Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-07
Inter Oceanic Waterways Authority
Suggests Three Alternative Routes
For Linking Atlantic and Pacific
BY CHARLES p. STEWART

WASHINGTON, June o. Even
supposing the United States should
decide to dig another ditch between
the oceans, in addition to the Pan
anna canal, the Nicaragua route Is
not the only one available"
The suggestion is a former 18th
mian canal commissioner's-also
former head Of the Canal Zone de-
partment Of the civil administra-
tion-Representative Maurice H
Thatcher OF Kentucky, by far the
best informed member Of congress
on the subject Of inter-oceanic wa
terways.
Besides, as the Kentuckian re-
marks. it will be quite awhile be-
fore Panama's capacity Is ex-
hausted.
In fact. army engineers either al
ready are tinkering with, or plan
ming. extensions and improvements
which they calculate will make the
present canal adequate for all ship
ping requirements until 1880.
I'm the meantime" agrees the
representative. lit is highly desir-
able for Uncle Sam to hang onto
all the rights he has acquired, and
to make the necessary surveys for
q new waterway.
However, it is a trifle early to
begin worrying about it seriously"
But what about the possibility OF
war?-and the blowing up OF the
Panama canal by some enemy?
What a fix Uncle Samuel would be
in thenl-for any way to get his
fighting fleet from the Pacific to
the Atlantic, and vice versa.
MAYBE it would be just as well"
thinks Representative Thatcher
for us to concentrate on u de-
lenses at Panama and Colon. rath-
er than to consider dividing them
I'D between these two ports and the
opposite ends Ct another canal"
But to return to the three alter
natives to the Nicaragua route-a
somewhat novel suggestion. for
Nicaragua has been discussed 50
much recently that many folk may
have imagined the new canal, II
any. will have to be dug there OF
nowhere.
/. About 100 miles east Of Colon
and Panama is q practicable route
from the Gulf Of Darien. on the
Caribbean side. to San Miguel bay.
opening into the Pacific.
It's length IS about the same as
the Colon-Panama's routes. II
crosses some pretty rough country,
but none to terrify modern engi-
neering experts.
2. Another 100 miles or so beyond,
across Colombian territory. Is what
is known as the Atrato river route.
Canal planners of a couDle OF
generations ago thought well a 1t.
The distance Is three or four times
the Colcn-Panama journeys. but
the Atrato rivera big. navigable
stream cuts off about three-quar-
tiers Of Ii.
3. Finally. away. way off from
Panama-more than 1000 miles to
the northwestward-in Mexico. IS
the Isthmus Of Tehuantepec route.
The Isthmus of Tehusntepec has
tempted would-be canal builders
and vet scared the life out Of them
for many's the decade. Digging
a Tehuantepec canal certainly
would be a contract for giants. but,
once dug. such & canal would BE-
a treasure.
1t would have TO be approximate
lv l25 miles long, with a 735-toot
lift over the isthmian divide.
The promoters would also have TO
dicker with Mexico.
This might not be as easy as
dealing with Panama or Nicaragua.
yet a canal at that particular
spot would be the very hub Of in
ternational travel right through
the Americas.
BY all odds II would be the
worlds greatest imaginable canal
not only to dig. but TO control, aft
err it was finished. AS compared
with Panama. 1t would save the
bulk Of inter-oceanic shipping from
$500 to 1000 miles Of steaming,
regardless Of its point Of origin or
destination.
As for the Panama ditch. the
engineers present job is TO dam the
Chagres river at Alhajelo-for
which congress will shortly have to
appropriate some money.
The Alhajuelo dams purpose Is
to provide more water. for in
creased lockage facilities and to
permit keeping the canal open on
a 24-hour schedule.
More water may seem like a
queer requirement for a canal with
an ocean at each end Of it. The
oceans however. cannot flow over
the big hump OF land in the middle.
To enable vessels to negotiate this
altitude. an inland water supply is
necessary. and during the dry sea-
son there is not enough Of ii.
DRY REPEAL MOVE LOSES