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

JuAlC u LfSAA
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 X
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 1850.
I'm the meantime" agrees the
representative. 1T is highly desir-
able for Uncle Sam to hang onto
all the rights he has acquired, and
10 make the necessary surveys for
a new waterway.
However. ii is a trifle early TO
begin worrying about il 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 then!-for any way to get ms
fighting fleet from the Pacific 70
the Atlantic. and vice versa.
Maybe it would be Just as we'll"
thinks Representative Thatcher
for us To concentrate on our de-
lenses at Panama and Colon, rath-
er than 70 consider dividing them
up between these two ports and p
opposite ends Of 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, IL
any. will have to be dug there or
nowhere.
/. About 100 miles east Of Colon
and Panama is a practicable route
from the Gulf Of Darien. on the
Caribbean side. TO San Miguel bay,
J opening into the Pacific.
Its 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 couple Of
generations ago thought well Of II.
The distance Is three or four times
the Colon-Panama journeys, but
the Atrato rivera big. navigable
stream cuts off about t~hree-quar-
tiers Of 1t.
3. Finally. away. 'wav of from
Panama-more than 1000 miles to
the northwestward-in Mexico, IS
the IsthmuS Of Tehuantepec route.
The Isthmus Of Tehuantepec 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 a canal would b.
a treasure.
II would have to be approximate
~ 125 miles long. with a 735-foot
lift over the isthmian divide.
The promoters would also have 20
dicker with Mexico.
This might not be as easy as
dealing with Panama o. Nicaragua.
Yet q canal al that particular
SPOT would be the very hub Of in
ternational travel right through
the Americas.
BY all odds e would be the
worlds greatest imaginable canal
not only TO dig, but to control. aft
er II was finished. AS compared
with Panama. 1t would save the
bulk OF inter-oceanic shipping from
$500 10 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 n
queer requirement for a canal with
an ocean at each end OF 1t. The
oceans however, cannot flow N
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 il.
DRY REPEAL MOVE LOSES