Evening star., 1902-01-07
Relative Advantages Of Panama and
Nicaragua Routes.
FINDINGS OF The COMMISSION
important Differences as to the
State Of the Concessions.
COST AND MAINTENANCE


isthmian canal has been somewhat changed
by the offer of the Panama canal property
to this government at s4O00OOOO, the figure
decided upon by the commission as proper
as against the company's original estimate
of $1O9, 141 800, the discussion of the rela-
tive merits of the tive rival routes of Mica
ragua and Panama contained in the report
of the commission is directly pertinent to
the pending issues. The commission, after
reviewing all of the features of the two
routes, and failing to secure a lower esti-
mate from the Panama company than that
named, reported in favor of the Nicarag qua
route. The items of advantage to the Pan
anna line which it found were the shorter
route across the isthmus, a more complete
knowledge of the country and the estima ted
lower cost of maintenance. AS against
these it found that the Nicaragua route, al
though longer in itself, would be shorter in
the majority of cases in actual transit be-
tween the ports of the most frequent COM
munication by reason of lying more north
erly than Panama. In addition, the COM
mission found that the situation with refer
ence to the concessions and franchises was
to the advantage of the Nicaragua project,
the way being directly open there for a
satisfactory agreement between the United
States and the governments involved, while
in the case of Panama the course Is beset
with difficulties.
Earthquakes.
One of the first points of comparison be-
tween the two routes relates to the proba-
bility of earthquakes. No very important
disturbance of the earths surface has oc-
Cured at either place since 1885, The rec
ord for points upon the Nicaragua line
shows fourteen earthquakes, while the rec
ord for Panama shows twenty Eight earth
alync ic
plete as a whole. The commission says:
1T is evident that this list Is not COM
plete enough to justify comparison be-
tween the Nicaragua and Panama routes
as to either the number Of earthquakes or
their severity. They are on precisely the
same footing historically as they are geo
graphically. In neither case are there
recorded any great disasters such as have
occurred in neighborng countries"
The commission further points out that
in consequence of the peculiar character Of
earthquakes. most markedly affecting lofty
structures, the generally underground
works OF canal would not be seriously af-
fected by a disturbance of the crust. 1t
is possible and even probable that the more
accurately fitting portions of the canal
such as lock gates, may at times be dis
torted by earthquakes, that contingency be-
ing classed with the accidental collision of
ships with the gates, and Is to be pro-
vided for in the same way. by duplicate
gates. 1t is also possible that a fissure
might open lIdt WOulu dlH Inc Cdildl anu
if it remained open, might destroy it. But
this possibility should not deter the con-
struct!on of the canal any more than the
fear Of conflagration would prevent the
erection of a great building. Finally, the
commission gives the opinion that such dan
ger as exists from earthquakes is essential
" the same for both the routes and that
in neither case Is 1t sufficient to prevent the
construction of the canal.
Climate.
AS to climate, the Panama has "iugu-
brious history from which the Nicaragua
route is free In Nicaragua the trade
winds are more regular, tempering the heat
and removing miasma more effectively; but
on the other hand the rainfall is greater
at Nicaragua, at least for the east side, and
the resulting humidity Is greater. Among
the white employees of the commission sent
sickness than there would probably have
been among the same number In some parts
Of the United States, while among those
sent to Panama the proportions Of sick was
greater. On the Nicaraguan line during the
opera tions of the Maritime Canal Co. the
health Of the force was reported to be good.
"These operations, however" the commits
sion says, "were of preliminary charac
ter employing but q limited number Of men.
1t is probable that when ten or twenty
thousand men are assembled and the rank
soil is being turned up over a widely de-
veloped line of works, the experience will
be different"