
feet above the level of the Pacific
ocean, which lake, according to his
soundings, has an average depth Of
ninety feet amply sufficient for sea go
ing vessels. The distance from ocean
to ocean by this survey through canal,
mated cost from $40 900 900 to s25 ,OO0,-
600.
A valuable contribution to the liter
allure on this subject is found in an adj
dress delivered recently before the
New York Chamber of Commerce by
PHILIPPE Buanna-Varlla, former engi-
neer-in-chief Of the Panama canal,
wherein he institutes a comparison of
Panama and Nicaragua to the great adj
vantage of the former route. 1t was
made as an argument in favor OF Pan
ANA, but the facts he presents are
worthy of the most profound consider
alton. A brief synopsis of the features
presented will be attempted Accord
ing to Mr.. Vanilla, the total length of
canal navigation in Nicaragua will be
120.53 miles, to which are to be added
sixty-siX miles in free deep water eth
er in river or lake, making total
length of 1868 miles from ocean to
ocean. OF the 1908 miles of canal,
22.19 miles will consist of an artificial
channel deeper than the bottom of the
lake and 27.96 miles will consist of a
similar channel dug through sand and
silt below the bed of the San Juan riy-
er. AS comparison he presents the
Panama route with but thirty.eight
miles of deep water navigation through
the artificial lake that will be formed
by the Bohio dam.
The Culebra cut which at the begin
ming was the most formidable obstacle
which the old Panama company had
~ contend against, is not now, what
was then; it was originally 274 feet,
LIT it has igaen reduced, and now but
70 feet of excavation remains to be
done. On the Nicaragua route there
i;j3 one cut of 297 feet and there are
{ hers of 21S and ITO feet on the San
On river. He also draws attention
u The reports of the 1sthmian Canal
4 commission as stating that Bohic dam
cBn be built of earth as well as mason
is.swhereas the great dam at Boca San
arlos would be most difficult work
aad would have total height of 15t
feet from crest to foundation.
After calling attention to the fact
that nine locks are necessary at Mica
ragua and only five at Panama ant
that ships will have to be lifted III
feet at Nicaragua; and at Panama
ninety feet, all of the locks of the lat
ter will be founded on rock and only
five of the Nicaragua locks can have
that advantage; there is also this fea
ture-the San Juan river has a much
larger water shed, than the Chagres
river and from two to two and a hall
times more rainfall at Nicaragua thar
at Panama must generate more cur
rents on the Nicaragua route.
The question OF silt. enters into this
subject. The great rainfall and the
mighty foods that descend the sal
Guam river gathered from its own bed