The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-11-28
icANA[ COMMISSION REPORT.
Nicaragua Route Is the Best and
Cheapest.
COST ABOUT s189, 864,o62.

BY the Panama Route the Cost Is Esti-
mated at $253,374,S5S, and in Addition
the Canal Concession Would Cost the
United States S1Oe,141,ooO.
The Interoceanic Canal Commits
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 "tEe
most feasible and practicable ROUTE" TOR
an lsthmian canal must be made belv sau
t ne. Nicaragua and Panama locations.
voiveS both the sea level plan of canal
and that with locks. The Panama route
aione is feasible for a sea level canal, al
feasible for canal with locks. The time
required to complete sea level canal
on the Panama route. probably more
than twice that needed to build a canal
consideration, aside from other serious
features of its construction. 1t is the
conclusion con of this commission. therefore.
that plan of canal with locks should
be adopted. comparison of the prin-
clpal 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.
tion of each route on the Atlantic side
Is governed by the course of a river, the
flow from whose drainage basin is the
only source of water supply for the pro-
a layyn lie. RI If
feflns about twenty feet in elevation
Panama being the lower-are formed by
t raie natural IT.. in the one case and arti-
and water ways for their regulation and
Tor the impounding of surplus waters to
reduce the effect of floods and meet op-
erating &C, demands during low water sea-
sons; The Investigations made in CON
n NJ, with the regulations of Lake
Nicaragua have demonstrated that the
IA, ,ake al aHo or an ineXhaustible water sup
4tial proposition, on the other hand, for
the Panama route, is to form Lake Bohio
SO as TO- yield water supply for traffic
OF ~ sseOGo tons, which can be supple
mented when needed by an amount suffi-
clens for more than four times that
traffic by means of the Alhajuela reser-
yolr For all practical purposes this
for the Panama route. So far as the
practical operation OF ship canal is
concerned, therefore, the water supply
taIeS Oh pOln ilneS are SATISFACTORY
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-
practicable, but the cost of that at
Bohio Is one-half more than that at Con-
chuda.
Commission Desires n Perfect Structure.
A less expensive dam at Bohio has
been Dr0DOSad thrnI1oh n ri Of
Its length it would be underlaid by de-
post OF sand and gravel, pervious to wa
ter The seepage might not prove dam
gerous. but the security of the canal is
directly dependent upon this dam, and
the policy of the commission has been to
select the more perfect structure, even at
ways at both locations present no seri-
Gus. difficulties. The advantages in the
design and construction of the dams are
In favor OF the Nicaragua route. The
sists sef the discharge of water over the
crest of weir, as the lake. level rises
under the INFLUENCE of floods in the
the level of Lake Nicaragua is less SIM
pie, though perfectly practicable. 1t in
wolves the operation of movable gates at
rainfall on the lake basin may. REQUIRE.
The experience and judgment of the OPP
orator are essential elements to effective
regulation of this lake. The regulation
means of transportation now found on
The Nicaragua route are the narrow
gauge Silico Lake Railroad. about six
miles la length, and the limited naviga-
Eicaraguan Government is now building
a railroad along the beach from Grey
town to Monkey Point. about forty-five
poses to establish commercial port
By means Of pier in the area protect
ed by the point goods and material for
and transported by rail to Greytown.
Such piers are in constant use on our
Pacific coast. This railroad and port
would be of great value during the pc
ton. and should materially shorten that
period.
Panama Has Railroad in Operation.
A well equipped railroad is in opera
tion along the entire length of the Pana-
ma route, and existing conditions there
afford immediate accommodation for a
large force Of laborers., The Nicaragua
end. At both the Atlantic and Pacific
terminal. however. satisfactory harbors
may be created by the removal of ma
terlal at low prices and by the construc-
iished design. An excellent roadstead,
protected by islands. already exists at
Panama, and no work need be done there
en GoGp the tane or
us of the Panama route, serviceable
harbor already exists. It has afforded
harbor accommodations for many years,
but is open to northers. which few
times in each year are liable to damage
ships or force them to put to sea. Con-
siderable work must be done there to
create suitable harbor. at the entrance
of the canal, which can be easily entered
and will give complete protection to ship
ping lying within.
Excavation Work Compared.
The completion of the harbors, as
planned for both routes, would yield but
little advantage to either, but the bal
ance of advantages. including those of
maintenance and operation, is probably
in favor of the Panama route. The eX-
istence Of harbor at each terminus of
the Panama route and a line Of railroad
across the isthmus will make it practi-
cable to commence work there. after the
concessions are acquired, as soon as the
necessary plant can be collected and put
In place and the working force organized.
This period of preparation is estimated
at one year. In Nicaragua this period is
estimated at two years, so as to include
also the construction of working harbors