266 



NICARAGUA AND THE ISTHMIAN ROUTES 



have been shown to carry such quantities of sediment, sand, and 

 gravel that practically all plans for canalizing the river below 

 the mouth of Rio San Carlos are prohibited. The section of 

 the river between San Carlos and Sabalos, which requires such 

 a large amount of dredging, has been shown by the borings to 

 contain no solid rock, and these results have been confirmed 

 most signally by Dr Hayes' development of the geological his- 

 toiy of this river. A line of precise levels has been run from 

 tide water on each side to the lake, thus settling all uncertain- 

 ties of elevation. A careful survey was also made of Lake Nica- 

 ragua, locating the shoreline and fixing its depth at all points. 



The route that now seems to be the best is in general similar 

 to the one selected by Commander Lull in 1873. 



It is now definitely settled, as stated by the commission, that 

 the Nicaragua canal is a practicable proposition, all the serious 

 difficulties being either eliminated or a method of solution 

 pointed out. The cost, with a depth of 30 feet or more through- 

 out, with locks large enough to receive the largest war vessels 

 afloat, safe harbors at each end, and all constructions of the 

 safest and most permanent character, will probably be about 

 $125,000,000. Whether or not it will be worth that amount to 

 the American people is another question. 



SCENE IN HIVAS — HEADY TO START 



