Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-26
FAvoRs NICARAGUA ROUTE.
A Member of lsthmian Commission
Explains the Advantages.


Philadelphia, Dec 21-Dr. Emory
r. Johnson, professor of transporta-
ton and commerce in the University
of Pennsylvania and a member Of the
Isthmian Canal Commission, delivered
lecture before the Manufacturers
club on The Proposed Isthmian Canal.
The lecture was supplemented by
stereopticon views made from photo
graphs secured by members of the
commission during their investiga-
tions.
Dr. Johnson discussed the relative
merits of both the proposed routes
and advanced the arguments which
led to the selection of the Nicaraguan
route DR.. Johnson said in part:
The commission was appointed in
June, 1899, by President Mckinley in
accordance with the act of March 3.
1899. The commission was intrusted
with work of great magnitude. 1t
was to investigate all practicable To-
cations for canal across the 1SthmuS
to ascertain the cost OF constructing
and placing the same under the con
troll of the United States. The presi-
dents instructions to the commission
were broad and comprehensive. You
are TO find the route he said The
commission, acting upon these instruc-
lions, carefully weighed the advanta-
ges of the two routes and the evil
dence obtained supported the choice
Of the NiCaraguan route. In making
up the commission, nine experts were
selected. Admiral Walker was chosen
from the navy, two men were detailed
from the army engineers, four civil
engineers were chosen, one lawyer,
Ex-senator PascO, was appointed, and
one expert in economics and COM
merce was selected. The work of the
commission embraced detailed surveys
of the Nicaragua and Panama loca-
tons and of the isthmus of Darien to
the east of Panama; the concessions
and treaties concerned with the &C
QUESTIONS Of each of the possible
routes were studied, and a detailed
study was made of the relations of the
canal to the industries of the United
States and to the commerce Of our
own and foreign countries.
THE general results of the engineer.
ing investigation were that there is no
practicable route for a canal across the
Isthmus of Darien east of Panama. AS
between the Nicaragua and Panama
routes, the engineering merits are not
greatly in favor of either route. Both
routes are feasible. The Panama line
| is shorter and has fewer curves. The
Nicaragua line is longer and runs
through less well-known region. Il
| has the advantage of a great natural
| lake as a part of the line, and it would
make a shorter route between the
| North Atlantic and the North Pacific
It would cost $1,000 900 a year to main
tain the Panama canal and $3.50 ZOO
for the Nicaragua canal.
LAS regards concessions, the ad
yantages are with the Nicaragua
route. There are no private conces
sions or rights that can prevent the
United States from treating directl,
with Nicaragua and Panama; where
as, the Panama route is controlled b.
the Panama company, which has
canal concession running till 1910. anC
owns the Panama railroad, the conces
sion for which STIMULATES that no cana
shall be built in the neighborhooc
without arrangements being mad
with the owners of the railroad.
by the time the canal is open I,
commerce there will be 6,500,00O yes
sci tons, net register, of available trat
fic. BY the end Of the first decade fol