New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-13
ISTHMIAN CANAL PLANS.
THE ENGINEERS BUSY.
Wallace for Sea LeUeI Canal
ASiatic Labor To Be pIoued.
IRON THE TRTBuNE BrRFAu.l

law prevents any radical change in the plans
ss originally drawn up and presented 20 Con-
Eress. since II was on those plans and estimates
that authority Was given 10 proceed and the ap-
propriations were made. The existing plans
provide for ninety foot canal but It is possible
that later on The engineers will advise a change
10 sixty or thirty feet: but it is certain that
nothing viii be done toward providing for a
sea level canal This. the commission has de-
ci6ed. VIII require special authority from, Con-
gress. and il is by no means certain in the minds
o. experts that the sea level canal will best
answer the purpose. The law refers 10 locks.
and this is accepted q further indication that
Congress had in mind a canal requiring six
locks. in addition 10 the essential tidal lock-
The engineers associated with Chief Engineer
wallace have reported that there is much
work 10 be done before the subject OF sea
level canal need be taken up that this ques-
ton may well be deferred until after much
o. the excavation on the Culebra cut has been
accomplished This constitutes one Of the
greatest engineering projects ever undertaken,
and an immense amount Of earth must be re-
moved some distance. This disposition OF ma
terial is at present giving the experts some
trouble. Il has been found TOO that only
small fraction OF the work can be done at once,
and while NJ. Wallace proposes greatly 10 In
crease the number OF men employed and add
for operation are restricted. and beyond GER
tain limited force no more men or machinery
czn r. utilized. no matter how much money
Is made available for thai part Of the project.
II the commission adheres 10 the project for
q lock canal. IL is believed that the final cost
VIII Re even less than the original estimate
Il is now found that a ninety-foot canal can
he constructed, according 70 the latest revision
OF the figures brought here by Mr.. Wallace,
for considerably less than S1Oo.oO0,000. II the
commission decides in favor OF a sea level
canal the cost VIII be considerably more. but
just how much the engineers are not yet able
70 say. The question is not likely 20 come up
Il q vital way for nearly year. however and
then there viii be no change in the plans with
out special authority from Congress In the
mean time the work carried viii be such as
would be accomplished in any event. whether
Il is lock canal or one on the sea level
PANAMA RAILROAD REORGANIZATION.
Chairman shonts. Governor Magoon and Chief
Engineer Wallace met in Secretary Taft's office
to-day. Il was the first meeting Of the executive
committee OF the commission. and the details
Of the organization were considered Secretary
Taft presented his views regarding the work OF
the commission. experimenting the instructions
given by the President On the whole. the COM
rittee had a long and satisfactory discussion
with M Taft, and reached some conclusions as
70 the organization Of the Panama Railroad
board Of directory al the meeting which 10 10
be held next Monday in New-York. Chairman
Shonts VIII be the next president OF the Pan
anna Railroad. Company. and every member OF
the commission viii be made a director. That
viii leave four members Of the directorate 70 be
named, and they viii be civilians.
Another important conclusion related 10 the
assignment 10 duty OF the four engineer officers
q The canal commission who are not members
Of the executive committee. These Admiral
En6icotf Colonel Ernst General Hams and Mr.
Esrr0G- II was decided 10 make them q special
engineering commission apart from the board
q consulting engineers provided for in the
problems arising in the course Of the construc-
ton u the canal viii be submitted 10 this COM
mission AL plans Of an engineering character
o. capital importance VIII also be submitted 10
this board. and on them the opinion OF the board
of consulting engineers. which is stiN incom-
plete, VIII be asked. The consulting board viii
report on the projects 10 the full canal commits
EioE and this body in turn viii make recon-
EnendatiOns thereon 10 the President
The labor problem was discussed al length.
made FOR the employment Of 1900 japanese
and 1000 Chinese coolies. This is merely pre-
lnlinary and experimental move, but il Il sue
ceeds the engineers VIII have almost
limited force Of Ia Dor TO draw No opinion
has set been received from the Attorney General
Is 10 me Tlght q The commission 10 employ its
Workmen more than eight hours a day, but il
is satisfied that there is no legal obstacle TO the
employment a cooile labor under contract This
decision Is based on the iheory that while the
United States exercises control over the canal
zone Tor administrative purposes yet the titular
sovereignty over the strip remains IN Panama
over which no American labor law can be held
20 extend
SEA LEVEL OR LOCK CANAL
Al interesting feature Of the discussion to-day
was a statement by Commissioner Wallace TO
the effect that il IS entirely feasible 10 construct
either sea level or lock canal across the
isthir-s. although he strongly favored the sea
leyel project Il also developed that NJ Bunau-
Narilio. no recently visited Washington and
i was supposed. was 10 lie q member Of the
board q consulting engineers. did not desire
sny sucn connection with the project. hut came
Principally 10 submit 70 the President and Sec
fetary Taft plan Of his own under which he
thought the canal could be constructed within
four years. This project, together with one sub
nitted By Lindon " Bates. an engineer Of Chi !
cago and NeH-York. viii be referred 10 the
heNty created engineeTfng commission for eX-
animation and report
The organization Of he force Of employees
o. ne commission also received some attention.
Ena u WAS decided that all the administrative
Rork which heretofore hid been directly under
ne supervision q she commission ia its own
Offices. should Pc placed IN charge Of Colonel
Edwards. head cf the Bureau Of lasular Affairs.
Enc the Offices probably VIII be removed to The
EIeN OF nc Mills Building Colonel Edwards
vi not renquish his duties chief Of the
Insl-ar Bureau, but Is charged with double
Nork ". Leon Pepperman, who has served as
e. assistant 70 Colonel Edwards for several
Years. wll probably be assigned exclusively 20
nc charge 81 Panama affairs, and Captain
slchle Just assigned 10 duty as an assistant TO
SDgDel -GNaFCs, VIII devote himself exclusively
y ne Philippine business OF the Insular Bureau.
hnAe Colonel Edwards retains general SUPER
vision q both branches.
While The conference was in progress the
ministers of the vest coast South and Central
american republics. who saw Secretary Tart