EL CASTILLO, SAN JUAN RIVER.
"An impartial consideration of the various reports upon the surveys of all the routes has shown that the most favorable one for a ship-canal from ocean to ocean is that across Nicaragua. This was the decision of a commission appointed by President Grant, and consisting of Commodore (since Admiral) Daniel Ammen, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, Gen. A. A. Humphreys, Chief of the United States Engineer Corps, and Mr. C. P. Patterson, Superintendent of the Coast Survey. Briefly, their report said: 'The Nicaragua route possesses, both for the construction and maintenance of a canal, greater advantages, and offers fewer difficulties from engineering, commercial, or economical points of view, than any one of the other routes shown to be practicable.'
"Careful scientific surveys have been made of the Nicaragua route. The first was in 1872 and 1873, by Commander Hatfield and Commander Lull, of the United States Navy; and the second, in 1880, by Civil Engineer A. G. Menocal, also of the United States Navy. In 1884 the same officer, with several able assistants, made another survey; with all the figures and descriptions of the different surveys, the nature of the work to be accomplished in cutting the canal can be readily understood."
For further information Doctor Bronson referred the youths to the printed reports of Mr. Menocal and Commander Lull, which he had in his possession, and also to articles in Harper's Weekly and Harper's Magazine. Frank and Fred made a careful study of the subject, and the substance of what they learned may be set down as follows:
The route of the proposed canal will be entirely through the State of Nicaragua, except for a small part of the eastern division, where it will be on the south bank of the San Juan River, which is the dividing line between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The latter State has agreed to all the conditions named by Nicaragua in its concession to the American company that is undertaking the work, so that the question of boundary will not interfere with the enterprise.
In March, 1887, a contract was signed with the Republic of Nicaragua by a representative of the Nicaragua Canal Association of New York, securing to the association the exclusive right of way for the construction of a ship-canal between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The company is allowed two and a half years from the date of the contract for beginning operations; it has a grant of 1,000,000 acres of land, and immunity from taxation and all imposts of every kind for a period of ninety-nine years. It is believed that the entire work will be completed and the canal made ready for the passage of ships within six years from the commencement of the dredging and digging.
VIEW ON LAKE NICARAGUA.