The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-03-27
The Panama Canal.


way for a good many years to con-
meet the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
1t will be remembered that since
1894 the French government had
been at work on canal project at
Panama under the we'll known De
Lesseps Company. Then the United
States took up the project of con-
structing the canal through Nicara-
qua.
A good deal of money was ex-
pended in making surveys and the
plans generally we're in good shape
for going ahead with the enterprise
Then the French company offered to
sell out it's entire Panama enterprise
and to turn over to the United States
it's franchise upon the payment of
$4O,O0O,OOO.
An American who spent five months
along the route of the canal in the
year 1898, four years after the De
Lesseps company took hold, stated
that the French people had spent
$263. 100000 in building only one
fourth of the canal and that the work
was poorly done. The French engi-
neer was criminally extravagant.
wasting hundreds of thousands of
dollars worth of valuable materials
and handling the companys finances
in lavish way. The same author
ity estimated that the canal could be
completed for the sum of 100000
with e11n
on the original sea level.
AS an instance of the way De Les
seps did things, it i stated by this
American that he practically finished
IA miles at the Colon end at an ex-
penditure of $6O,000,OOO. which can
be done now for 100000.
In detailed report General Henry
l.. Abbot of the United States engi-
neers. who was a member of the In
ternational commission which exam
ined the ruins of the De Lesseps en-
terprise, stated that the work actual
ly done by the old company is esti-
mated to have cost $4l5,O0O,OOO and
in the same report estimates that the
enterprise can be completed for $780,
600, 900. From these figures it is ap-
parent that the United States is max
ing good bargain in purchasing the
canal and it's franchises for $4,000
900. Notwithstanding the French
company squandered money in many
ways it was not idle and really kept
at work. The completed canal, with
the Panama railroad thrown in, will
cost the United States about $14O,-
000, 900.
The board of engineers who few
years ago advised the government to
undertake the Nicaragua enterprise
made several estimates of the cost
of the work. The lowest, 100000 900
was made by Prof Haupt, and the
highest, $14O,OOO,OOO, by General
Haines. Rear Admiral Walkers est
mate was $125 100000.
/ At that time the Panama cana
! project was not in the market and
ii was apparent that if the United
States ever owned an isthmian canal
it would have to build one of it's own
and the route through Nicaragua
was selected. 1t is 176 miles long
or nearly four times as long as the
/ Panama route, which is only 46.5
miles in length. 1t is said that the
hydraulic problems in the Chagres
river along the Panama canal are
easy of solution, while those along
the 6S miles of the crooked San Juan
river in Nicaragua are sufficiently
difficult to cause even the most ex
perenced of engineers to hesitate
1t is said that a dam at Ochos
would be required 1873 feet high from
the base to the crest, involving {
problem in engineering without pre-
cedent in canal construction. Thi.
is probably one reason why engi
neers turned so enthusiastically to
ward the Panama route when it wa.
learned that it could be obtained a
a moderate cost.
The plans for the completion o
the Panama enterprise are somewha
more elaborate than those laid dow
by the De Lesseps syndiate. Thu
waterway is to be made wide enough
by the De Lesseps syndicate. TIL
sells now in service on the Atlantic
30 feet. The ditch. however. viii
be made 35 feet deep. because of tn
less buoyancy of the fresh and warn
waters of the canal.
The old French company provided
for bottom width of 70 feet, Will
the United States engineers have de
cided upon bottom width of IS
feet, with an Enlargement at tn
curves. The artificial lake to cor
troll the water of the Chagres rive
will also be made larger than in tn
French plans. George S. Morrison
who is a member of the Isthmia
canal commission, estimates the cos
oi the canal on this enlarged plan a
1925, 100 900. with six locks: or $166
100000, with the $40,000.000 to b
raid tn tho French cOmnanv