3i 6 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The harbor features may be made adequate for all the needs of a 

 canal by either route, with such little preponderance of advantage as 

 may exist in favor of the Panama crossing. 



The commission estimated ten years for the completion of the 

 Panama canal and eight years for the Nicaragua waterway, but the 

 writer believes that these relations should be exchanged. 



The water-supply is practically unlimited on both routes, but the con- 

 trolling or regulating works, being automatic, are much simpler and 

 more easily operated and maintained on the Panama route. 



The Nicaragua route is practically uninhabited and consequently 

 practically no sickness exists there. On the Panama route, on the con- 

 trary, there is a considerable population extending along the entire line, 

 among which yellow fever and other tropical diseases are probably 

 always found. Initial sanitary works of much larger magnitude would 

 be required on the Panama route than on the Nicaragua, although 

 probably as rigorous sanitary measures would be required during the 

 construction of the canal on one route as on the other. 



The railroad on the Panama route and other facilities offered by 

 a considerable existing population render the beginning of work and 

 the housing and organization of the requisite labor forces less difficult 

 and more prompt than on the Nicaragua route. 



The greater amount of work on the Nicaragua route, and its dis- 

 tribution over a far greater length of line, involve the employment of 

 a correspondingly greater force of laborers with attendant difficulties 

 for an equally prompt completion of the work. 



The recent volcanic eruptions on the Island of Martinique indicate 

 a possible, danger to the Nicaragua canal, should it be built, from the liv- 

 ing volcano of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua about ten miles from the 

 land line. That there is some danger is beyond question, but it is very 

 remote. There is no evidence to show that a canal or canal structure 

 ten miles distant from Mount Pelee would have been injured by its re- 

 cent eruptions, although navigation might have been interrupted for a 

 short time. It is an open question, therefore, whether Ometepe in most 

 violent eruption, even, would injure the Nicaragua Canal, although dan- 

 ger would exist. 



On the other hand, as there is no volcano within about 175 miles of 



the Panama route, that route would be free from all danger of volcanic 



eruption. 



Concessions and treaties require to be secured and negotiated for the 



construction of the canal on either route, and under the conditions 

 created by the $40,000,000 offer for the new Panama Canal Company 

 this feature of both routes appears to possess about the same character- 

 istics, although the Nicaragua route is perhaps, freer from the compli- 

 cating shadows of prior rights and concessions. 



