The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1903-04-10
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1903.
The Status of the Canal.

caual at the earliest possible moment
and to push it to completion "wlth
the same American energy which at
times has made the world breath
less" However, there is much pre-
liminary work yet to be done. The
treaty just ratified by our congress
must also be ratified by the Colon
bian congress. Then we must set
tie with the French company by the
payment of $40, 900, 900, and also
with the Colombian government
by the payment of $40, 900, 900, and
then the actual work of construction
may begin. Recently the New York
Times, in discussing the financial
feature of this great enterprise, de
picted the situation as follows:
"Here is an engineering work on
which $500, ooo,o 900 has already
been expended by the French com
pany that originated it, and which
we have undertaken to complete at
cost, including franchises and
title, of $3.50, 900, 900. Our ex-
perts say that it can be done. Con-
gress has authorized the expendi-
ture. The people are entirely sure
that it will be done, and that the
process will not disturb the ordi-
nary course of business or in the
least strain the resources, financial
or other, of the nation. The $780,
600, 900 needed to clear the way
will be paid out of the till of the
treasury from the surplus already
existing there. The 5000, 900, 900
for construction, or even a larger
amount, is to be raised on bonds
that bear per cent interest. and
must be sold at par at time when
the British consols bearing ~ per
cent sell at about o.. But there is
no real need that this sum should
be borrowed. 1t could withou:
serious embarrassment be paid as
the expenditure is required from
year to year out of the annual in
come. The entire amount could be
raised in five years from the taxes
that have been repealed since the
close of the Spanish war, and the
effect on the general business of the
country would not be felt"
Considered from the standpoint
of cost, this Panama canal is the
greatest single enterprise ever I'M
dertaken on earth. The Suez canal
cost but $500, 900, 900, and there is
nothing else of similar character
with which comparisons can be
made. Yet, considered from the
standpoint of practicability or en-
glneering problems. the Panama
canal is probably more simple than
the building OF the first transconti-
mental railroad or the Brooklyn
bridge. There were plenty of peo-
pie and even of civil engineers to
doubt the practicability of the
mountain railroad and the viaduct
between New York and Brooklyn,
but there are few of either kind who
doubt the engineering success of the
Panama canal.
If we may believe the report of
the canal commission there is moth
ing new in the way of engineering
presented in the Panama situation.
The work is SIMPLE, owing It's dis
tinguishing quality to the enormous
amount of it which must be per-
formed. The single engineering
problem mentioned by the commits
ion as being difficult is to construct
a substantial dam which will retain
the water of the Bohio lake and
river and give plenty of water for
operation of the locks. 1t is not
proposed, be it understood. to
build a canal at sea level. That
could be done, says the commission,
but it would reqnire twenty years OF
time and an enormous expenditure
OF money. So, to save both time
and money, the lock system is
adopted, by means of which ships
in transit will be hoisted over the
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