Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29
BY CHARLES C. CONAN.

7 UNCLE SAM is rolling up his
sleeves preparatory to starting
another engineering project
~ of enormous significance to
world commerce and our ma
tional welfare-the construction of the
Nicaraguan Canal.
It is not intended to compete with
the Panama Canal. but to supplement
It as a mighty trade route and at the
Saine time to provide us with another
vital channel Of defense communication
between the Atlantic AID Pacific.
The plan is to connect the oceans by
a water lane 1886 miles long, across
the southern edge of Nicaragua, at ar
DOC, 900, including all facilities and
equipment.
The belief that it will prove a profit
able venture, aside from It's strategic
and trade-promoting value, is based or
the fact that the Panama Canal pays
7R per cent net annually on the $275,-
000,0 originally invested in 1t.
1t Is estimated that from 18 months
to two years will be required to prepare
for actual canal construction and from
six to eight years to build it, or from
TO 10 years from now to complete II
ruptedly.
Before canal work is started harbors
must be built at the terminals, one at
Greytown (Juan del Norte) on the east
coast and the other at Brito on the west
coast. Other extensive provisions must
be made to handle supplies and provide
for the welfare of the army Of workmen
engaged in the project. Almost 100
miles Of railroad are contemplated from
the east coast inward for construction
purposes.
Maj. Gross in Charge.
Maj. c. P. Gross, for the last two
years United States engineer for the
Los Angeles district, has been named to
head the Army engineers. battalion
that will make a survey Of the Nicara-
guam route. and 1t is on this study that
the Nicaraguan Canal Commission ap-
pointed by President Hoover will make
its recommendations. Maj. Gross is In
Washington to devote months study
to the project before he goes to Mica
ragua.
The route to be studied was mapped
out practically in the Federal plans OF
1901, based on survey made in 1899
The 1901 plans carry an estimate OF
S189, 1854 ,062 for the entile project, but
1t is believed that under present condi-
tons the cost will be considerably
higher. though much in thai connection
depends on the forthcoming survey
findings with reference to possible
notifications or additions.
The fact that a survey exists on
which Maj. Gross will base his study
does not mean that he and bis men will
md cleared and easy course awaiting
them along the projected route. The
present means Of transportation from
De ~
1ungled San Juan River. And when
they come to build their construction
railroad and do their route-survey work
they will have to battle their way across
great swamps and machete their path
through tangled Jungle, for, as an 18th
milan Canal Commission report sue
ctnctly states, there are few places
where transit line can be run so feet
without cutting out a line of sight"
aviation will play its important part
and soon after the American peace
time conquistadors arrive there a wei
defined air route will be mapped out
between the terminals.
To Expedite Shipping.
The Importance Of the Nicaraguan
Canal to American shipping interests
Is seen In the fact that it will mean
saving Of more than a days sailing
CAINe between our eastern and western
coasts. This Is due to its nearer loca-
ton than the Panama Canal to Amer
lean territory, thereby more than Off
setting the Panama routes shorter
length Of 1900 miles. A similar saving
of time also is indicated for shipping
between Northern European points and
our West Coast.
Some authorities maintain that the
Panama Canal, with its two locks
abreast. can handle its business expe-
dttiously for the next 10 years. 4 dam
now is being constructed for the Pan
anna Canal to help locking through fol-
a 24-hour period. Definite plans have
been made for third lock, at cost
Of $50,000,000, which will make a
three-lane canal and materially expand
the shipping facilities of this waterway
for years to come. This construction
yet has to be authorized by Congress
and there Is a probability that the
Nicaraguan Canal will be built before
the third lock is added to the Panama
Canal.
From the east coast the present
Nicaraguan Canal route follows the
general line of the San Juan River for
1881 miles, then cuts through Lake
Nicaragua for 7051 miles. and thence