The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-29
He THOUGHT DAM
Yea, Morgan Talked of
Several Dams.
But Concluded He Knew Nothing About
Them, So Won't Go to Panama
to Look at the
Ditch.
(By the Associated Press )

Birmingham, Ala, Sept 2S.-Sena-
tor John T. Morgan, of Alabama, has
written a letter to Chairman T. P.
Shonts. of the Panama Canal Commits
sion, declining the invitation to ac-
company the commission which leaves
New York today for Panama. The
Senator thinks nothing will be accom-
plished by the trip. His letter says
in part:
I'm your telegram of the 22nd in
Stant you speak of a large party who
are to sail with the commission and
the advisory board to Colon and are
to have comfortable facilities for max
ing tours of inspection and examina-
ton of the canal. In the matter of
sightseeing, such facilities will afford
much pleasure, which l regret L am
not prepared to enjoy, but l do not
suppose that such a surface inspection
of the appearance of conditions in
Panama would give me any data from
which l could form any Judgment as
to the practicability of lock canal,
or sea level canal, or the preference
due to either plan, or as to the cost.
or the time required for the compile
ton of the canal on either plan.
Il could not wisely, intelligently and
Justly give an opinion to any COM
missioner or to any members of the
advisory board as to the possibility of
a dam at Bohio, one hundred and six
ty-eight feet below the level of the
sea, that would supply a canal at 80
feet above sea level; or as to dam at
Gamboa that would control the waters
of the Charges River; or as to a possi-
BILE tunnel to either ocean to carry off
those flood waters.
81 could not inform the able, cour-
ageous and distinguished chief of the
hygienic service in the canal zone
whether. if We should floor all the
breeding places of the stegomyia fas-
ciata with great lakes, we would not
increase them a thousand fold along
the margins of the great bodies OF
fresh water, in the tropical under
growth that would spring up around
them in a few hours.
81 must say that 1 distrust the ex-
pected advantages to Congress or to
the country, of such an excursion, or
the value of any opinion that may be
formed on great engineering problems,
by body of gentlemen who are nom
professional and must form their con-
clusions from surface appearances
"Since the ratification of the Hay
Varilla treaty. which l opposed, I
have done all that | could and much
more than l thought could ever be
of advantage to the country to sus-
tain the government in it's purpose TO
construct canal at Panama. Yet /
have not believed that success could
crown their efforts. even in their most
costly and desperate form. You may
find the key to unlock the barriers
that nature has interposed at Panama
Ii you should be SO fortunate, | would
applaud your genius and courage.
will vote to provide you with every
reasonable authority and power to ac-
complish your task and to meet your
tremendous responsibility.
"In the effort to answer your friend
| ly invitation with perfect frankness
/ have said anything that jars upon
your sensibilities, ] have not so intend
ed il and would regret it. | beg t,
assure you of my sincere respect and
to say that / will rejoice with you in
the successful completion of the great
work in your charge.
| sincerely yours,
| (Signed) JOHN T. MORGAN"