The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-09
IN FAVOR OF THE
PANAMA ROUTE
Admiral Walker Tells Why That
Site Was Chosen.
CLEAR TITLE TO PROPERTY
PRESIDENT WILL INSIST UPON
1T BEFORE MAKING DEAL.

U-AsHINGTON, Feb S-Admirai
w Walker concluded his testimony
before the senate committee on
interOeeanic canals today and Colonel
Haupt another member Of the isthmian
canal commission, is to be heard Mon
day next.
The examination today was with ref
erence to the reasons why the canal
commission changed its recommends
tons from the Nicaragua to the Pana-
ma route. The reasons given by the
witness for this caange, summed I'D.
are that the Panama route is much
shorter and has fewer curves, and that
those curves which do exist are not so
sharp as the curves in the Nicaragua
route
He also said he believed that with
proper quarantine regulations the
health conditions of the region along
the Panama line could be much inn
proved. He did not consider the pres
ent condition from a health point of
view as bad The questions bringing
out these points We're asked largely by
Senator Hanna, who also made inuuir-
les concerning the water supply for
the Panama canal and the difficulties
In the way of constructing a dam al
BOhio. With reference to the dam. Ad-
miral Walker said he had no doubt
that the engineering difficulties could
be overcome, and he also expressed the
opinion that the water supply would
be ample.
Sharp Curve in the Route.
He stated, in reply to questions by
other senators, that one of the curves
in the Panama waterway would be
quite sharp, but he was of the opinion
that steam vessels would be able to
round it, He also said that the harhSS
at Panama could be maintained at a
nominal cost.
Senator Morgan questioned the wit
ness at length with reference to the
commissions investigation of the pow
er of the new Panama Canal company
to transfer the property and give clear
title. In reply to all the questions on
this line Admiral Walker said he had
been satisfied in a general way that
the new Panama Canal company would
be capable of passing the property to
the United States with accepts bic title
put that he was not a lawyer and that
ne felt satisfied, in case the recommen-
datlon Of the commission to adopt the
Panama route should be favOrably act
ed upon by congress, the president
would be assured by competent legal
advice Of the genuineness of the title
before accepting the transfer
Merely a Feasible Scheme.
We only recommend the Panama.
route as practicable and feasible" he
SAID, by which we mean that we con-
sldered the engineering proposition as
practicable and the diplomatic negotia-
ton as feasible"
lie said he had had no negotiations
with l., Lapre, secretary general of
the new Panama company. beyond re-
celVlng the proposition for sale of that
company from him, as had been pub
lshed. He had, however, made many
inquiries of NJ Lapre concerning his
company's title and had been assured
by that gentleman that it was good.
In reply to a question from Senator
Morgan as to whether the gSAaEnment
of the United STATES had instituted anv
negotiations with the government of
colombia relating to the transfer of
the property, Admiral Walker said that
ne would have to refer the senator to
the state department; that if he had
such information, he would not be at
liberty TO divulge it. He expressed the
opinion, however, that the Colombian
government would be bound by any
obligation assumed by the Panama
company, because that government is
a stOckholder in the Panama company.
The admiral was questioned concern
ing the French lottery for the promo
ton of interest in the Panama canal
but he replied that he knew nothing
about it, except what he had heard in
Paris. He had understood there that
such lottery had been authorized
but he knew nothing of the limitations
placed upon it or the scope allowed il
by the French law.