New-York tribune., 1902-02-07
MANnINGO CANAL ROUTE.
SENATOR SCOTT THINKS 1T is THE MOST
PRACTICABLE AND FEASIBLE.

Washington Feb 6-Tn the Senate to-day
Mr.. Scott Of West Virginia, called up and had
read a resolution he offered several days ago.
providing for the appointment of a commission
of experts to examine what is known as the
San Bias, or Mandingo, route, for an isthmian
canal. and to report to the Senate the cost of
constructing a canal by that route. He said
that nearly one-fourth of the sum necessary
to construct a canal by any of the routes pro-
posed already had been expended in an en-
deavor to find suitable route for an isthmian
canal; but. confronted as Congress was by a
proposed appropriation OF nearly S200.000,OO0
for the building of an interoceanic waterway.
it was the duty of prudent men carefully in
vestigate every possible route He disclaimed
any intention to obstruct the consideration of
canal bill, or to delay the building of the canal
itself; but he maintained that the question of
route was still debatable. After thorough In
vestigation he was convinced that the San Bias
route met practically every requirement OF the
proposed waterway. but because the adoption
Of that route involved the driving of tunnel
through the granite of mountain range suffi-
cienty large to admit of the passage of any ship
afloat, the route had been regarded as imprac-
ticable. Personally he was convinced that such
a tunnel could be constructed at a reasonable
cost.
Mr.. Scott explained that the San Bias route
connected the two oceans from the Bay of Man
dingo in the Gulf Of San Bias. on the Atlantic
side, TO Pearl Island Harbor in the Gulf of
Panama, on the Pacific side of the isthrnus In
Guiding the FIVE mile tunnel. the canal would be
thirty miles long. He said that the harbors OF
the San Bias route had excited the enthusiasm
Of all engineers who had investigate them. He
believed that electric power made It entirely
practicable to tow ships through the canal by
electric trolley. He thought it improbable that
sailing vessels would be able to navigate any
other OF the proposed routes.
The route he proposed. he said. offered great
natural and commercial advantages He did
not believe any would question the desra-
bility OF ship canal by the San Bias route IL
the tunnel which it involved could be con-
structed, and he had doubt this could be
done. He referred to the Hoosac Mont Cenis
ST. Gothard. Arlberg and Simplon tunnels as
daring and successful efforts OF modern tunnel
engineering. He quoted both American and Eu-
ropean engineering authorities to show that the
construction OF the San Bias tunnel was prac-
tcable
NINE FAVORABLE POINTS STATED.
For the following reasons Mr.. Scott believed
that the San Bias route the only feasible
and practicable sea level canal route:
l. It's healthy location.
2. Its shortness
3. It's magnificent harbors.
4. Its total absence OF locks.
:. The possibility OF working gangs OF men
night and day. in the wet and dry seasons un-
der good sanitary conditions.
6. The very important consideration that BY
this route, and no other, sailing vessels could
be towed by electric power. by night well
by day, thus effecting a great saving OF time
and expense.
Z. The economical maintenance OF the canal
when completed.
s The permanency OF it's rockbed and the
absence of earth embankment.
O. The desirable fact that ii can be con-
structed within three or at most. five years.
Mr. Scott strongly urged the adoption OF his
resolutions. saying that he wished to be con-
WINGED of the practicability or mpracticabinty
of ship tunnel and had submitted his resolu-
tion pure business proposition.
Mr.. Morgan, chairman OF the Committee on
Interoceanic Canals moved that the resolution
offered by Mr.. Scott be referred TO that com
mittee. He said that the committee had had
General Correl. the promoter OF the San Bias
route, before IL. and the matter had been re-
ferred to subcommittee, which now con-
ducting investigation OF that project. He
pointed out that Colombia would probably op-
pose the adoption of the San Bias route, as
that would destroy both the Panama Canal and
the Panama Railway Company. II would be a
hopeless task, he thought, to convince Colombia
that the San Bias route was the most desirable
one proposed. However, he said the COMMITTEES
was investigating thoroughly all matters per-
tanning to any isthmian canal, and would lay the
facts concerning all routes before the Senate.
Without objection the resolution was referred
to the Committee on Interoceanic Canals