The Washington times., 1904-06-12

/ the engineers Of the company them
selves. which were at variance with the
engagements made by the contractors
new evolution was preparing. While.
in principle. the superiority Of a canal
on level over any other remained un-
contested and incontestable. the fnan-
cial situation of the company forced il
to seek for a more speedy and less
costly solution. Could a dreadful crisis
be thus avoided? It was hoped so. but
events showed that such a crisis was
inevitable.
The manifest desire Of the company
to seek its salvation In a new way was
shown very early in 1887. 1t is proper
10 mention here a meeting Of the SUI
perfor advisory commission for the
work, which was held IN the month Of
January, 1887. and at which the ques-
ton Of a canal with locks was clearly
presented.
Unfortunately. this opinion. although
It was not new, was not Immediately an
nounced by the management Of the com
pany with proper clearness and with all
the necessary frankness. Once more
were the difficulties and dangers exper-
fenced which result from declarations
which have become sincere too late, for
the public was accustomed to believe
energetic protests had been made
against the opinions Of the engineers.
who, in 1855 and 1856. had pointed out
the perils Of the situation, and
proposed solutions that could be
accomplished more speedily. and.
what was more important. at
less expense. 1t was, consequently,
necessary TO prepare a movement OF
public opinion, such as was required BY
the situation.
In his report to the meeting of the
stockholders. which was held in July,
1857, N. F. de Lesseps gave il to be
understood that the company was seek
ing for new solutions, speedy. and such
as would render II possible, without
abandoning the plan Of a canal on a
level. TO open a temporary canal for
operation at the time appointed
Time was passing, but the decisive
action which the situation called for
was not taken. Furthermore, consider
able expense was being incurred for
work of which part would be useless.
The superior advisory commission
which met in the month OF January, 1887,
had charged a subcommission to exam
Inc the various plans of construction or
Of temporary operation OF the canal
which were laid before 1t by the
company. This subcommission met only
in the month of September, 1887. The
superior commission. at its fun meet
ing in the month of October following,
deHberated concerning the conclusions
of its subcOmmission and replied in the
affirmative. unanimously. 10 the follow
ing two questions of principle which
were propounded 10 IT by the manage
ment of the company:
rs II possible to establish in the cen
trail mass an upper level which would
permit the work of a canal at the sea
level TO be finished by applying the.
method Of dredging TO the excavation
of this portion?
"Will it be possible, as soon as these
arrangements shall have been com
pleted and without interrupting the
work Of deepening, TO begin the opera
ton of a ship canal between the two
oceans?'
To Decrease the Cost.
In accordance with these conclusions.
and with new engagements entered into
at the same time by the various con
tractors, the engineers of the COM
DdllN were tlaEBtG VIII preparing 4
plan whose cost. increased by the
charges for interest and management
during the periods accepted by the con-
tractors. and at the rates of the va
rious contracts concluded. was not to
exceed 600 600. 900 francs. The date for
the completion of the work had been
set for the close Of the year 1891. 1t is
impossible to avoid being struck with
the haste and rapidity with which this
new plan was prepared.
The expenditures entailed by the plan
10 be adopted had to be low enough
TO leave ground for the hope that the
public would lend its assistance to the
last 1t was necessary at the same
time to reduce. as far as possible, the
time for the completion of the work,
so as to remain within the limit Of the
period allowed by the law granting
the concession.
The line Of the new route Of the
canal, which was called a temporary
canal with locks, did not differ from
the line adopted for the canal on
level
B The canal had ? single track and the
surface OF its summit level was forty
nine meters above the level of the
oceans. The effort had been made 20