Evening star., 1932-02-28

and some of the better class families, many OF
whom are of Spanish descent, entertained
laxishy-
THE possibility of Nicaragua route for an
] interoeeanic canal dates back to the time
when the conquistadores sought a natural and
expeditions passage from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. An outstanding feature of the
geography of Nicaragua is q chain of two great
bodies of fresh water, Lake Nicaragua and Lake
Managua, situated near the Pacific and drain
ing into the Caribbean by way of the San Juan
River.
Lake Managua, the smaller of the two, Is of
Importance to the canal project only in that it
offers reserve water supply. Lake Nicaragua,
however which is As miles wide and 100 miles
in length, provides a natural waterway for 10
miles, or approximately two-ifths of the total
length of the proposed canal. The San Juan
River and its valley form a natural route for a
canal from Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean
Sea, straight line distance Of 80 miles
In 1901 the Isthmian Canal Commission,
under Admiral Walker, submitted a report
recommending the Nicaragua route, and
changed in favor of Panama only when the
French company reduced the selling price of its
franchise. No survey had been made since
that time until the Engineer Detachment un-
dertook the task in 1929. Old data was useful,
but entirely insufficient The problem now was
not simply a question of determining the
practicability of constructing a canal. 1t
included, in addition, estimate of costs
And by cost was meant the expense involved
in building and maintaining water thorough
fare which would meet the next hundred years
growth in shipping.
From statistical study of traffic through the
Panama Canal, figure was arrived at which
Should cover increase in the size of vessels
Based upon assumed increms nts, which pro-
vided for an increase in length of SO feet and
S feet in width for every 10-year period, and
applying this increase to the largest ship tran
sitting the canal in 1890, the Nicaragua Canal
in the year 1000 must be able to accommodate
vessels LIPS feet in length with beam Of 12O
feet. These two dimensions are the prime
consideration. The draft of ship does not
increase in proportion to its length and beam
1t is estimated that 4o-foot depth will con-
tinue to serve the needs Of commercial carriers
for the remainder Of the century
While the size Of locks necessary to meet
distant future needs could be computed from
statistical history of the growth of shipping.
actual construction costs could not be figured
until all field work had been completed Broad
ly speaking, the work of the survey divides it
self under three heads which are sufficiently
seif-explanatory to give an idea of the infor-
nation necessary before costs could be COM
putsd and recommendations made
These are: D Topography or the contour
OF the land; CD geologoy, sub-surface in
vestigations; and 90 meteorological and hy-
biological Investigations
Meteorological and Neurological data were
necessary for study Of the available water
supply and the features governing navigation.
Rainfall records were kept at strategic points
ON the watershed areas of Lake Nicaragua.
Lake Managua and the streams adjacent to the
probable line of the canal Records of lake
levels, stream flow measurements and evapo-
ration data had to be collected, and study
made of atmospheric conditions along the
canal line. particularly at the termini. When
the expedition returned to the United States
IN the Summer Of 1881, detail Of one of1cer
and one enlisted man remained i'm Nicaragua
to continue this work
Whether venture Of such magnitads a.