Evening star., 1899-06-09
AN ISTHMIAN CANAL
Appointment of a Commission by the
President.
WILL SELECT The FEASIBLE ROUTE
Members Will Soon Hold a Meet
ing.
THE AUTHORIZING ACT

The President this afternoon appointed
the fullowir z commission to determine the
most feasible and practicable route for
canal across the Isthmus of Panama:
Rear Admiral John g. Walker, L 5. N
Samuel Pasco of Florida
Alfred Noble e +. Of Illinois.
George : Morrison 6. f. of New York.
Col Fcter G. Hains. L s A.
Prof William H. Burr of Connecticut.
Lieut. Col Oswald H. Ernst. L. S. a.
Lewis NJ. Haupt. e. F.. of Pennsylvania
Prof Emory r. johnson of Pennsylvania.
The Members.
Rear Admiral Walker Col Hains and
Mr. Haupt aye members Of the present
NiCaraR guam canal commission.
Senator Pas.u of Florida is well known
throughout the country; man Of dis
tinrushed ability and peculiarly qualified
in many ways for duty on the commission
George : Morrison is one of the best
known engin RS in the country; has been
president Of the Society of Civil Engineets'
and is in every respect a very strong man
Alfred Noble formerly a member of
one of tha canal commission, stands very
high in his profession in Chicago and else
where and has been engaged in many
large engineering undertakings
Col Ernst will he remembered as Tor
merry superintendent Of public buildings
and grounds and is known as one Of the
best eQutpped members of the corps OF en-
gineers-
Professor Burr is thu head of the depart
ment of engineering of Columbia Univer-
sity. New York city. has had large exper-
fence ant been consulting engineer in con-
nection with some of our largest public
works
Professor Emory r. johnson of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, was appointed be
cause of his peculiarly strong qualifications
Y1a1T r0rNT1it
The President has felt that the economic
and commercial side OF the investigation
into the proposed canal routes is one of lis
most important features and in selec ting
Professor Johnson has acceded to the rec
Omme endatiOns and wishes Of many promi-
nent commercial organizations.
Admiral Walker said today that he would
call the commission together within few
days
Authority for the Comm IssiOn.
The act of Congress creating the COM
mission Is as follows:
Sec. 3. That the President of the United
States Of America be and he is hereby au-
thOrized and empowered to make full and
complete investigation of the Isthmus of
Panama with a view to the construction
of a canal by the United States across the
same to connect the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, that the President is authorized to
make investigation OF any and all practica-
bic routes for a canal across said lsthmus
of Panama and particularly to investigate
the two routes known, respectively. as the
NIcaraguan route and the Panama route
with a view TO determining the most pTaC-
ticable and feasible route for such canal
together with the prO&lnate and probable
cost OF constructing canal at each of two
or more of SAID routes: And the President
Is further authorized To- investigate and as
certain what rights, privileges and fran
chises. If any, may be held and owned by
any corporations. associations or indi
Viduals, and what work, If any, has been
done by such corporations, associations or
individuals in the construction of a canal
at either or any of said routes. and par
tiCularly at the sU-CaIled NICaraguan and
Panama routes. respectively; and likewise
TO ascertain the cost Of purchasing all OF
the rights privileges and franchises held
and Oy, ned by any such corporations, aSsO-
Citations and Individuals in any and all of
such routes particularly the said Nicara-
guam route and The said Panama route,
and likewise to ascertain the probable. or
prVN-mate cost Of constructing a suitable
harb"r at each Of the termInI Of SAID canal
with the probable annual cost Of Inaintc-
nance OF said harbOrs. respectively. And
generally the President is authorized TO
make such full and complete investigation
as To- determine the most feasible and prac-
tiCdblc route across SAID Isthmus for Il
canal. together with the cost Of construct
ing tne same and placing the same under
the control. management and ownership of
the Hltvd States
Sec. +. To enable the President TO make
the Investigations and stSCrrtd-LncutS here
IN provided for. lie i hereby authorized to
EMPLOY II said service any of the engineers
Of the United States army at his discretion.
and. likewise Ia employ any engineers in
Clvl life, at his discretion. ANA any other
Persons necessary To make such invest ga
uoH, and tu TX thu C"mpr usatiul of any
and all Of such engineers and other per
sons
The aci appruuriajts 81 .tru utp for the ex-
pCIScs ~ the commission