New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-19
LOCK CANAL EXPECTED.
SAID TO BE FAWORED.
Panama Engineers and'Conpmissior'-
ers Settle Dozen TO WOrk.

Washington Oct lS.--The advisory engineers
fand the commissioners OF the Panama Canal
immediately on their return TO Washington have
settled down to the hard work of determining
among themselves Just what shall be done IN
the final recommendation to the President and
Congress as TO the type of canal and the meth
DDS of construction. 1t is notable that on the
trip TO the isthmus the members Of the party
held no formal consultation in regard to the
principal question involved. and the engineers
returned TO this city without taking vote on
the proposition of building sea level or lock
canal Although II is known that the majority
favors locks with two or more levels. the engI-
neers are divided as TO levels and methods and
there viii be at least two reports and perhaps
more from the consulting engineering body. al
though on many details Of plans there viii be
agreement 1t is believed that lock canal will
be recommended
II was agreed that It was necessary to make
the conditions on the isthmus as attractive as
possible The most important things were good
food q cool place to sleep and entertainment for
,4he men who go from this country to the
ssthuus. There certain places in which It
will be impossible for Americans TO live with
lany comfort or any assurance. One of these
Is Panama which the observers found about a
,unsanitary modern city with pretensions
20 being g. civilized community might we'll be.
IN was quite evident that it would not do to en-
scourage residence in the town. Colon was some
what Better. especially the sanitary officers
under Colonel Gorgas have been able 70 effect
something In the way OF sewerage and street
cleaning. The places Of residence along the line
of the canal fairly good. and on most Of the
high ground there be no better situations
anywhere. Il will be in such circumstances a
question OF entertaining the people and keeping
them from getting homesick and lonesome. The
country generally IS depressing and the climate
anvthing but enltvening. The engineers found it
difficult 70 DO their work. but they kept at 1T
in the course OF their stay and lost no time
in visiting every place OF Importance in con-
nection with ths canal project
/ The nembers~of TIA party were CHARTERED on
the steamship Havana. and every morning
started out In the special train for one or
another point along the line. Luncheons Of
sandwiches were carried. and the engineers did
considerable walking, some Of st through dense
high grass, where they attacked by the
red bug Of The tropics At night the party re-
turned to the ship. bathed and had dinner,
spending the evening until bedtime deck.
No one went shore at night The evenings
were spent in social intercourse, and little or
no discussion Of the canal problem was at
tempted
The engfneers-are going fullys1ntO all the plans
which have been submitted. Few, If any. Of
:
osition presented by Bunan- Vanilla His the
cries have been treated with scant courtesy and |
not at all seriously by the consulting officials |
The plan offered by Engineer Bates is little |
more acceptable, and it is likely that some of |
his suggestions will be adopted. especially as he |
has gone very thoroughly into the whole ques- |
ton and presented a scheme which contains |
much that is regarded with favor by the ex- |
perts who however, will not adopt the entire |
scheme by any means.
The report Of the engineers viii be presented |
by December l, and IN the mean time its au- |
thors will be engaged daily in discussions or in |
the study of the problems 1t seems likely that |
the finally approved plan Will be the result Of |
the exchange of ideas among the engineers
rather than the adoption of the plan Of an out |
slider It is considered that the men who have !
been the isthnus and who have been making |
special study in the last few months Of this |
subject, viii be able to evolve something which |
will be better than the ingenious plans of an in
dependent engineer. The first great question 10 |
UP Will be whether or not the canal shall |
be Of the level type. as distinguished from,
the lock canal This will compel the engineers |
first to attempt arrive at the final and total
cost Of the project
The opinion has been expressed by the visit |
ing engineers that the estimates so far given
have not been large enough. If money were
no consideration at ALL and the desra biitv for
early completion could be ignored, and If it |
were assured that the commerce to pass |
through the canal would be enormous the on
igineers could quickly decide with complete
u1lanin1dfy In favor Of level canal or
strait But all these considerations are Of
the highest Importance there is no doubt among
the members OF the party that a majority OF |
the engineers are already prepared TO RECON- |
mend 8 lock- canal. and the chief point now "a
be settled is the number OF locks and height |
above NE sea OF the most favorable level to |
furnish In the shortest time the most generally
usefu1 waterway 70 meet warTantably antici- |
lpatsatuaEal and commercial traffic