Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-09-22
EXPEDITE THE CANAL
PRESIDENT TO PANAMA BOARD.
Urges Necessity Of a Plan Of construe-
tion-Wants Sea Level Canal
10 Feasibie-6ut Wishes
Prompt Action.


Washington. Sept. Is President
Roosevelt is urging In the strongest
terms the necessity for plan for the
which may be accomplished In the
shortest possible time. In his recent
remarks to the consulting board OF
engineers Of the isthmiaR canal COM
mission he said many things which are
regarded as OF the utmost Importance
In thar connection. These remarks
have 1ust been transcribed and trans
mitted TO the board here. and General
Davis. Its chairman. has been author
ized to make them public.
The President said:
"ftrst-Ths utmost practical speed
OF construction.
"Secopd-Practicai certainty that
tho plan proposed viii be feasible. that
I, can be carried out with tho mini
mum risk.
amount OF work should be minimixed
30 far as possible.
There may DO good reason why tho
delay incident TO the adoption OF plan
for an ideal canal should be incurred:
but II there Ia not. then hops to sec
tho canal constructed On u system
which will bring To tho nearest possi-
bio date In the future the time when II
is PRACTICABLE. TO take tho first ship
across the isthmus; that In, which will
In tho shortest possible time secure n
Panama waterway between the oceans
Of Euch a character M to guarantee
permanent and ample communication
for the creates, ships OF our navy and
for tho lar.cs, steamers on either the
Atlantic or tho Pacific. The delay In
transit Of tho vessels. owing to addi.
tionnl locks. would bo OF small conse-
qucncc when compared with shorten.
Ing tho timc for the construction of
tho canal or diminishing tho risks In
Its construction.
In short, I desire your hes, judI.
mcnt on all the various questions to be
considered In choosing among the var.
ious plans for n comparatively high
level multiaiock canal. for lower level
with fewer locks. and for n sea level
canal. Finally. ! urge upon you the
necessity Of as great expedition In
coming TO a decision an is compatible
with ihoroushncss In considering the
conditions.
What nm about TO say mus. be
considered In the light of suggestion.
not as direction. have nancd you be-
cause. In my judgment. you are cspc.
cinlly fitted To serve ms advisers In
planning the greatest engineering work
the world has yet seen: and l expect
you to advise me. not what you think
wan3 10 hear. but what you think I
ought to hear.
There nrc two or three conSidcrn.
tons which I trust you will steadily
keep before your minds In coming to
n conclusion us to tho proper type Of
canal. I hope that ultimately II will
prove possible to build sea icvd ca.
nal. Sv'h n canal would undoubtedly
bc best in the end. II feasible; and I
feel that one OF tho chief advantages
OF tho Panama route IL that ultimately
sea level canal will be possibility.
But while paying due heed to the ideal
pcrfcctibility Of the scheme from nm
engineers standpoint. remember tho
need OF having plan which shall pro.
vide for tho immediate building Of n
canal on the safest terms and In the
shortest possible time.
EFF to build sea level canal will but
slightly increase tho risk, then. of
course. It Is preferable. But II to
adopt n plan OF n sea level canal means
to incur hazard md to insure indcfi-
mite delay. then II is not preferable.
II the advantages and disadvantages
are closely balanced. expect you to
say 30. I desire. also. to know
whether. II you recommend n high.
level multi.lock canal, II will be pos.
sible, after It In completed. to turn II
into or substitute for It, in time, n sea
1 level canal. without interrupting the
trafflc upon It."