Route For The Big Canal

Washington, Nov. 14. - Trustworthy information has been received as to the contents of the report of the commission which examined into the feaslbility and coat and recommended a route for the Nicaraguau can;ü. ïho reoort is in the hands of the president, who is using it in connection with his work on his annual message to congress. The report indicates that a canal across the isthmus via the Nicaraguan route is entirely feasible f rom un engineering point of view. The cost of the project, as estimated, is $110,000,000, but it is stated this Bum is too small by some millions. The conmüssion was nearly three months engagcd in the súrvey work. The route as proposed by the commission is 178 miles long, or three or four miles longer than that which the canal company proposed. The commission made surveys to the right and left of the company's route and has suggested some changes which it believes will be advantageous. The commission's waterway will be supplied with locks. The San Juan river and Lake Nicaragua will be employed, but the former will require considerable dredging. The lake is flfty-six and one-half miles across from the San Juan to the mouth of the Lajas. Some dredging will be required on the west coast of the lake, which is shoal for a distance of something liko 1,350 feot. Brito will be the western terminus of the canal and the distance from this port is a little more than seventeen miles. The estimate has been made that. iu order to complete the canal which the commission proposes, six years will bo required, and in order to finish it within that time a forcé of 30,000 men will have to be constantly employed. The commission also went to Panama and made a survey of the route there, and also iefers to this project in its report.