The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-21
LOCK CANAL MAY BE BULL Decision of Engineers
 Not Final. STEVENS OPPOSES LEVEL Roosevelt Also Against the Ascendant Plan.
 -e At the same Time the Presia<.f VIII - Approach the Matter witkeut Bias-Chief Ensineer Com
 ing Home.
STEVENS OPPOSES LEVEL

Washington, Nov. 20.--Aithouxh the Board of Consulting Engineers had da~ cided in favor of a sea level canal it Is yet an open question whether tho Panama Canal shall be sea level or . lock waterway. The decision of tho Board of Consulting Engineers is not final. The decision of the board Waa reached by a vote of to in favor of the sea level project, General Davis and Messrs. Burr and Parsons joiuang with the five foreign engineers against lock canal. \ probably will not be submitted to Pres- ident Roosevelt for Ave or six w6ekn. As to the character of the great project. the report will not be unanimous. m fact. two reports. one by tho majority and one by. the minority, will he aub-! mitted. These reports they will lay before the Canal Commission and Chief Engineer Stevens for consideration.
 Mir. stevens will come to the United States to take up the subject with the Commission and with the President.
 Not Yet Determined.
 1t can be stated with absolute asaur- ance of accuracy that while due weight will be given to the decision of the ma jority of the Board of Engineers, tho authorities who have the final deter imitation will approach the subject with care and deliberation and perfectly open minds.
 The President has indicated 10 some Of those to whom he has talked that while he personally favors lock canal he Is determined, that the subject ehali he considered thoroughly from all points of view before final decision n reached.
 Chief Engineer Stevens of tho Par- anna Canal Commission. will leave Colon for washington next Thursday. 3a is "A kn Nrf 4ls a4< nation upon different phases of the work on the fsthmus. but more parficv ularIy i1is views as to the type Of canal These views are already known to tho officials who are In charge of the canal work but an ofIiciai statement from the engineer is desfrad .f
 MT stevens told the nf1leials who srs. :. eaiitiy visited tha isknmus that if a &en level canal was to bA nnnsfrucGed the Government ought to put boys under a0 years in charge of 1t SD that they would last until the work was compietad.
 stevens WttI Give Views.
 The visit of Chief Engineer Stevens for the especial purpose of giving his views as to the type of canal indicates that the judgment of the consulting board is not to determine definitely the type but that the Commission will earn estly take up the subject and make re- concentrations.
 
 members of the Commission and views already expressed by them. there seems little doubt but that they will agree with the recommendations of the Con- sulting Board which has voted to re- commend a sea level canal.
 Members of the Consulting Board ware about the Commission rooms to- day. but no formal meeting vii be held until Thursday. This may be the last regular meeting Of the board.
 An estimate of $16.000.0o0 for contin- uing work on the Panama Canal has been sent to the Treasury Department from the War Department. to be sent to Congress.
 The estimate of $16.00o.000 is for ex- penditures up to and including the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907.
 part of this money will be neces- sary at once and an emergency appro- priation will be asked as soon as Con- gross convenes in order that the work may proceed. It is stated at the offices of the Commission today that unless money is provided as soon as Congress convenes all work must cease.
 The estimate IS made without regard to the proposal to issue bonds.