Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-23

% 10 feet deem with a summit level of
81 feet, a second level of IS feet and
third of SO feet above the sea. The Cha-
gres river was to be controlled by means
of a dam at Bohio. forming a navigable
lake in the valley of the Chagres, and an
other dam further up the Chagres river,
which was to supply water to the summit
level. An international technical commls-
sion of engineers examined the plans OF
tho new company and pronounced them
perfectly feasible, the estimated cost OF
completing the canal being set down at
$102. 100000. Our own Isthmian Canal COM
mission propose a 35-fOot canal, with a
9O-foot summit level and three locks,
which they estimate can be built for $l44,-
233, S5S. The latest step Of Importance con-
nected with the canal has been the offer
of the Panama company TO sell its prop
erty for the sum of s40,OOOOO0.
Canal from the Engineering Standpoint
The report of the Isthmian canal COM
mission has swept away from the whole
canal question a mass of misconceptions
and misstatements with which IL has been
hitherto clouded. After a careful perusal
of the report one is impressed with the
conviction that the physical obstacles TO
the construction of a canal either at
Nicaragua or Panama have been master
ed; and the uncertainties have in a large
from the standpoint of construction and
subsequent maintenance and operation,
Panama offers decidedly the better route
l. In the first place, the Panama region
is much better known and understood; the
observations extend over a longer period;
the surveys have been considerably more
elaborate and complete; the climatic con-
ditions are. better known; and work hav-
ing been opened up along the whole route
and prosecuted with more or less energy
for twenty years, the nature of the soil.
its action when exposed to the weather.
and in the process of handling Is, by this
time. well understood.
3 At Panama there is a we'll built rail-
road throughout the whole length of the
canal. terminating on each ocean with a
good harbor with ample wharf and dock
age facilities Should the United States
determine to build this canal, contractors
could go down and commence work at
once for good housing accommodation is
already on the ground for an army OF
from 10 900 to 20. 900 laborers. At Nicaragua,
on the other hand. two entirely new har-
bors would have to be created. at cost
of s.. $50. 600. and 100 miles of double track
railroad would have TO be constructed at
a total cost of $3.50. Co., In fact. two
years time and $11.OOO,0O0 Of money must
be expended before the actual construction
of the canal itself could be commenced
on any adequate scale.
g. At Nicaragua the work would be
spread out over 1873 miles of distance.
whereas at Panama it would be concen-
trated within a distance of 40 miles-a fact
which would conduce greatly to facility
and economy of construction.
4. At Panama the plan of control of the
flood waters and of maintenance of the
summit level is very much simpler than
at Nicaragua. At Nicaragua a 5000
souare-mile lake and so miles of canal
lied river have 10 be maintained at
predetermined level, alike in periods OF
drought and heavy rainfall; while now
of 100000 feet per second of water has to
be controlled in the San Juan and San
Carlos rivers. At Panama, on the other
hand, the problem involves the control
of a single river with maximum flow
of 1900 cubic feet per second and by the
erection of a single dam the flood waters
of this river are conserved in summit
lake the conditions of whose regulation
are accurately determined. At Panama
the problem. is relatively far less stupen-
dous. and the engineering and general ny
draulic data. are better known.
). At Nicaragua there is a 11O-foot sum-
nit and seven different levels. involving
the construction and operation of eight
widely separated locks. whereas at Pan
anna there are but two levels and three
sets of locks, and the summit level is 70
feet lower.
6. The total length of the Nicaragua
canal is nearly four times that at Pana-
ma, and the time of transit is longer by
about p hours. the respective periods be-