New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-06
THE RIVAL NICARAGUA AND PANAMA CANAL ROUTES
H COMPARISON OF MERITS AND DEFECTS WITH DE-
TAILS OF DISTANCES AND COST.

be built. The length of this canal would De 1854
miles.
The most important structure on this route would
would be IZ7I feet the foundation 20 Be caissons
water. Il is estimated that it would require four
years to construct it. and that 1t would cost
cS only two levels grossd oyc s the r'fam ss
miles inland from Colon will be placed the hrsI
lock The locks at this point will be two n mum
Der the s total hft being feet at me 5nimgm
AZ this point viii De Constructed great Dam 70
restrain the waters OF the Chagres River. which
lake viii be ss5 square miles in area and the chan
mel Of the canal would 12Ss miles from the locks
River which it would follow from Colon This large
heved that the size OF this lake taken in cOnjunc-
ton with the splway designed 10 relieve the pres
and provide ample water for the summit level Of the
canal This water would set back through ths
pass through the continental divide This cut
TO the Pedro Miguel locks. where locks would
drop vessels from 81 70 81 feet The asS lock tnss
70 the sea level again The length OK the Panama
As in the case OF the Nicaragua Canal, the dam
for maintaining the summit level would be the
the construction The total length OF the dam at
Lake Bohio would be ESQ feet the height OF rs
feet; the foot Of the foundation 12S feet below
369sO and Ine time required for its construction,
comparison OF the merits o. the two plans TAX
ing into account the present condition or the routes
so far as work has been done them. and not
considering the dluerence or ABOUT $o.W0OJ IN the
estimated cost IN favor o. the Panama Canal.
demonstrates that. provided the Panama route can
be secured on reasonable terms. Il Is Ear the better
o. the two IL the hrst place the conditions pre-
Val!lng at Fanana are better known and the sur
yeys more complete. At Panama there is a well
built railroad throughout the entire length OF the
canal terminating at Two fa!ry good har5ors Con-
tractors could begin work Immediately AT $lCara-
qua Two harbOrs. one at either end OF the route
would have to be built and maintained and rail-
road lGld across the country at loss or tWo years
time and cost OF than S1l 60 coo before work
could De taken throughout the entire line OF the
canal route At Nicaragu the work would Be
spread out over distance OF 1855 miles while e
Panama IL would be concentrated within distaI q
o. foTty-nine miles. At Nicaragua the waters OF
a lake covering ares OF 3.OS square miles and
those Of the San Juan River tor sixty miles OF It's
length would have be maintained AZ pre-
determined level through drOuta and heavy rain
fall At Panama the problem is cpI4ll3eft To the
control of single river with maximum dow az
5000 cubic feet second Tho summit az NicqraeJ
Is 10 feet and there are eight Different locks and
sets OF locks and only tvo Levels ire summit level
being 90 feet ABOVE level The tine Cf transit
for an B-knot vessel has been estimated Tor tec
Panama Canal as II hours and - minutes Tor ire
Nicaragua Canal at 50 hours. While time would
be saved between ports on the eastern and western
coasts Of che North American continent by usines
because the vessel Is more quickly released rom
the dangers OF canal transit The risks OF the
Nicaragua route. OWNS 70 relatively small curv2-
ture which in the former fOOts al degrees
with total length of ESQ niles and In the latter
2S29 degrees taking - miles OF the canal.
also because 0f the shorter distance vessel must
travel above the level % the sea In the ease OF
the Panama canal THE ia z31e miles. while IN the
" IFS miles. The Panama Canal VIII cost less for
maintenance The length O. rire required fC- con-
determined by he BOhio dam. viii be- about the
for both routes.