The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-18
Between Seventy-Five and Ninety
Millions Estimated the Cost
of Constructing a Canal.
PACIFIC CABLE TESTIMONY
ARMY AND NAVY OFFICERS HEARD
BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
Advantages of Government Control
Urged by General Greedy, Ad-
miral Bradford and Others.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 17.-When the
Isthmian Canal Commission. of which
Rear Admiral Walker is chairman. met
to-day fl was intended that the session
should lcontinue until a majority at least.
had reached a definite conclusion respect
ing the nature OF the recommendation.
Final action, however, was carried over un-
I'll tomorrow. 1t is learned on the high
est authority that the commission is not
a unit on any OF the propositions which
have been submitted. A member of the
commission said to-day: 'The fact that
there is discussion shows there is a d.
versity of opinion among the members OF
the commission regarding the selection Of
a canal route" Although no positive in
formation was given out regarding the
feeling among the members of the COM
mission, il is learned that the acceptance
of the offer of the Panama Company will
The commission was in session FOR sew
eral hours tonight. adjourning at half
past 10 o'clock until tomorrow. IL is
derstood a conclusion has been reached
on the matters under consideration and
that a report will be made TO President
Roosevelt tomorrow. Admiral Walker ex-
poets this TO be done, although he init
mated Ii was not possible TO say what
would happen until all the members had
signed the report. Neither the admiral nor
the other members of the commission Will
say which of the two routes for the canal
under consideration viii he recomme>~e@
make any other statement pertinent &c
the subject. Colonel Ernst, one OF the
army engineers, who Is member OF the
commission. did say without hesitation
that conclusion had been reached and a
report would be made 10 the President to-
morrow. Former Senator Pasco. in reply
IN
Darien route for the proposed canal had
not received any consideration at the hands
of the commission tonight, as this had
been disposed of in previous report or
the commission.
Senator Morgan. chairman OF the Senate
committee on interoceanic canals, made
a brief report to that committee to-day
as the result OF his investigation of the
status of the Panama sale proposition
He stated that he had called on the Presi-
dent and Admiral Walker. chairman Of the
Isthmian Canal Commission. and had
learned that the President had impressed
upon the commission the necessity for an
early report fixing the time at the close
of the present week, and the admiral had
said that in accordance with these instruc-
tlons the commission probably would be
prepared to report by Saturday night. He
also stated that he had learned officially
that the French government had made no
proposition 10 the United States I'm
nection with the Panama route. and fur
ther that nothing had been heard from the
government of Colombia on that subject.
Harris Kittredge and Foster, was ap-
pointed TO take testimony concerning the
various canal routes suggested IL met
during the afternoon for the purpose OF In
terrogating representatives Of the Ameri-
can Isthmian Ship Canal Company. Those
who spoke for this company were General
Edward w. Serrell, consulting engineer:
Mr. II. H Adams, a stockholder and Mr.:
Theodore Schroeder, counsel. They control
the Darien route also designated as the
San Bias route. They claim to be able To
secure a canal at sea level which will be
only thirty miles in length from ocean 10
ocean. Their route extends from Mendago
7 harbor TO Pearl islands, and is based on
surveys made first by Professor Hopkins in
1910, and afterward by Messers. McDougal.
Sweet, Foreman and Rude. Their plan Is
TO run a tunnel for i've miles. this
and with water 50 feet deep. The ships
would be drawn through the canal by an
electric trolley line Ii stated by the
witnesses that they had secured estimates
which convinced them that the tunnel work
could be done at "A cost not exceeding 81
cents per cubic yard, and they esti-
mated that the entire canal could be con-
structed at an aggregate cost OF from
$4,000 600 to so, 600 900. They said that the
granite in that section is perfectly sound
and added that I'm case there would be
places where IL was not found TO be so
the walls could be lined. The witnesses es-
mated that the tunnel could be completed
ia three years time. When asked 10 make
d proposition 10 the government they de-
clined TO DO so. The terms. however. they
thought would be that they should retain
the ownership Of the canal and that the
government of the United States should
agree 10 pay 80 per cent. OF the cost "
construction payments TO begin when So
COO 900 OF work shall have been completed
and other payments TO be made each time
that $40 900 900 worth OF work Is done. They
also said in reply 10 questions that they
had secured neither right OF way nor gov
ernment concessions.
General Serrell said that at the instiga-
ton Of the late President Mckinley he had
approached representatives OF the Maritime
anal Company representing the Mic
8ragua canal route, and also representa-
lives uf ire Panama Company. Ex-senator
Warner MILLER. ne said. had expressed his
surprise at the advantages presented by
this route and had professed Willingness 10
make arrangements looking 10 its accept
auce. The Panama company had not
shown such willingness TO come 20 terms