BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-02-15

one. and, 90 far from impeding navigation,
he Wind will materially aid It, especially for
ailing vessels. T ese could 60 westward
through the canal with free wind without
taking tow line except at the locks, and
return most Of the canal with free wind
without taking tow.line except at the
locks, and return most Of ths way on close
reach. The commission SAYS in its report
that the Nicarsgua route Is the better tor
sailing vessels, but belittles the recommeda
tion BY predicting the speedy disappearance
OF the cIass. More than halt the tonnage
under our Gag to day is In aailing vessels,
and these will continue to play an important
part in our cossting trade for msny years
That the engineering difficulties at Pans
ma are far greater than at Nicaragua "a
conclusiyely shown by the report. The
difficulties are graphically set forth in the
estimates Of cost. The harbor at Grey
~ill cost 50 1893 $50; that At Colon, 3 8. .O57
TOT; the Ooncbuda dam and subsidiary
structures (Nicaragua), S6,062, ,972; Bohio1
dam and subsidiary structures (Panams),
&12057 lit; eight locks, Nicaragua route,
$38 III, ,l52; three locks, Panama route,
&26 429 997; canal cutting, Greytown to
S.n Juan River, above Oonchuda dam,
43 20 m,les, S43.4i7.1S4; Oulebra cur,
rsnsma, 7.9l mdes, &4i Ala, AGO..
There are no such difficult and uncertain
problems on the Nicaragua route % the
Bohio dam and the OulebrA cut, and, despite
The decision Of the commission that the for
mer can be built and the latter be opened,
there are engineers who maintain that both
are impractosbls, except at very much
greater cost than the commission has figured.
some engineers, both at homo and abroad.
assert that those works are impracticabls at
any COST The Frenchmen are evidently
satisfied they will never be able to cot
through the Culebra, and it would be wite
f,r Us to rest conteut with their failure. Our
$4,000. 600 could be spent much more
prvfsaoly on the n caragua Canal, and We
would save good deal more than 3 8, 900,
600 in the end.
The comm ssion says: "a canal BY the
Panama route will be SIMPLY means Of
0 ,mmnnication between the Two ocssns.
-. The natural features of the country
through wk cI the raute passes are such
that no considerable Development is likely
10 occur as resa'e of the construction and
operation of canal.... In addition to its
use az means Of communication between
the two oceans, canal by the N caragua
route would bring Nicaragua and large
portion OF Costa Rics and other Central
American states into close and easy CON-
muuicatoD with the United States and with
Earope. The intimate business relations
tnst would b. established with the people of
the United States during the period of
construction by the expenditure OF vast sums
of money 10 these states and the use OF
american pro,ucts and manufactures would
be likely to continue after the completion
of the work, 10 the benefit Of our manutactut.
ing, agricultural aud other intsrests.0
Not the feast important Of the advantages
OF the Nicaragua route is the superior
healthfulness of the country. Those who
have visited the taco localities will need no
arguments on this poiat. The commission
tell Us: .sThe Panama rou.e has lugubrious
history, from which the NIcaragus route is
free. The notorious mortality which attend
ed the cousr ruction Of the Panama Railroad
and later the operations Of the Panama
Canal COMPANY has taught lesson which
will not soon be forgotten for that route.
Among the wnite employees of this com
MISSION sent to EicarAgus there we're fewer
Gasea Of sickness THAI there would probably
have been among the same number OF men
employed in some paris OF the United
States. Among those sent to Panama the
proportion Of SEX was greater. Oa the
Nicaragua line during the operations OF the
Maritime Canal Company the health OF the
force was reported to be good.... IL 10
stated by Mr. Buuau- Vsrills, at one time
chief engineer Of the old Panama Canal
Company, that ont Of 100 individuals sent
to the isthwus not more than twenty, ~ an
average, could remain there, and even
these lost . part Of their value" 1t 10 Of
vital importance that the canal should pass
through . healthy couatry, and Nicaragua
10 one Of the healthiest on earth.
UNPREJUDICED