Evening star., 1924-02-10
BY GEORGE OLIVER GILLIxGHAM.

bf OEOHGE OLIVER GILLlSGHAM.
!THE result Of the recent joint
maneuvers Of the Army and
Navy at the Panama canal is
taken by many experts as an
other indication that the defenses of
this waterway are obsolete. Latter-day
developments in warfare methods are
said to forever spell the doom Of the
one adequate defenses of the canal.
Not only that, but this important link
between the Atlantic and Pacific is
declared commercially obsolete be-
cause it cannot accommodate the
largest steamships.
Since Col. Philippe Bunau-Varilla,
famous French engineer and one of
the original promoters of the Panama
canal, has taken such an active part
in advocating an artificial open strait
to take the place of the Panama
canal, which he terms potentially
obsolete" talk Of the proposed Mica
raguan canal has also been revived.
The latter's contemplated route is
virtually the same as proposed 375
years ago. Starting at San Juan del
Norte (Greytown) on the Atlantic
coast, it would follow the San Juan
river west to Lake Nicaragua. thence
cut through a narrow strip or noun
tain to Brito on the Pacific seaboard.
1t is argued that because of the
topography, this proposed canal could
be better defended than the Panama
waterway. And if planned with
view toward the future it would be
an improvement on the limited capa-
city of the Panama canal.
Rough Estimate of Cost.
The last rough estimate prepared
by Army engineers shows that this
supplemental canal would cost about
| 81, 900, 900 900. This is more than five
times the original estimate, due to
increased wages and higher cost Of
material. The Panama canal cost
about 1915, ,00O, 900, not including the
SAC, 100000 paid for the French hold
ings, s10,o00,000 for canal zone rights
and s250.000 annual rental to the Re-
public of Panama as long as the United
States holds the Canal Zone territory.
Figures on the Nicaraguan canal
project were submitted to President
Harding's cabinet by Secretary of
War Weeks. However, the late Chief
Executive said the cost was prohibi-
tive at the time, in view Of the ad-
ministration's pledge to reduce taxes.
Another claim in favor of the Mica
raguan canal is that it would save
from four to five days passage be-
tween this county's Atlantic and
Pacific ports because of the more
northern position of the proposed
waterway in reference to the present
canal The 1sthmian Canal Commits
sion report sent Congress by Presi-
dent Roosevelt in 1901 put the cost
Of a canal via the Nicaraguan route,
"35 feet deep with $50 feet minimum
bottom width and eight locks, four on
each side of the lake, each with two
sions," at s190, 900. If the increased
dim ensions used in the Panama canal
were adopted at Nicaragua, the cost
of the new canal at pre.war prices
would have been at least S5OO,O0O,OOO.
Difficulties Eliminated.
The protocol signed by the United
States and Costa Rica eliminates diff
fculties long standing in the way of
a Nicaraguan canal. a treaty be-
tween this country and Nicaragua
gave sole rights in the proposed ca
nal to the United States as far as
Nicaragua was concerned. but as part
of it's contemplated route would nave
touched Costa Rica that country for
many years objected to Nicaragua
trying to dispose of a waterway held
in joint use without Costa Rica's per-
mission.
The Central American court of ar
bitration refused to consider the dis
pute because the treaty was already
in effect. However. in a get-togethcr
conference of the five Central Ameri-
can republics at Washington held
some time ago as move toward ted
GRAFTON these difficulties were ironed
out and the way to construct Mic
araguan canal is open if the United
States cares to take it up. Our proto-
col with Costa Rica recognizes the
latter's rights to the San Juan river,
which th. canal would utilize. Pre-
sumably the United States would
make p; gments to Costa Rica in re-
turn for canal route concessions SINH
lar to the s3.000.000 payment already
made Nicaragua.