Evening star., 1902-01-23
CANAL
Interest in Evidence Or Which Last
Recommendation Was Based,
ALL FACTS TO Be BROUGHT OUT
Advocates of Nicaragua Route
Confident in Their Position.


There is feeling of great interest among
the strongest advocates for an interoceanic
canal over the evidence that has been laid
before the canal commission, and on which
it based it's report. 1t is understood that
the full proceedings before the canal COM
mission during its recent investigation will
be laid before Congress at early day,
and that this record will throw much light
upon the entire controversy between the
relative advantages of the Panama and the
Nicaragua canal routes. All the arguments
brought out on both sides of this question
will be given and even the laymen may
find some independent judgment as to the
desirabiiity of each Of the routes.
The fact that the canal report was rem
dered as unanimous report, whereas the
members of the commission were divided in
their opinions on the subject, Is causing
scme little comment on the part of the peo-
pie who feel that by this method the COM
mission has given the world an impression
that the Panama route received greater
favor at their hands than it actually did.
The purpose of the commission, it is un-
derstood, in making it's report in this form
was in order to prevent any contention or
further delay in regard to the matter, the
advocates Of the Nicaraguan route while
preferring that line for the canal. being
Joining in the report of the majority so as
ID make 1t unanimous signifying that their
objection to the Panama route was not an
insuperable one. This places them in the
rather than in position of being convinced
that the obstacles in the way of canal at
Panama were not to be overcome.
Advocates of Nicaraguan Route.
The advocates of the Nicaraguan route
in Congress are confident that a discussion
of the question as 1t will be discussed in
the Senate will be of such a character
that there will be no likelihood of stam-
pede for the proposition for a canal at
Panama. They believe they can show by
evidence that must be accepted by every
one that both engineering data and prac-
tical experience have proven that the long
er, or Nicaraguan, route will be the more
desirable, involving less questionable en-
gineering problems and in the end proving
more valuable property than would the
canal at Panama as 1t would have to be
constructed. While the maintenance Of the
longer canal would be somewhat more cost
ly on account of the length of the canal
bed the banks of which would naturally
have to receive attention from time to time,
yet it is declared that the flow Of the
Shagres river during times of flood and the
absence Of water in that river during the
dry season when water is needed will cause
expense Of character to quite equal any
expense that may be involved in the main
tenance Of the Nicaraguan route The
Shagres river has for many years been re-
garded by people who favor a canal as
practically an insuperabe obstacle toward
that project. The river in its high stages
times, it is said. it will not supply enough
water to fill the great locks of the canal
at all times In order to keep them constant
ly in operation. In order to overcome this
latter proposition storage reservoirs for
water have been SnPQfSte6 in order fo
vent the damage that might be done by the
river in Its highest stages at times Of flood,
diverting channels have been provided for
in the plans for the canal so that the river
may be run off from the canal at times
when it might injure its construction.
These are questions that will be brought
forward In the Senate and discussed in ad-
dition to the question affecting the title
which the Panama Canal Company would
give for its property if the United States
were to attempt to buy it.
Eject of Commissions Report.
There is no doubt that the fact that the
canal commission has reported in favor of
the Panama route has had very wide-reach-
ing effect on even the friends of the Nicara-
guam canal These senators declare that
in all matters of that kind their reliance
must be placed very largely upon expert
opinion, and with the reputation that is en-
joyed by each member of the canal COM
mission 1t is said that they could hardly
have made such a report without the very
best reasons for doing SO, especially in view
Of the fact that their judgment will be
shown in the course Of time to be either
correct or faulty, and will mean to large
extent either making or destroying their
regulations engineers. Those who take
the view that expert Judgment is the best
guide on which they can proceed are salts
fed that whatever discussion that may be
brought up in the Senate there will be no
failure the part of the commission tn am
swer criticisms that may be made of its
report. But, at any rate, it is hey ond doubt
that this discussion will prove extremely
interesting, and will probably contain some
statements that will cause surprise. AS
stated. practically every argument that was
used before the commission in favor of the
adoption Of the Panama route, as well as in
favor of the Nfcaraguan canal route will
be made public and subjected to popular
criticism and comment.