Evening star., 1928-04-08
BY J. A. OLEARY.

10 ~ 80 ~
TIME proposal to build a new
waterway across Central Amer
lea, in Nicaragua, and also the
Il feasibility of enlarging the Pan
anna Canal have been brought
into the foreground of discussion at
the Capitol recently. with indications
that Congress before long may author
ize Army engineers to make an ex-
facilities in their relation to the needs
of the future.
Two proposals now pending have
served to direct attention to the growth
of ship traffic through the Panama
passageway during the IA years since
its completion. and have led to dis
cussion of the question Of how soon the
capacity OF that canal is likely to be
reached.
Senator Edge Republican, Of New
Jersey is sponsoring a joint resolution
to have the engineers make 1t thorough
study Of the Nicaraguan canal project,
and to inquire at the same time into
the possibility and cost Of enlarging
the Panama Canal to the extent which
may be necessary to meet the future
needs Of interoceanic shipping.
McKeIIar Bills Provisions.
Senator Mcclellan (Democrat) Of
Tennessee has introduced bill which
goes further and directs the President
to proceed with construction OF an
additional canal along a Eicaraguan
route, after preliminary investigations
and surveys.
The Senate committee on inter-
oceanic canals has authorized Senator
Edge to report out his resolution, with
a change reducing the amount to DC
expended on the investigation from
$500, 900 to $250.O00. The New Jersey
Senator. who is chairman Of the COM
mittee, said he plans to press for pas
sage of the resolution. If this Con-
gress acts on the subject. it is not
likely to do more than authorize sur
veys.
Senator Edge believes there is argu-
ment in support Of the contention fol
another interoceanic canal, but he feels
Congress should have the benefit OF tins
latest information on the entire PROB
lem before directing execution OF
definite project.
Surveys Made in Past.
A shortcut waterway across Mica
ragua is not a new suggestion. 1t was
gone into in great detail by the 18TH
mian Canal Commission nearly 30 year:
ago. before this Government decided tC
take UP and complete the Panama
Canal, where others had failed.
The survey now being proposed ir
Congress would take up the question o.
, a Nicaraguan canal where the Isthmlar
Commission left of in 1901 and brins
the old surveys down to date. with par
ticular attention to the engineering
progress of the intervening years.
For example. a new survey at thi'
time would go into comparisons De
tween a sea-level canal and one VIII
locks. Discussing the question In tns
Senate a short time ago. Senator Edgf
said that in this age OF engineering
DEVELOPMENT Sea-level canal Is prefer
able because of the absence Of the ex-
pense Of maintaining locks. At ths
same time he felt a survey IS essentla
before any decision could be reached
as to the type of canal Senator Nc
Kellar pointed out that his bill wouic
permit the use of such locks as mlgnl
be found necessary.
Data to Be Sought.
The investigation contemplated by
the Edge resolution would ascertain tbs
following: The most practicable routs
for a canal by way of the San JuaT
River and the Great Lake of Nicaragua
or bv any other route over NicaraguaI
territory. with a suitable harbor at eacf
end: the feasibility and approximate
cost of the construction and mainfe
nance Of such canal. and the cost o
acquiring all private rights. privileges
and franchises. If any. pertaining Il
such route, Referring to the Panam;
Canal. the Edge resolution states;
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