The age-herald., 1901-12-05
Isthnian Canal Commission Makes Report to Congress
 After an Investigation
ESTIMATE COST $198,864,O62
Commission Says the United States Should Acquire Strip of Coun- try Ten Miles Wide
 for the Canal.

| Washington. December 4-Following is l an abstract of the report of the isthmian canal commission, which was sent to Congress today:
 The commission. as anticipated several weeks ago. favors the Nicaragua route, and makes an estimate of $lS9 S64, ,e62 as the total cost of the construction of the canal through Nicaragua The estimated cost of the Panama route Is $l44 234, ,35e. but. the report says. 1t would cost $10e,- 14lG00 70 obtain the Pauama concession.
 The commission values the work done at $4000O,00O The report says the Panama route .s feasible as d sea level canal while the Nicaragua route must be by locks. but Lake Nicaragua will furnish an inexhaustible supply of water for the canal. The Nicaragua rouse has no nat ural harbors at either end, but satisfac- tory harbors may be constructed
 Harbors already exist at each end or the Panama route. Lut considerable work must be done at the entrance of the har- Dor on the Atlantic side. With adequate force and plant, the commission esti- mates that the Nicaragua canal can be completed in six years, exclusive Of two years for preparations. Ten years is esti- mated to complete the Panama. The total lergth of the Nicaragua route is 1S366 miles, and the Panama route 49.09 miles,
 Cost Of Nicaragua Route.
 The estimated cost of operating and maintaining the Nicaragua canal an- nually is H,350,0o0 greater than that of the Panama canal The estimated time for deep-draught vessel to pass through the Panama canal is twelve hours, and through the Nicaragua canal thirty-three hours The Nicaragua route. the report says, is more advant- ageous for commerce. save that origi- hating on the west coast of South Amer ica. or the Gulf ports the advantage Is two days, and for most of the ports on the Atlantic and Pacific one day. The Nicaragua route Is said to be better for sailing vessels account of favoring winds. Hygienic. conditions also favor Nicaragua. S
 The commission says the United States should acquire control of a strip of ter ritory ten miles wide from sea 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 can easily be secured. The company have many years to run and the new concessions cannot be granted the United States. The report concludes as follows:
 After considering all the facts devei- oped by the Investigations made by the commission the actual situation as 1t now stands, and having in view the terms offered by the new Panama Canal Com pany this commission is of the opinion that the most practical and feasible route for an isthmian canal to be under the control, management and ownership ol the United States is that known as the Nicaragua route"
 Minority Favor Panama.
 George s. Morrison, a member of the committed, submitted a minority report favoring the Panama route He says the estimates for the Nicaraguan canal do not make sufficient provisions for un- i known conditions and contingencies No consideration, he says, has been given to accidental interruption of traffic by Nicaragua; which, he believes, would not be so likely to occur at Panama He believes that better terms can be ar- ranged through the acquisition of the Panama Canal Company's rights than by any Nicarguans with Nicaraugua and Costa Rica. The government, after se- curing these rights, he says. could sne- gotiate direct with Colombia for the right to construct the canal.
 He closes by saying:
 "The Panama route has advantaees over the Nicaraguan route in cost of construction, in cost of operation and | in convenience when done, while it's usa Is less likely to lead to local international complications. If the United States gov ernment is to build an isthmian canal the Panama route is the best"