The Washington times., 1901-10-20
TO CROSS IN AN AIRSHIP.
Nj. Hutin's Project for Inspecting
the Panama Canal Route.

tht IauHHtd tbuHi ftOutcs
Great secrecy surrounds the many con
| ferences being held each day between
Rear Admiral Walker. of the Isthmiar
Canal Commission, and Maurice Hutin
President of the Board of Directors oi
the Panama Canal Company. No state
ment has been made by either of the con
ferees concerning the question now be
ing agitated. 1t was stated officially last
night the final report of the Commission
will be completed and handed to Presi'
dent Roosevelt before Congress convenes
This will give the President ample time
to incorporate in his message a recon-
mendation in regard to the building OF
an inter-ocean canal across the Isthmus
of Panama.
There seems to be no doubt THAT NJ
Hutin has made definite proposition on
behalf OF the company which he repre-
sents. The nature of the proposition
however, is very carefully guarded. Ad-
miral Walker proposes that the first pub
lie statement shall come from either the
President or Congress.
A novel proposition made by NJ. Hutii.
during his conference with the Commits
sion will probably, in a short time, re-
suit in a trip being made across the
isthmus in a balloon for the purpose of
viewing the route of the Panama Canal.
Flying machines and submarine boats
are at present occupying the attention
of the Isthmian Canal Commission, while
interest to the big isthmian waterway
has begun to flag. This is due to the
presence at the Commission meetings of
the eager Frenchmen, ostensibly here to
promote the interests of the Panama Ca
nal Company, who all day long devote
their time and energies to the latest Par
isian craze, and study the records of aeri-
al machines.
How to build a canal'' has been super
seded by How to manage a flying ma
chine
The new subject just introduced into
the discussions of the Canal Commission
entered with the arrival of Maurice HUI
tin, the President of the Panama Canal
Company, He talked" canal for one
day, and then grew enthusiastic upon the
subject of midair Iocomotion. M Hutin
has just come from Paris. where the bal
loon craze is at its height. Already he
has preached numerous schemes to the
members OF the Commission, which, If put
into execution. would possibly solve many
of the difficulties in connection with the
canal
His last suggestion, that the Canal
Commission view the work of the Pana-
ma Canal from a balloon, has been luke
warmly received by members of the Com
mission. who, not having become enthusi-
astle upon the subject as is NJ. Hutin,
view the prospect obviously.
To NJ. Hutin. however, the project is
not only perfectly feasible one, but
would be attended by no inconsiderable
amount of practical result. He thinks
that a trip across the isthmus in an up
to-date flying machine would simplify
matters considerably.
Whether this proposition is being seri-
ously considered by members of the Com
however. is not known. although
it is believed that NJ. Hutin himself
the party to perform the feat, but would.
on the contrary. enter upon It with great
willingness. 1t is not an improbability
that some such trip across the isthmus
viii be made.
1t is pointed out that by no other means
can a complete observation of the canal
route be obtained M. Hutin, who is un-
derstood to have taken great interest in
the experiments made with balloons at
Paris and elsewhere in France, is enthu-
In favor OF the project.
The plans, as now but partly formed.
provide for the building or purchase of a
flying machine. or balloon. would be
made in France and shipped direct to
the isthmus. The party. very small one,
which would include NJ Hutin. a member
of the Panama Canal Commission, and
others, would leave Colon in the aerial
machine and follow the route Of the ca
nal across the isthmus to Panama. II is
believed that this could be accomplished
without difficulty.
Ii is pointed out that on the short
aerial voyage across the isthmus the
most practical method Of viewing the
route of the Panama Canal would be
presented. o..
Although the question has not yet
reached the stage at which the project
is assured of being carried out, yet 1t is
being considered. and may form one of
tares of the long history of dramatic
events connected with the Panama Canal.
The discussion OF air ships and balloons
by NJ. Hutin continues at the conferences
with the Panama Canal Commission, and
but little, SO far. has been actually ac-