Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-10
CANAL VIA SAN BIAS
WAS BEFORE SENATE
RESOLUTION OFFERED FOR APP
PoINTMENT OF COMMISSION
OF EXPERTS.

WASHINGTON, Feb. lin the senate
yesterday Mr. Scott, Republican, Of West
Virginia. called up and had read reso-
luton which he offered several days ago,
providing for the appointment OF COM
mission OF experts to examine what is
known as the San Bias. or Mandigo Bay
route. for an isthmian waterway. and to
report 10 the senate the cost of construct
ing an inter-Oceanic canal by that route.
He disclaimed any intention to obstruct
the. consideration of a canal bill. or 10
delay the building OF the canal.
He said after thorough investigation he
was convinced the San Bias route met
practically every requirement. Because
the adoption of that route involved the
driving of a tunnel through the granite
OF a mountain range sufficiently large TO
admit Of the passage Of any ship. the
route had been regarded as impracticable.
DIR. Scott explained that the San Bias
route conducted the two oceans from the
Bay OF AandigO in the Gulf of San Bias,
on the Atlantic side, TO Pearl Island har-
bo- in the Gulf Of Panama. on the Pacific
side OF the isthmus. Including the five
mile tunnel. the canal would be thirty
miles long. He said that the harbors Of
the San Bias route had excited the epthu-
sIasm OF all engineers who had investiga-
ted them. He believed that electrical
power made II entirely practicable BY this
route TO tow sailing ships through the
canal BIZ electric trolley. The route he
proposed. he said. offered great natural
ard commercial values. ...
He quoted both American and European
engineering authorities to show that the
construction Of the San Bias tunnel was
quite practicable. For the following rea-
sons Mr.. Scott believed that the San Bias
route was the only feasible and practi-
cable sea level canal route:
l. Its healthy location.
?. Its shortness.
3. Its magnificent harbors.
4. Its total absence of locks.
;. The probability Of working gangs OF
men night and day, in the wet ard dry
seasons and under good sanitary cond!-
tions.
6. The very important consideration that
b. this route and no other sailing vessels
could be towed by electric power. by aight
as wen as by day.
Z. The economical maintenance Of the
canal when completed.
g The .pernanency of its rock bed and
the absence Of earth embankment.
5. The desirable fact that it can be cen
structed within three. or at most. FIVE
years.
Mr.. Scott concluded by strongly urging
the adoption of his resolution.
Dir Morgan. chairman of the committee
IN ipterOceanlC canals. moved that tie
resolution offered by Mr.. Scott be referred
TO that committee. He said that the COM
mittee had had General Sorrell. the pro-
mOter Of the San Bias route, before It,
and the matter had been referred to
subcommittee. which was now conduct
ing an investiG alton of that project
lie pointed cut that Colombia prOoahly
Eoulo oppose the adoption Of the San
Bias route. as that would destroy both
the Panama canal and the Panama Rail-
way company.
IL would be a hopeless task, he thought,
70 convince Colombia that the San Bias
route would be the most desirable one
proposed.
Without objection the resolution was re-
ferred to the committee on inter-oceanic
canals.