The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-15
OPINION OF AN ENGINEER
HE GIVES 1T TO THE SENATE 18TH
MAN CANAL COMMITTEE.
Thinks Panama Route Is Better Than
Lower Operating Expenses.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-Alfred Noble,
civil engineer and a member of the 18TH
milan canal commission, was before the
Senate committee on interoceanic canals
to-day. Mr.. Noble said that it would be
necessary to have absolute control of the
cities Of Panama and Colon in order to
control sanitation. He thought the condi-
tions were favorable for yellow fever dur
ing most of the year the isthmus,
though he was not a sanitary engineer.
There was no yellow fever in Nicaragua as
far as he knew.
Mr.. Noble said the technical engineering
features of the Bohio dam on the Panama
route were more difficult than those of the
Conchido dam on the Nicaragua route. As
to harbors he thought both routes about
equal.
Mr.. Noble was questioned regarding the
cuts to be made on both routes, and said
that at Panama the work would be CONSOLE
dated, while at Nicaragua it would be more
scattered. Replying to Senator Hanna, Mr..
Noble said that this whole matter had been
taken into consideration when the report
was made.
Senator Foster, of Louisiana, asked If the
construction of the Panama route did not
depend upon the safe construction and per-
manency of the Bohio dam. Mr.. Noble re-
piled in the affirmative. Senator Foster
then asked if the Bohio dam was actually
safe and practical. Mr.. Noble said the
work had not been exactly paralleled, but a
similar class of work had been used
would be necessary at Bohio He had no
doubt about constructing the Bohio dam.
In reply to Senator Kittredge, Mr.. Noble
said he considered the price of $4,000, 600
asked by the Panama Canal Company for
fr~ hi r~arAlx
to a question from Senator Hanna he said
the expense of operation of the two lines
proposed would be practically in proportion
to the length Of the canals. and in response
to inquiry from Mr.. Harris said that acct
dents on the two lines would depend some
what on the magnitude of the artificial
works connected with each other. Refer
ring to the difference in the cost OF operat-
ing the two proposed canals, which the wit
ness had said would amount to about 81,
100000 annually in favor of the Panama
route, Senator Hanna suggested that this
would be interest on capitalize ton Of $685.
100000 but the witness said that he had not
made any such calculation.
Taking the whole proposition. do you
consider the Panama proposition better
than the Nicaraguan propositions" asked
Mr.. Hanna.
Il think it is" promptly responded the
witness
Senator Morgan to enter on course of in
quiry calculated to bring out the fact that
the coastwise trade would be better served
through the Nicaragua route than through
the Panama route. Mr.. Morgan stated that
81 per cent. of this coastwise trade is con-
Quoted by sailing vessels, and the witness
said in reply to the inquiry that sailing
vessels would be better accommodated in
the Nicaragua canal than in the Panama
route.
Senator Hanna met these points with the
statement that comparatively little of the
coastwise trade would cross the isthmus
through either canal.