The evening times., 1899-07-10

The work of the new Isthmian Canal
Commission, which was appointed by Presi-
dent Mckinley on the 9th of June is two
fold; the Commission is not only TO settle
upon the best route for canal between the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but is to pro-
vide exhaustive data from which the Unit
ed States Government will decide wheth-
er or not it is practicable to take up the
the actual work of constructing the water
way.
Admiral Walker, the president of the
Commission, says President Mckinley
wishes the subject so thoroughly investi-
gated this time that no future Commission
will be needed, and the Commissioners
have directed their efforts to outlining
plans of procedure which will enable them
to carry out the Presidents wishes, par
ticularly as they relate to conclusiveness
as to the best route.
The information gathered by the last
Commission as to Nicaragua is thought to
be sufficiently comprehensive and convinc-
ing as to the practicability of canal there,
to cost $12o, 900, 900. Now the Panama route
will be investigated more thoroughly than
ever before, and even the Darien scheme
will not be neglected.
The nine Commissioners have been di-
vided into three subcommittees, of which
the one consisting of Admiral Walker, Col
onel Ernst, and Messrs. Morrison and Burr
will start the latter part of this month for
Paris, TO spend several months. If neces
sary, in studying the plans, papers, and
financial affairs of the Panama enterprise.
Before that time, however, surveying par
ties will be organized to make reconnois-
ance of the isthmus from Nicaragua TO
Darien, paying particular attention TO
points in dispute that have already raised
doubts in the minds of the Commissioners.
Next winter and spring the subcommittee
will work on the isthmus in various To-
calities. and possibly next summer they
can formulate a report. although they do
not expect to finish their work for about
two years
The act of Congress author .Zing the Com
mission appropriated $1,000. 900 for its ex-
penses.
The other essential portion of the law is
as follows:
Section g. That the President of the United
States OF America be and he is hereby author
lied and empowered TO make fuli and complete
investigation OF the lsthmus OF Panama with 2
view to the construction OF canal by thI
United States across the to connect tht
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; that the President
is authorized TO make investigation OF any ano
all practicable routes for a canal across said
IsIhmus of Panama, and particularly to inyesti
gate the TWO routes known, respectively, a the
Nicaraglan route and the Panama route. with .
view to determining the most practicable anc
feasible route for such canal. together with the
proxinate and probable cost of constructing :
canal al each OF Two or more OF said routes
And the President Is further authorized 10 III
vestigate and ascertain what rights, privilege
and franchises, if any, may be held and owned
and what work, il any, has been done by such
corporations, associations, or individuals in tht
construction of a canal at either or any OF saic
routes and particularly al the so-caed Mica
raguan and Panama routes, respectively; anC
likewise to ascertain the cost OF purchasing al
the rights, privileges. and franchises held ane
owned by any such corporations, associations, anc
in any and all of such routes, particularly ihs
said Nicaraguan route and the said Panama
route: and likewise to ascertain the probable OF
proxirnate cost of constructing a suitable hatbol
AT each OF the temini OF said canal. and wltl
the probable and annual cost OF maintenance d
said harbors. respectively. And generally the
President Is authorized to make such tuil ant
complete investigation 10 determine the mos
feasible and practicable route across said 18th
mus for a canal, together with the cost OF con
stmCting the same and placing the same undel
the control, management and ownership OF the
United States.
Three of the Commissioners, Rear Ad-
miraI John G. Walker United States Ma
w retired; Col. Peter c. Hams, Corps OF
Engineers. United States Army, and Lewis
NJ Haupt civil engineer, of Pennsylvania,
composed the last Nicaraguan CommIs-
sion, which finished its work a few days
before the present Commission was ap-
pointed The other members are Samuel
Pasco of Florida Alfred Noble, civil en-
gineer of Illinois: Prof. William H. Burr
Of Connecticut; Lieut.. Col Oswald H
Ernst, Corps of Engineers. United States
Army; Prof. Emery R. Johnson, of Penn
sylvania, and George S. Morrison civil
engineer of New York.
Former Senator Pasco of Florida is a
man of ability, and peculiarly qualified in
many ways for duty on the Commission
Mr.. Morrison is one OF the best-known
engineers in the country, and has been
president of the Society of Civil Engineers.
Alfred Noble was member Of the Deep
Waterway Commission and of an early one
| of the Canal commissions sent to Nicara-
qua under President Cleveland and stands
high in, his profession in Chicago and else
where, and has been engaged in many
large engineering undertakings. Colonel
Ernst is one of the best equipped members
of the Corps of Engineers. Prof. Burr is
the head of the department of engineering
of Columbia University, New York city
ard has had large experience and been
consulting engineer in connection with
| some of the largest public works. Prof
Emery X. Johnson, of the University oil
Pennsylvania. was appointed because of his
peculiarly strong qualifications as a stu
dent of commerce and economics. The
President felt that the economic and CON-
mercial side of the investigation into the
proposed canal routes is one of its most
| important features and in selecting Prof
| Johnson acceded to the recommendation
] IF
| bodies.