The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-11-23
BOARD OF CONSULTING ENGlN-
EERS REACH A DECISION
II Will Require Fifteen Years to Finish
the Work, But in the End Greater
Good Will be Achieved for all Con-
cerned

canal commission have decided to
substitute Brussels for Paris as the
meeting place of the foreign men,
bers next January. The reason for
this decision is that Brussels is more
conveniently situated for several of
the members. The American en-
gineer who will go to Brussels with
the documents to be signed has not
yet been chosen. A board of three
members with General Davis as their
head will make a rough final draft OF
the report which will have to be
worked over, and it is expected it will
be ready for publication about Deem
Der 81.
Necessary Changes
The sea level canal will have
width at the bottom of $50 feet, ex-
cept in the Culebra cut, where the
width will be 200 feet. The greater
width in the Culebra cut is necessary
to allow two ships to pass each other
safely between the high banks Of the
canal, which will be formed by the
very deep excavation. The plan as
adopted by the board would make
Limon bay one of the greatest har-
bors in the world. Almost through
the middle of the bay a breakwater
will be built and short breakwater
will be built from San Cristobal,
which is American territory, thereby
leaving Colon, which belongs to the
republic of Panama, outside of the
I'M M
plan as adopted by the board San
Cristobal is expected to become the
chief city on the Atlantic side Of the
canal, and the promonOtOry, on which
arises the statue of Columbus, will
be covered with official buildings,
docks, coaling stations and all works
necessary for an important harbor.
The canal constructed by the French
began at San Cristobal. 1t is now pro-
posed by the board to build short
direct canal from Mindi to Limon
bay, thereby making the distance
shorter by a few hundred yards and
also facilitating navigation and making
it possible for ships to sail into the
canal without having to make any diff
ficult turns. The breakwaters neces
sary for the formation of this har-
Dor of San Cristobal will be an item
of great expense. They were the
subject of lengthy discussions in the
meetings of the board. They would
have been necessary, however, in case
a lock canal had been chosen.
On the Pacific Side
On the Pacific side at Panama the
plans as adopted yesterday are also
different from those of the French
Canal company. The French canal
ends at Laboca, and 1t was found to
be one of the difficulties, as the Rio
Grande with its many branches crosses
the canal and In the rainy season in
undates 1t and does great damage to
the works already constructed by the
French. Therefore II was decided the
canal should be built nearer to the
city of Panama and should run be-
tween two hills. one called Sosa, and
the other the we'll known Ancon. An
con Is the higher OF the two. On Ii
the American hospitals are built and
II is one of the most healthful places
on the isthmus. Az this place the one
lock. necessitated through the differ.
once In the tides OF the Atlantic and
Pacific. will be built. This lock, how.
ever. will not rctard the progress or
ships through the canal. In the FIRST
place. ships coming from the Pacific