The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1903-03-28
the PANAMA CANAL.
Facts Of Interest Relative 60 the
Great American Enterprise-Tbe
Canal Will save s.eI5 Miles I'm the
Ocean Voyage Between New York
aud san Francisco.

Coast. All obstacles to the attainment
OF an inter-oceanic waterway seems now
to have been removed. 1t is probable
that within year the work Of construc-
tion will be resumed, and the failure OF
the French company be converted ulti-
mately into a notable engineering tri-
umph.
The Panama route is in the immediate
virinity OF the railroad now in operation
between Panama and Aspinwall, and lies
wholly within the United States of Co.
lombia. Its general direction is from
Northwest to Southeast, along the valleys
Of the Chagres River and the Rio Grande,
at which point the Isthmus is only forty
two or iorty-three miles wide.
The map OF the world on Mercator's
projection shows that as means OF COM
munication between the Atlantic of the
United States and its Pacific Coast, the
Western Coast OF South America, China,
Japan, Australia and the islands of the
Pacific, either the Panama or the Nicara-
qua route across the Istbmus would pos
sess great advantages in point OF distance
over the tedious and often perilous jour
ney around Cape Horn, which is now
the only means Of communication that
does not necessitate the unloading and
reloading of csrgoes. Thi, fact will be
more evident when it is stated that the
distance from New York to San Francisco
via Cape Horn is 1872 miles, and vis
Panama 6,057 miles saving OF 9,6l5
miles. A proportionately great distance
is also saved from New York to Yoko-
hama or Hongkong. The advantage in
point OF distance OF the Isthmian over the
Cape Horn route to European commerce
is immense, effecting saving Of more
than Z 900 miles each way in the journey
between Europe and the Pacific Coast to
South America.
The majority report of the Isthmian
Canal Commission, OF which Admiral
Walker was Chairman, favored the Mic
aragua route, but this was explained to
be chiefly because of the supposed diff
Guilty OF obtaining the rights OF the new
French Panama Canal Company at a
reasonable sum, and the further difficulty
of obtaining needed concessions from
Colombia. Afterwards, when the new
Panama Canal Company agreed to sell
out for $40, 900, 900, and the Government
of Colombia had agreed to satisfactory
arrangement with the United States, the
Commission made a second report, unan-
imously favoring the adoption of the Pan
anna route.
The estimated cost Of completing the
Panama canal is Sl44, 900, 900. Its length
will be about forty-six miles. The origi-
nal French Company planned tide-levei
canal from ocean TO ocean, but before the
company failed the plan was abandoned
in favor OF system of locks, by which
the total cost was to be greatly reduced.
Under this plan maximum summit
canal level OF l60 feet was contemplated.
Subsequently the new French Company
adopted a plan by which the summit
level was to be about ninety-seven feet,
approached by four locks from either end,
the canal to be supplied with water from
the Chagres River, impounded by
system of dams. The United States
Commission adopted similar but more
simple plan.
Between New York and San Francisco
the Nicaragua route is shorter by 377
nautical miles than the Panama route.
But an average ten-knot freight steam
ship would require thirty-three hours to
make the passage from ocean to ocean by
the Nicaragua route, and only twelve
hours by way OF Panama. The saving in
time by way of Panama thus compensates
in great measure for the saving in dis
tance by way Of Nicaragua.
The total excavation by the French
Com panies was 10000 cubic yards.
and the value OF the work to the United
States, with the Panama Railroad in
cluded, has been estimated at $34, 900, 900.
The French Companies issued securities
to the par value OF $435 900, 900 on which
they raised $246 200, 900 in cash, all Of
which was swallowed up in work. plant,
buildings, bribes and stealings OF various
kinds. Less than half the French exca-
walton will be used in the American canal.