New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-18
AGAINST SEA LEVEL CANAL
admiral Walker for Original Plans
discrimination Denied.
rrRou THE TRIBUNE BrREAu.l


washington. Dec. 17.-Admiral Walker said to-day
that he could not the way 10 constructing a sea
level canal across the Isthmus or Panama When
asked if the sentiment in favor of sea level canal
growing he replied;
1t seems to be growing in the minds of a few
Congressman but | do not believe in the idea-just
at present m The first place sea Level CANA
tion however. is not great one 10 so rich couI-
Try as ours hundred millions more or less M
such tremendously important undertaking as the
lection TO u sea level ditch is the additional time
that would be required for its completion. 1t would
that would confront the builders would be- What
viii We 90 viii the Ghaeres River? II the canal
is cut to the level that river would in times
ran nigh it would swoop down on the canal and and
tear it TO pieces. To obviate that danger II Wouu
be necessary to construct canal for The diversion
OF the Chagres. sea level canal would need uu ie
Without Many people Relieve that # the canal
We're cut to the level Of the ocean IL would ana 1
taken
Admiral Walker called on the President to explain
the circumstances OF a shipping contract Presl-
Ca al Commission had disseminated against Ameri-
can vessel owners in Awarding contract tor the
transportation of three million feet Of lumber from
Humphrey Of washington. wh9 is member NH r. of OF
before the President and asked him to secure
future contracts for American business men
the Cosmos stea E O Sompany said Mr. Hum
phrey in recting his charges. might just as well
not one so cent loWer The only dference the bids
that the German concern offered to ship the
made their bids on whole caTgoes. The cosmos
concern. which Is a German corporation, runs d
line Of steamers from Puget Sound to South Ameri-
can ports and, they are constantly hauling all
kinds of goods up and down the coast, can take on
half or quarter OF cargo of lumber. MI up Win
oIhef STUN ana make the ulp 70 the lSt Iil. = q
profitable The American owners, on the other
hand. who have other business TO call their
SHIPS to the Sthmus, must take on full caFsoeS OF
the lumber TO make it worth their while. This
however, should not make any difference to the
Canal Commissioners who have such large amount
Of lumber to ship. and think they ought strain
a point. il necessary. for the benefit OF American
firms. The Joint Committee of the House and
Senate, Of which am member, has voted unani-
mousy irrespective of politics. to protest against
| was up here the last time the President asked me
TO furnish him with more facts in the case, ana
that was the errand which brought me TO-DAY! .
with awarding the bid that Mr.. Humphrey IS talk
ing about said Admiral Walker, who called a
The commission bought the lunlber from me
BallingtOn Bay Company at certain price, the
terms specifying delivery on the canal strip we
had nothing whatever TO do with the tranSporta..
ton. The Baliington Bay Company probably got
IL done cheaply as they could. a business pro
cedure that they We're undoubtedly Jusuned IN
taking under the law. This matter of three mill
ion feet is very small. however compared with the
quantity that will have need of i'm the future,
and if American vessel owners on the Sound can
haul the boards to the isthmus as cheapy as II can
be done in foreign bottoms they will have a chance
We are going 10 omen bids very soon for a great
deal lumber and will ask for proposals from
bot. American and foreign concerns do not
foreigners but will be very glad il this prediction
proves incorrect. II the Canal Commission is
American firms So if the bids of the American
shipOwners the Pacific Coast are as low or
offers. they will get the contracts There is moth
ing, however. in the law ordering us to have the
Americans. and we are required to do the work
as well and as cheaply as We can"