New-York tribune., 1902-02-09
PANAMA'S ADVANTAGES,
ADMIRAL WALKER TELLS WHY THE
ISTHMIAN CANAL COMMISSION
CHANGED ITS RECON-
MENDATION

Washington. Feb S-Admiral Walker finished
his testimony before the Senate Committee on
Ahteroceanic Canals to-day. and Colonel Haupt
ahother member of the Isthmian Canal Com
mission. is TO be heard on Monday.
Inc examination to-day was with reference to
'he reasons why the canal commission changed
It's recommendations from the Nicaragua to the
fahana route. The reasons given by Admiral
walker for this change We're briefly that the
rdhdna route is much shorter and has fewer
curves and the curves which do exist are not
so sharp as those in the Nicaragua route He
also said he believed that with proper quaran-
tine regulations the health conditions of the re-
sIoh along the Panama line could be much i'm
proved He did not consider the present con-
dltlon from a sanitary point OF view as bad
The questions bringing out these points were
asked chiefly by Senator Hanna who also made
inquiries concerning the water supply for the
Panama 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
overcome, and he expressed the opinion that
the water supply would be ample. He said, in
reply TO questions by other Senator's that one
OF the curves in the Panama waterway would
be quite sharp, but he believed that steam ves-
sels would be able to round 1t. He also said
that the harbor at Panama could be maintained
at a nominal cost
THINKS A CLEAR TITLE CAN BE GIVEN
senator Morgan asked many questions with
reference to the commissions investigation OF
the power of the Panama Canal Company
TO transfer its property and give clear title.
Admiral Walker said he had been satisfied in a
general way that the company would be capa-
bic of passing the property to the United States
with an acceptable title, but he not a law
yer. and he felt satisfied. in case the recommen-
datlon or the commission TO accept the Panama
route should be faVorably acted upon by Con-
gress, that the President would be assured by
competent legal advice of the genuineness Of the
title before accepting the transfer. We only
recommend the Panama route practicable
and feasible" he said by which we meant that
we considered the engineering proposition as
practicable and the diplomatic negotiation
feasible"
He had had no negotiations with NJ. Lampre.
secretary general Of the new Panama company,
beyond receiving the proposition for the sale
quiries Of NJ. Lampre concerning his company's
title, and had been assured that 1t good
In reply to a question from Senator Morgan
to whether the government of the United
States had instituted any negotiations with the
government Of Colombia relating 10 the transfer
Of the property Admiral Walker said he would
have to refer the Senator TO the State Depart
ment; If he hid such information he would not
be at lbe. ty to dfvulge II. He believed. how
ever. that the Colombian Government would be
bound by any obligation assumed by the Pana-
ma company, because that government is a
stOckholder in the company
The admiral asked concerning the French
lottery for the promotion Of the interests of the
Panama Canal. but he replied that he knew
nothing about Il except what he had heard in
Paris. He had understood there that such a
lottery had been authorized. but he knew moth
ing of the limitations placed 1t or the scope
allowed to 1t by the French law.