The Red Cloud chief., 1901-11-29
CANAL COMMISSION REPORT
Nicaragua Route Is the Best and
Cheapest.
, COST ABOUT Sl89, 864,O62


iho thttIOCtuulC Sduui III
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 Of the
most feasible and practicable route for
an isthminn canal must be made between
the Nicaragua AID Panama locations.
Furthermore. the complete problem In
wolves both the sea level plan OF canal
and that with locks. The Panama route
alone Is feasible for n sea level canal. al
though both are entirely practicable and
feasible for u canal with locks. The time
required to complete a sea level canal
on the Panama route, probably more
than twice that needed to build a canal
with. locks, excludes II from favorable
consideration. aside from other serious
features OF Its construction. il IL the
conclusion Of this commission, therefore.
that a plan OF canal with locks should
be adopted. A comparison OF tile .prin.
cipal physical features. both natural and
artificial, OF the two routes, reveals
some points OF similarity. Both routes
cross the continental divide less than ten
miles from the Pacific Ocean. the Pana-
ma summit being about double the height
Of that In Nicaragua.
Both Routes Require Costly Dams.
For more than half Its length the loca-
tton OF each route on the Atlantic side
Is governed by the course Of a river. the
How from whose drainage basin IN the
only source OF water supply for the pro-
fering about twenty feet in elevation
Panama being the lower-are formed by
lakes. natural In the one case and arti-
hcial In the other, requiring costly dams
and water ways for their regulation and
for the impounding OF surplus waters to
reduce tho effect of floods and meet OPP
Grating demands during low water sea-
sons. The Investigations made in con-
nection with the regulations of Lake
Nicaragua have demonstrated that the
lake affords an ~inexhaustible water sup
ltial proposition. on the other hand, for
the Panama route. is to form Lake Bohio
80 as TO yield n water supply for a traffic
OF 1o,Ooo.0o0 tons which can be supple
mented when needed by an amount sufi-
Client for more than four times that
traffic by means of the Alhajuela reser-
may DO considered an unlimited supply
for the Panama route. SO far as the
practical operation OF a ship canal is
concerned. therefore, the water supply
The difficulties disclosed and likely to be
encountered In the construction of the
dams are less at Conchuda. on the Mica
ragua line. than at Bohio. on the Pana-
ma route. Both dams. however. are
practicable. but the cost of that at
Bohio Is one-half more than that at Con-
chuda.
COmmisslon Desires q Perfect Structure.
A less expensive dam at Bohio has
been proposed. but through a portion of
Its length II would be underlaid by a de-
posit OF sand and gravel, pervious to wa
ter. The seepage might not prove dan
gerous. but the security Of the canal IA
the policy OF the commission has been to
select the more perfect structure. even at
a somewhat. greater cost. The water
eus difhcuities. The advantages "G In 't the
design and construction OF the dams are
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
GhaIsres River; The plan OF regulating
pie. though perfectly practicable. 1t in.
wolves the operation of movable gates at
such. times and to such extent as the
The experience and Judgment of the OPP
orator are essential elements to effective
regulation Of this lake. The regulation
M IsAe Of n traSsp 20 a"iS%a now found nMs D" ON
the Nicaragua route are the narrow
gauge Silico Lake Railroad, about six
ton Of San Juan River and lake; but the
N~icaraguan Government is nov building
a railroad along the beach from Grey
niles to M the noyrthSard. " Where Il pro.
poses to establish q commercial port
BY means of u pier In the area protect.
ed by the point goods and material 70,
canal purposes can readily be landed
and transported by rail to Greytown
Such. piers are in constant use on oui
Pacific coast. This railroad n port
would be OF great value during the pc
riod Of preparation and harbor construc
tion. and should materially shorten tina
period.
annma Has Railroad In Operation.
A we'll equipped railroad In In opera
ton along the entire length q the Pana
ma route. and existing conditions ther,
large force OF laborers.. The Nicaragua
route has no natural harbor at .eithe
end. At both the Atlantic and Pacif'
may be created by the removal of ma
terial at low prices and by the construc
ton OF protective works OF well estab
protected by islands, already exists a
Panama, and no work need be done Their
for either harbor construction or main
us OF the Panama route, a serviceabl
harbor already exists. II has afforde,
harbor accommodations for many years
times in each year are liable to damag
ships or force. them to put to sea. Con
siderable work must be done there I
of the canal, which can be easily entere
and win give complete protection to ship
ping lying within.
Excavation Work Compared.
The completion OF the harbors, q
planned for both routes. would yield bu
little advantage to either. but the bal
nee of advantages. including those O
maintenance and operation, Is probabl
In favor of the Panama route. The OK
istence of n harbor at each terminus O
the Panama route and a line Of railroa
across the isthmus will make II practi
cable to m work there, after tn
concessions are acquired. as soon as tn
necessary plant can be collected and pu
In place and the workin force organized
This period OF preparation IL estimate
at one year. In Nicaragua this period
estime ted at two years, SO as to includ
also the construction of working harbor
and terminal and railroad facilities.
The work of excavation on the Mica
ragua route Is distributed: It is heavies
near Conchuda, at Tamberoito and In tn
divide west OF the lake. On the Panam
route II Is largely concentrated In TN
Culebra and Emperador cuts. which ar