Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-11-29
CANAL COMMISSION REPORT
Nicaragua Route Is the Best and
Cheapest.
COST ABOUT Sl89,864, O62.
~ the Panama Route the Cost Is Esti-
mated At ss63,374,s6Y, and in Addition
the Canal Concession Would Cost the
United States sI08,14I,OO0.

O0lto0 STATES OlOB,
The Interoceanic Canal ComCai!
sion's report is in favor of the Nicara
qua route and 1t will be submitted tt
Congress before the holidays. Her,
Is the report In full:
The Investigations Of this commission
nave shown that the selection Of 18th,
most feasible and practicable route" iol
an lstnmlan canal must be made belv ect
Furthermore, the complete problem in
wolves both the sea level plan Of cana
and that with locks. The Panama route
alone Is feasible for sea level canal, al
feasible for canal with locks. The time
required to complete sea level cana
on the Panama route, probably more
than twiTe that needed to build a canal
consideration. aside from other serious
features OF Its construction. 1t Is the
conclusion Of this commission therefore.
That plan of canal with locks should
De adopted. A comparison of the prin-
cipai 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-
tlon or each route on the Atlantic side
a governed by the course of river. the
now from whose drainage basin Is the
only source of water supply for the pro-
posed canal; and the summit levels, diff
terlng about twenty feet in elevation
in oal being the lower-are formed by
lakes natural In the one case and arti-
hciai In the other requiring costly dams
ana water ways for their regulation and
Tor the impounding of surplus waters TO
reduce the effect of floods and meet OPP
Grating demands during low water sea-
sons; Inc investigations made in con-
nnectlon with the regulations of Lake
NICARAGUA have demonstrated that the
ply for the canal by that route. The in
itiai proposition, on the other hand, for
the Panama route, is to form Lake Bohio
SO as to yield water supply for traffic
OIL lo,OO0O0O tons, which can be supple
mented when needed by an amount suff-
clent FOR more than four times that
tramc by means of the Alhajuela reser-
voir For all practical purposes this
FOR the Panama route. So far as the
practical operation of a ship canal is
concerned. therefore. the water supply
features on both lines are satisfactory.
Ine dimculties 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
Commission Desires Perfect Structure.
A less expensive dam at Bohio has
been proposed, but through portion of
Its length 1t would be underlaid by de-
post Of sand and gravel. pervious to wa
ter. The seepage might not prove dan
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
q somewhat greater cost. The water
ways at both locations present no seri-
Gus difficulties. The advantages in the
in favor of the Nicaragua route. The
system of regulation at Lake Bohio con-
sists OF the discharge of water over the
crest Of weir, as the lake level rises
Chargers River. The plan of regulating
the level Of Lake Nicaragua is less SIM !
pie, though perfectly practicable 1t in i
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 IN length. and the limited naviga-
ton of San Juan River and lake; but the
Government is now building
q railroad along the beach from Grey
town to Monkey Point. about forty-five
miles to the northward, where it pro
BY means OF a pier in the area protect
I'd by the point goods and material for
anal purposes can readily be landed
md transported by rail to Greytown.
nj N ITO
Pacific coast This railroad and port
would be of great value during the pc
'iod Of preparation and harbOr constr,c-
ion. and should materially shorten that
period.
Panama Has Railroad in Operation.
A well equipped railroad is in opera
ion along the entire length of the Pana-
ma route. and existing conditions there
lfford immediate accommodation for a
arge force of laborers. The Nicaragua
quite has no natural harbor at either
nd. At both the Atlantic and Pacific
criminal. however. satisfactory harbors
nay be created by the removal of ma
erial at low prices and by the construc-
ion of protective works of we'll estab- /
Ished design. An excellent roadstead.
by islands. already exists at
Panama. and no work need be done there
or either harbor construction or MAIN
eiiance. At Colon, the Atlantic termin-
IS of the Panama route serviceable
arD0r already eX1StS. III mas amor ded |
arbor accommodations for many years,
ut Is open to nCrthers, which a few
lines In each year are liable to damage
hips or force them to put to sea- Con-
iderahle work must be done there to
reate a suitable harbor at the entrance
the canal. which can be easily entered
nd Will give complete protection to ship
ing lying within.
Excavation Work Compared.
The completion of the harbors. as
tanned for both routes, would yield but
title advantage to either, but the bal
nee Of advantages, including those of
and operation. is probably
favor of the Panama route. The ex-
tence of a harbor at each terminus of
ne Panama route and line of railroad !
cross the isthmus will make 1t practi-
able to commence work there, after the :,
oncessions are acquired, as soon as the ,
ecessary plant can be collected and put -,
place and the working force organized.
his period of preparation is estimated
one year. In Nicaragua this period Is p.
,timated at two years. so as to include ,
$50 the construction of working harbors
nd terminal and railroad facilities
The work OF excavation on the Mica ,
lgua route Is distributed 1t Is heaviest l
EAR Conchuda, at Tamberoto and in the /
vide west of the lake. On the Panama $
'ute it is largely concentrated in the 1
ulebra and Empersdor cuts which are $
Method for Concentrating Blood.