#22. An Act of June 4, 1897 constituting the Nicaragua Canal Commission, and the Commission's Conclusions of May 9, 1899* To continue the surveys and examinations authorized by the Act approved March second, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, entitled "An Act making appropriations for the sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and for other purposes," into the proper route, the feasibility and cost of construction of the Nicaragua Canal, with the view of making complete plans for the entire work of construction of such canal as therein provided, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars; and to earry out this purpose the President of the United States is authorized to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a commission to consist of one engineer from the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army, one officer of the Navy, who may be taken from the active or retired lists, and one engineer from civil life, said commission to have all the powers and duties conferred upon the commission provided for in said Act. (Public No. 2. Approved June 4, 1897. Page 54.) U.S., Report of the Nicaragua Canal Commission, 1897-1899. Baltimore, Lord Baltimore Press, 1899, pp. xi, 1, 45. TC784.U58 1899. (103) REPORT OF THE NICARAGUA CANAL COMMISSION. WASHINGTON, D. C., May 9, 1899. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Sir:-The Nicaragua Canal Commission, having completed its labors, has the honor to report as follows: The Commission was organized July 29, 1897, and its first meeting was held on that day. It consisted of Rear-Admiral John G. Walker, U. S. Navy, President; Captain O. M. Carter, U. 8. Corps of Engineers; and Professor Lewis M. Haupt, Civil Engineer, members. Captain Carter was relieved from duty with the Commission and was succeeded on October 18 by Colonel Peter C. Hains, U. S. Corps of Engi upper river to near Boca San Carlos, thence, in excavation, by the left bank of the river to the San Juanillo, and across the low county to Greytown, passing to the northward of Lake Silico. It requires but a single dam, with regulating works at both ends of the summit level. The new location selected for the dam at Boca San Carlos eliminates one of the most serious engineering difficulties by avoiding entirely the San Carlos river with its torrential floods and large volume of sediment, and by locking down immediately from this dam the difficulties and risks of the high embankments of the Menocal line are also avoided. Instead of the dam at La Flor a lock and regulating works have been substituted at Buen Retiro where the topography is well adapted for the purpose. It is also proposed to divide the surplus waters of the lake basin between the east and west sides, thus reducing the velocities in the San Juan and securing ample waste-way capacity for the maximum discharge that can ever occur, if stored and distributed over a short period of time. Ample provision has also been made for a possible fluctuation of the lake of 6 feet or more without injury to property, by fixing the elevation of the bottom of the canal sufficiently low to cover seasons of minimum rain-· fall. The surveys have in general revealed better physical conditions than were hitherto supposed to exist, especially as to the amount of rock in the upper river, whereby it is possible greatly to reduce the estimated cost of construction. This fact will account largely for the comparatively moderate amount of the estimate when the enlarged dimensions of the project are taken into consideration. Other reductions are due to the improved methods and machinery available, as developed on the Chicago drainage canal, and which cannot be ignored in discussing a work of this magnitude. The creation of sufficiently capacious interior harbors presents no unusual difficulties, and they can be secured at a reasonable cost.. The field work, under the authority of this Commission, has been carefully and well done, and is believed to be all that is necessary for the preliminary location of a canal, and to determine, within narrow limits, the final location of dams, locks, and other constructions. Should a canal across Nicaragua be authorized, it will be necessary to make further minute and careful investigations by borings to determine the exact location of locks and dams, for which this Commission had neither the time nor money, nor would it have been justified in doing work of this character until the construction of a canal・ was assured. The computations of amounts to be excavated have been carefully made and checked to guard against errors and are believed to be accurate within narrow limits. All possible information has been sought with regard to cost of similar work in the United States and in Central America, and a careful comparison made of the probable differences between Nicaragua and the United States. To determine the proper unit prices for excavation the average of prices actually paid to contractors on the Chicago drainage canal, which represent cost of plant, prices paid for work done, and contractors' profits, were taken. Up to this point the Commission dealt only with facts. To the prices paid at Chicago certain percentages have been added for the difference in location, climate, etc., etc. These percent ages are, of course, a matter of judgment, upon which men may honestly differ. But from all the information obtainable by this Commission and after careful consideration, with a desire to arrive at a proper conclusion, those used in the estimate are deemed fair and reasonable. In obtaining the estimate for cost of locks the prices actually paid for building the Government locks at the Sault Ste. Marie were taken, and 33 per cent. was added for the difference of location. This percentage is believed to be ample, as a large part of the expense of constructing the locks will be for material, much of which can be furnished in Nicaragua at the same or only a small advance upon the prices in the United States. After giving due weight to all the elements of this important question and with an earnest desire to reach logical conclusions, based upon substantial facts, the Commission believes that a canal can be built across the isthmus on this route for a sum not exceeding that stated in the estimate. The dimensions of the canal proposed are much larger than any hitherto considered and will be ample not only to meet the present requirements of commerce but also for many years to come. A navigable channel of smaller dimensions than those proposed, only sufficient for present needs, can be constructed for a lesser sum if deemed expedient. We have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servants, J. G. WALKER, Rear-Admiral, U. S. Navy, LEWIS M. HAUPT, In appending my signature to this report, I desire to state that I concur generally with the views expressed, but my estimate of the cost is $134,818,308. PETER C. HAINS, Colonel, U. S. Corps of Engineers, Member. #23. An Act of March 3, 1899 Authorizing the President to Mal an Investigation of the Panama and Nicaragua Routes, t Letter of Appointment, and the Membership of the Isthmis AN ACT Making appropriations for the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Bac. 3. That the President of the United States of America be, and he is hereby, authorized and empowered to make full and complete investigation of the Isthmus of Panama with a view to the construction of a canal by the United States across the same to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; that the President is authorized to make investigation of any and all practicable routes for a canal across said Isthmus of Panama, and particularly to investigate the two routes known respectively as the Nicaraguan route and the Panama route, with a view to determining the most practicable and feasible route for such canal, together with the proximate and probable cost of constructing a canal at each of two or more of mid routes; and the President is further authorized to investigate and ascertain what rights, privileges, and franchises, if any, may be held and owned by any corporations, associations, or individuals, and what work, if any, has been done by such corporations, associations, or individuals in the construction of a canal at either or any of said routes, and particularly at the so-called Nicaraguan and Panama routes, respectively; and likewise to ascertain the cost of purchasing all of the rights, privileges, and franchises held and owned by any such corporations, associations, and individuals in any and all of such routes, particularly the said Nicaraguan route and the maid Panama route; and likewise to ascertain the probable or proximate cost of constructing a suitable harbor at each of the termini of mid canal, with the probable annual cost of maintenance of said harbors, respectively; and generally the President is authorized to make such full and complete investigation as to determine the most feasible and practicable route across mid isthmus for a canal, together with the cost of constructing the same and placing the same under the control, management, and ownership of the United States. Buc. 4. To enable the President to make the investigations and ascertainments herein provided for, he is hereby authorized to employ in said service any of the engineers of the United States Army at his discretion, and likewise to employ any engineers in civil life, at his discretion, and any other persons necessary to make such investigation, and to fix the compensation of any and all of such engineers and other persons. 88o. 5. For the purpose of defraying the expenses necessary to be incurred in making the investigations herein provided for, there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sun of one million dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be disbursed by order of the President. Sac. 6. That the President is hereby requested to report to Congress the results of such investigations, together with his recommendations in the premises. Approved, March 3, 1899. •Report of the Isthmian Canal Commission, 1899-1901. Washington, Govt. Print. Off., 1901. 37th Congress, 1st session, Senate Document No. 54, pp. 9, 11-12. TC773.U5 1901. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Rear-Admiral JOHN G. WALKER, U. S. N., retired, Member of the Interoceanic Canal Commission appointed under sections 3 and 4 of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1899. SIR: The Congress of the United States passed at its recent session, and the President, on the 3d of March, 1899, approved, “An act making appropriations for the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes,” the third, fourth, and sixth sections of which read as follows: Spc. 3. That the President of the United States of America be, and he is hereby, authorized and empowered to make fall and complete investigation of the Isthmus of Panama with a view to the construction of a canal by the United States across the same to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; that the President is authorized to make estigation of any and all practicable routes for a canal across said Isthmus of Panama, and particularly to vestigate the two routes known, respectively, as the Nicaraguan route and the Panama route, with a view to determming the most practicable and feasible route for such canal, together with the proximate and probable cost of exonstructing a canal at each of two or more of said routes; and the President is further authorized to investigate and ascertain what rights, privileges, and franchises, if any, may be held and owned by any corporations, associations, or indviduals, and what work, if any, has been done by such corporations, associations, or individuals in the construction of a canal at either or any of said routes, and particularly at the so-called Nicaraguan and Panama routes, respec tively; and likewise to ascertain the cost of purchasing all of the rights, privileges, and franchises held and owned by any such corporations, associations, and individuals in any and all of such routes, particularly the said Nicaraguan Foute and the said Panama route, and likewise to ascertain the probable or proximate cost of constructing a suitable harbor at each of the termini of said canal, with the probable annual cost of maintenance of said harbors, respectively. And generally the President is authorized to make such full and complete investigation as to determine the moet feasible and practicable route across said isthmus for a canal, together with the cost of constructing the same and placing the same under the control, management, and ownership of the United States. Sc. 4. To enable the President to make the investigations and ascertainments herein provided for, he is hereby authorized to employ in said service any of the engineers of the United States Army at his discretion, and likewise to employ any engineers in civil life, at his discretion, and any other persons necessary to make such investigation, and to fix the compensation of any and all such engineers and other persons. S. 6. That the President is hereby requested to report to Congress the results of such investigations, together with his recommendations in the premises. The President, in pursuance of the provisions of this act, has appointed you one of the members of the Isthmian Canal Commission provided for in it. You will be guided in the execution of the trust thus confided to you by the provisions of the act of Congress which I have quoted above, and your eminence in your profession is a sufficient guaranty of the energy and ability which the President is sure you will bring to the accomplishment of this task. At the same time your duties will not be limited by the terms of the act, but if any line of inquiry should suggest itself to you in the course of your work as being of interest or benefit, I am confident you will not fail to give it whatever attention it may seem to deserve. The President trusts that the Commission will fulfill the important duties confided to them in such a manner that when their report is prepared it will embrace all the elements required for his own guidance and for the final action of Congress upon the subject of the location and construction of the inter oceanic canal. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN HAY. |