. The earth and its inhabitants ... Geography. THE NICAEAGUA CANAL. 291 Immediately after tlie declaration of independence, the new republic decreed the accomplishment of this work, but failed to supply the means for its execution. After the discussion of various plans and counter-plans, a first scheme for a canal terminating at San Juan del Sur (Concordia), on the Pacific, was propounded by John Bailey in 1843. Since that time various other schemes have followed, but without obtaining the necessary capital. The failure, however, of the Panama undertaking has revived the hopes of speculators,
. The earth and its inhabitants ... Geography. THE NICAEAGUA CANAL. 291 Immediately after tlie declaration of independence, the new republic decreed the accomplishment of this work, but failed to supply the means for its execution. After the discussion of various plans and counter-plans, a first scheme for a canal terminating at San Juan del Sur (Concordia), on the Pacific, was propounded by John Bailey in 1843. Since that time various other schemes have followed, but without obtaining the necessary capital. The failure, however, of the Panama undertaking has revived the hopes of speculators, who propose to carry the interoceanic route through the Lake of Nicaragua. The works were, in fact, actually commenced at the end of the year 1889, though not, as the financial world expected, at the expense of the United States Government. The estimated cost is fixed at £15,000,000, and a period of six years assigned for the completion of the work, which will have a total Fig. 126.—LowEE San Jxja^i Canal. Scalp 1 : 600 V/est oF Gr, Depllis Oto 5 Fathoms. 5 Fathoms and upwards. 12 Miles. length of 170 miles, of which 140 of open navigation through the lake, and not more than '30 through ship canals. We are assured that vessels of the heaviest draught will take only 30 hours to pass from ocean to ocean, and that the cutting will admit 32 such vessels per day, or 11,680, of about 12,000,000 tons, a year. The San Juan discharges a volume sufficient for hundreds of canals, but its course is too shifting, its current too irregular and too charged with alluvia to allow of its being canalised and adapted for the navigation of large vessels. Hence it will be necessary to keep the canal quite distinct from the river through- out its lower course, where it receives the great tributaries from Costa Rica. This cuttuig, joining the river in its tranquil upper course, will be supplied with three locks, each 550 feet long, by means of which the vessels will be brought to the level of
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