Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-01
ISTHM|AN SHIP CANAL
A Problem Studied for Many
Years.
THE NICARAGUA ROUTE
SENATOR MILLER QUOTES RE-
PORTS OF ENGINEERS.
No One, He Declares, Has Said That
the Line Was Not Feasible-Let-
ter to Senator Morgan.

Ex-senator Warner Miller of New York,
who was the president of the Maritime
Canal Company, organized to build the
Nicaragua canal. has written to Senator
Morgan a long letter in which he describes
congressional legislation for isthmlan
ship canal and quotes the reports of engi-
neers as to the feasibility of the Nicaragua
route Ex-senator Miller says:
II learn from the public press and from
private sources that the feasibility of a
ship canal across Nicaragua is seriously
members of the government because some
members of the fthmian canal commits
sion have of late expressed doubt regard
ing the Nicaragua route.
1.-The isthmian canal commission was ap-
pointed under an act of Congress passed
March 8, 1sp9 and made their report to
the President November 49, 1901, published
as Senate document No. 81, Fifty
Congress, first session. The commission
was composed of the following gentlemen:
Rear Admiral j. G. Walker, Samuel Pasco,
Alfred Noble, George S. Morrison, Colonel
Peter c. Hams, William H. Burr, Lieuten
ant Colonel o. H. Ernst, Lewis NJ. Haupt
and Emory r. Johnson.
THESE gentlemen took two and One-half
years to make their investigation and re-
port. 1t must be assumed that their inves-
tigation was thorough and impartial-the
report covers nearly 800 pages. The final
chapter OF the report Chapter KID desig-
mated, Conclusion contains the following:
Conclusions Of Commission.
1.-THE investigations of this commission
have shown that the selection of the most
feasible and practicable route for 18TH
milan canal must be made between the Mic
aragua and Panama locations. Further
more, the complete problem involves both
the sea-ievel plan of canal and with the
locks. The Panama route alone is feas
ible for a sea-level canal although both
are entirely practtca BILE and feasible for
canal with locks. The time required to
complete a sea-level canal on the Panama
route, probably more than twice that
needed to build canal with locks, ex-
cludes 1t from favorable consideration
aside other serious features Of its construc-
ton 1t is the conclusion OF the commis
sion, therefore, that a plan of canal with
locks should be adopted
THE last clause of this chapter of the re-
port reads as follows:
AFTER considering all the facts develop
ed by the investigation made by the COM
mission and the actual situation as it now
stands, and having in view the terms offer
ed by the New Panama Canal Company,
this commission is of the opinion that the
most practicable and feasible route for an
lsthmian canal to be under control, man
agement and ownership of the United
States is that known as the Nicaragua
route
1T seems altogether improbable that any
member of the commission who signed the
report can now express grave doubts as to
the feasibility of the Nicaragua route and
were it not for the positive information
which have on this point 1 would not give
any credence to the report 1t is not to be
believed that the commission undertook to
Jockey the Panama Canal Company and the
government of Colombia by making a too
favorable report on the Nicaragua route
IN order TO induce the canal company to re-
duce its price, or the Colombian govern
ment to be more favorable to our taking
over the work of constructing the canal.
knowing that during all the years that
the isthmian canal scheme has been before
the public and Congress that you have
given full faith to the statements by my
self as president Of the Canal Construc-
engineer of the company. l am disposed to
briefly review the several surveys and ex-
aminations Of the Nicaragua route from
which it will be seen that every engineer of
repute and every commission appointed to
examine the matter has reported the route
Via Nicaragua as feasible and offering few
er obstacles than any other route.
The Survey in 1852.
'The first instrumental survey ever made
Of the Nicaragua route was made by Col
o. w. Childs distinguished civil engi-
neer, In 1852 for the American and At
lantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company
OF ganized by Commodore Vanderbilt. These
surveys were submitted by President Fill
more to Col ]. J. Albert and Maj Turnbull
Corps OF Typographical Engineers, for their
inspection and opinion on March 90 1852;
they reported that the plan proposed by
Col. Childs was practicable. The company
failed and nothing more was done.
I'm 1872 Gen. Grant then President, be-
ing authorized by act of Congress- sent out
several expeditions to examine every Fro
posed route across the isthmus.
Commander E. p. Lull undertook the
examination of the route across Nicaragua.
Mr.. A. G. Menocal civil engineer in the
made the plans OF construction Of the
canal. This survey, together with others
covered Tehuantepec, Nicaragua, Panaraa.
San Bias and several other projected
re utes. were submitted by President Grant
to commission. consisting Of Gen. Andrew
A. HUMPHREYS. chief of engineers of The
United States army; Mr.. c. p. Patterson,
superintendent United States coast sur
vey. and Commodore Daniel Ammen, chief
OF the bureau Of navigation, United States
navy. After long and careful exam.na-
ton Of the whole subject. this commission
reported that the route via Nicaragua pos
tenance of canal, greater advantages and
offered fewer difficulties from an engI-
neering, commercial and economical point
of view than of any of the other routes
Mr.. Menocal was engaged for several
years from 1876 on, in surveying and relo-
eating the proposed canal route, and sue
ceeded in locating a line which was con-
sderably shorter than any other line here
tofore located, and which also gave assur-
ance Of much easier construction. The re-
suits of these surveys were reported to the
Secretary of the Navy, and were printed by
act of Congress.
Maritime Canal Company.
1.-THE government, however. failed to I'M
dertake the work. and then volunteer or
ganization or syndicate was formed, which
was known as the Nicaragua Canal AS
ISOLATION which obtained concessions from
Nicaragua and Costa RIGA for the con-
struction and operation of canal. This
IA 70 rbaA