Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1902-02-14
WHY? THE PANAMA ROUTE.
ADMIRAL WALKER TEsTIFIEs.
Says Panama Canal Would Have
Fewer Curves-Health Conditions
Could he unprecedented supply
Ample-Harbors Maintained mt "a
Nominal Cost-As to the Title.

Washington, Feb. 10.-Admiral Wal
ker has concluded his testimony be
fore the senate committee on inter
oceanic canals.
The examination was with reference
to the reasons why the canal commits
sion changed its recommendation
from the Nicaragua to the Panama
route. The reasons given by the wit.
ness for his change, summed up, is
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 condition Of the region along
the Panama route could be much i'm
proved. He did not consider the pres
ent condition, from a health point Of
veiw, as bad.
The questions bringing out these
points were asked largely by Senator
Hanna, who also made inquiries con-
corning the water supply for the Pan
anna canal and the difficulties in the
way of constructing dam at Bohio.
With reference to the dam Admiral
Walker said he had no doubt that the
engineering difficulties could be over
come and he also expressed the opin-
ion that the water supply would be
ample He stated, in reply to quest
lens by other senators, that one of the
curves in the Panama waterway would
be quite sharp. but he was of the opin-
ion that steam vessels would be able
tosround 1t. He also said that the
harbor 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
power Of the new Panama Canal COM
pany to transfer the property and give
q clear title. In reply to ali the ques-
tions on this line. Admiral Walker
said he had been satisfied in a general
way that the new Panama Canal COM
pany would be capable Of passing the
property to the United States with
acceptable title, but that he was not
q lawyer and that he felt satisfied, in
case the recommendation of the COM
mission to adopt the Panama route
should be favorably acted upon by con-
gress. the president would be assured
by competent legal advice of the gen
uineness of the title before accepting
the transfer. I'VE only recommended
the Panama route as practicable and
feasible" he said, by which we mean
that we considered the engineering
proposition as practicable and the dip
lomatic negotiations as feasible"
He said he had no negotiations with
M. Lampre, secretary general of the
new Panama company, beyond receiv-
ing the proposition for the sale of
that company from him, as had been
published. He. had, however, made
many inquiries of M. Lampre concern
ing his company's title and had been
assured by that gentleman that it was
good.
In reply to question from Senator
WI san eo w WACthVA thO boNOAAlhOht
of the United States had instituted
any negotiations with the government
of Columbia relating to the transfer
of the property, Admiral Walker said
that he would have to refer the sen
ator to the state department; that If
he had such information, he would not
be at liberty to divulge 1t. He ex-
pressed the opinion, however, that the
Columbian government would be
bound by any obligation assumed by
the Panama company, because that
government is stockholder in the
Panama company.
The admiral was questioned con-
corning the French lottery of the in
terest of the Panama canal. but he re-
piled that he knew nothing about it,
except what he had heard in Paris.
He had understood that such lottery
had been authorized, but he knew moth
ing of the limitations placed upon it
by the French law.