Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-23
PLAN FOR THE CANAL
Discussion of the Question
May Take a Year.
WILL NOT DELAY WORK
EXCAVATION ON THE ISTHMUs
WILL GO ON.
Controversy Over Advantage and Cost
of Sea-Level Waterway or
One With Locks.
WILL NOT DELAY WORK

The question involved in the determine
ton of plans for the building of the Pam
| ANA canal is that is likely to be dis
cussed for a year more before it is final
ly settled just what kind of canal will be
constructed the isthmus.
When Congress appropriated money to
buy the interest of the French canal COM
pany and to begin construction of a canal
at Panama it was with the understanding
that the commission favored the building
of lock canal on the 90-foot level. This
canal. it estimated, would cost $780,
| 100000, would have three locks of thirty
feet each and would require ten years IN
the building. This estimate and this plan
were based upon estimates of the old COM
mission that were in turn based very large
ly upon data coming into the possession OF
the commission from the old canal COM
pany, and through such limited surveys as
it had been able to make.
When the commission, through it's
gineers, began on the work of construction
under Chief Engineer Wallace additional
Investigations were pursued and additional
data were collected bearing on the project.
1t was found that in order to obtain a suit
able foundation for the great locks it would
be necessary to go to very great depths,
and even today it is not positively known
what the extent of these foundations must
be. There are also similar uncertainties in
relation to the founda tons for the great
entertainments and dams that are to be
constructed. Chief Engineer Wallace, In
recent statement, said that borings had
been extended to a depth of 162 feet on the
banks of the ChagreS river where founda-
lions must be obtained, without striking
bed rock or other material that would be
regarded a $ suitable for the heavy struc-
ture that would be necessary to place there
Mr.. Wallace for Sea Level Canal.
In a general way Chief Engineer Wallace
has stated that he prefers a sea-level canal.
He does not agree with those engineers
who have thought it possible to first build
n lock canal and then to gradually reduce
it to a sea-level waterway without serious.
interruption to traffic. 1t is understood that
he has taken the view that there will be a
very long interruption to traffic If lock
canal is first built and then work is begun
TO change It so as to make it sea level. He
also regards the sea-level canal as much
more economical to maintain and very
much better in the facilities it will afford
to shipping by permitting quicker transit.
He also regards as of the greatest impor-
lance the fact that if the canal is once
made level it will be possible to widen
it without any interruption to traffic.
But under the estimates of the commits
sion based on the old data it will take
twenty years instead of ten to build sea-
stead of S1J0000 900. There are MANY adj
vocates of the sea-level canal, among whom
is Senator Kittredge, a member of the
committee on interoceanic canals of the
Senate. Senator Kittredge claims that the
commission has power today to proceed to
build a sea-level canal and has expressed
himself as so thoroughly convinced that
that should be done that he will himself
advocate 1t in Congress, in the event that
the commission should not decide.
Chairman Walker Favors Locks.
But the commission itself is divided on
this question. Admiral Walker, chairman
of the commission, is well known to be
thoroughly opposed to the building of a
sea-level canal at first. He has advocated
a canal on the sxty-foot level instead of
the ninety-foot level, and it has been I'M
derstood that ne is ready to persistently
maintain this view when the question is
brought up Tor decision by the commission.
But even II the power of the commission
to change to a Sea-level canal is not dis
puted by any one, there are many men in
congress who do not believe the commission
would make such a radical change from the
plan 1t approved when Congress first an
propriated money for this work without
having the sanction of Congress in some
way. Those who take this view do not
think the commission would adopt such
radical change unless at least the leaders
IN Congress, who were directly responsible
Tor the appropriation, should give their as
sent 10 the increase in cost and to the in.
crease in time for the completion of the
canal.
Chief Engineer Wallace has stated that
he has not yet completed his own investiga-
ton and has not received data from his en-
gineers to permit him to make final esti-
mate as to the cost of canal. either as
lock canal or as a Sea-level waterway He
has expressed the belief that more complete
data and further study of this problem
Will warrant him in making a smaller esti-
mate, both of the cost and of the time re-
quired to complete the work, than was made
on the data in the possession of the old
commission.
A Long Discussion Likely.
But it is not at all likely that this can be
completed in time for the canal commission
to act upon it before Congress adjourns
view that a change to a sea-level canal
should not be made without the full knowl-
edge of Congress believe that the whole
matter of determining the route will have
to go over to the next session, and believe
possible to finally fix the plan on which the
canal is to be constructed. This does not
mean that there is to be delay in work
until that time. There is on the isthmus an
enormous amount of excavation that must
be done in any event. 1t would be deSr-
able, however in the laying out of the work
&c have the plan of the canal determined at
as early a time as possible.
There may be SOME discussion of this
matter before the adjournment of Congress
on March 4, but definite informa ton is so
that any progress can be made so far As
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