76 THE PRESENT STATE OF THE NICARAGEA CANAL 
lias increased the canal company’s estimate of 869,893,660 to a 
“ provisional ” estimate of 8133.472,893. Anthoritative estimates 
can be obtained only at the cost of 8250,000 for an exhaustive 
survey covering two dry seasons. The present location from 
Orevtown to Brito is practically condemned, and it is suggested 
that the entrance to Greytown harbor should he moved east- 
Avard and its depth increased to 6 fathoms ; that the Brito harbor 
should he moved southeastAvard and its breakwater extended con- 
sideraldy, and that the canal should he moved south of Bernard 
lagoon and he straightened, etc. The proposed rock-tilled dam 
at Ochoa, across a iioAverful river and on a sand foundation, pre- 
sents grave difficulties, and should be Imilt only after careful 
study; it should })referal)ly be replaced by a masonry structure. 
The ])hysical conditions and regimen of San Juan river and Lake 
Nicaragua should be carefully studied; the proposed channel 
e.xcavated to Avidths varying from 250 to 400 feet instead of from 
125 to 150 feet ; all locks should be Avidened to 80 feet, so as to 
l)ermit the i>assage of Avar A'essels; rainfall ohseiwations should be 
instituted OA'er the Avhole route; all streams be gauged, and full 
e.\j)lorations of alternatiA’e routes be made in the eastern diA'ision. 
These recommendations of the commission for a deeper and 
Avider channel, for the construction of pa.ssing points, a reduc- 
tion in lock-lift, more cai)acious and deeper harbors, and a more 
stable construction, are in the direction of desirable improA’e- 
ments, Avhich, hoAVCA'er. ])ractieally double the cost of the canal. 
Even should these enhanced estimates be correct, and should 
the conseiwatiA'e judgment of the commission he fully indorsed 
by other engineers, it remains to l)e seen Avhether a feAV millions 
of dollars, more or le.ss, shall stand in the AA'ay of securing an inter- 
oceanic communication Avhich the Senate committee has said “ is 
indispensable to our physical and political geography and to the 
])ro{>er care* of the Government for the protection and prosperity 
of our Pacific coasts.” 
In A’icw of the national intere.st taken in this question, and 
especially at this juncture, it Avould seem that no backAvard step 
should he taken that Avould tend to Aveaken the poAver and in- 
fluence of the United States as the dominating factor in the Avel- 
fore of the American continents. From an American standpoint 
this canal seems to he a necessity, not only for our oavu com- 
mercial interests and national protection, but also as part of our 
‘‘ i>ul)lic policy of uniting the republics of America by Avorks of 
])eaceful deA'elopment.” 
