The Washington times., 1905-11-19

Five European and three American
engineers. constituting the majority Of
the Board Of Consulting Engineers Of
The Panama Canal Commission. yester-
day voted IN favor OF sea-level ditch
Five American members voted for q
lock canal
The majority report viii favor the sea
level type.
Uncle Sam il invited by his assistants
from abroad TO spend twice as much
money and time. in order that the canal
may be the most magnificent work OF
human handiwork ever constructed
~. Up to Congress.
The decision Of this hoard viii go di-
rectly 10 the President. II makes certain
that the final decision as 10 the type OF
canal win rest with Congress It will
AT once assume the proportions OF one
o. the. greatest questions commanding
attention OF that body
A lock canal, according TO the Walker
commissions estimate, would cost S144,-
oog, coo A sea-level canal was estimated
by Engineer Walker TO cost at least
s2s9 oo0. 900. This is the lowest estimate
recently made. others running up TO
500 coo coo and 500 100000.
The board was extremely secretive
about its action General Davis. the
chairman. declined TO make any state
ment whatever. and others were equally
noncOmmittal
IL was learned. however. that the FIVE
foreign members, with William II. Burr.
William Barclay Parsons and Gen.
George ". Davis voted for the ma
Jority report. No detailed announce
ment win be made TIL the report has
been formulated. which VIA require
some days. and sent 10 the President.
II was freely predicted last evening
by experts who. expecting and desiring
report IA favor OF The lock plan, were
greatly surprised at the outcome. that
Congress would never permit the work
10 proceed on this recommendation.
Objections.
The canal treasury is now empty, and
Congress must act before II can be re-
plenished. Before Congress acts there
VIII be demands for Investigations. in
siuiries ana explanations The people
who favor NicsraguG. the ones who be-
Iseye Panama canal impossible on any
plan. those who want no canal at ali,
and those who want a canal as soon as
possible. VIII ma common ground OF
snfasonism 10 this proposal.
The plans on which the canal commis-
Il
lock canal. with its mean summit level
eighty-five feet above the sea The work
thus far done, however, viii all be use
fol IN case the sea-level type is finally
adopted Engineer Wallace estimated
that q 30-foot summit level ditch could
be built FOR $3.50. coo OO0, a eo-foot sum
NIT level for s178. .ooo 900. and a sea-Ieve
for s2s0. 100000.
The consulting board was composed Of
the following:
Maj. Gen. George W. Davis. L. S. A
Alfred Noble. OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad; William B. Parsons. Of IN,
New York underground system: Ishau
Randolph OF the Chicago drainage ca
nal: William n. Burr. professor in Co
lumbia College: +. p. Stearns. hydrau
lie engineer Of Boston: Gen. II. L. Alb
bolt: Joseph Ripley. OF the 500 canal
Henry ". Hunter. OF the Manchestea
ship canal. appointed by the Englisi
government. at the request Of the Pres
ident; Adolph Gueard. appointed by th'
French government. Eugen Tdpcauzar
or the kiel canal, appointed by the Ger
man government; r. Quellennec. OF fh'
Suez canal. and G. W WeIcker. appoint
ed BY the Netherlands government