Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1905-11-19
Engineers Decide on
Question
Verdict Result of Long
Deliberation
American Members OF the Consulting
Board Were for Some Time
Strongly In Favor Of the
Lock System
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-By vote
of 8 to today the board of consulting
engineers Of the isthmian canal COM
mission, a body which, IL President
Roosevelt realized his hopes, embodies
the greatest and most representative
engineering talent in the world, placed
struction of the Panama canal on a
sea level. This decision represents
the outcome of nearly three months
hard work. Early in September en-
glneers gathered from all parts Of the
world, for the president, desrous to
avail himself of the best talent, as
we'll as to avoid adverse foreign criti-
cism in the future, had called on the
governments of five great nations dis
tinguished for the successful construc-
tion of great hydraulic works, to send
each one of their best engineers to as
sist the American engineers in the mo-
mentous question of constructing the
Panama canal at sea level or at a
greater altitude involving a system OF
locks.
IHC lOlclS Cctllle W w lOi
absolutely without instructions from
their own governments and without
has, determined to be guided in theiI
decision solely by the facts to be pre-
sented to them in the shape of great
mass of physical data and supplement-
ed by several projects, notably that
upon which the French Panama Cana
company worked so patiently for more
than decade: that of the first Amer
loo. Doy 1l,1+ 80
BuneauVarilla, the French engineer
who was in charge of the canal works
in the last days of the French ad
ministration, and that of Lyndon w
Bates, the Chicago civil engineer who
was connected with great enterprises
on the Nile and elsewhere.
Americans First Favored Lock
The Americans, for their part, were
acquainted with the main part of these
projects before the board of engineers
met in it's first sessions. They JOINED
the study of physical data with theil
foreign colleagues, went over countless
blue prints and maps, went to the
isthmus and scanned every inch OF
the route of the proposed canal anc
made up their minds when the boarc
reconvened In Washington about the
beginning of this month as to the type
of canal they favored.
1t was not until last Tuesday, how.
ever, that anything in the nature oi
decisive vote was taken, and that
after all, was an indirect test. JUS
what that proposition was cannot be
seated with absolute certainy, but Il
is conjectured that the issue was
whether or not lock canal of a Ger.
tain type should be constructed. Al
any rate, the vote disclosed the fac
that a majority of eight American en-.
gineers, under the leadership of Gen.
eral Abbott, was strongly in favor Of
a lock canal. The foreigners were
against the particular type mentioned
In the proposition, but 1t was not cleal
that at that momen they were opposed
to the whole proposition of a loci
canal.
The real test came today, and tn,
meeting this morning was consumed
In some very strong presentations OF
the part of the majority of the Amer
ican delegates to influence their for
eign colleagues to accept one or tn,
other lock propositions. The Amer
leans, however, were not unanimous
for there is reason to believe that thre,
of their number, probably Gen. Davis
Mr.. Parsons and Mr.. Burr, Joined tn
foreign delegates in this last vot
which recorded the board as favorin,
the sea level canal.
Boards Labors Practically Over
The decision was reached about noon
and thereby the board practically con
cluded its labors. There will be :
few more meetings next week simply t.
deal with small details and to put int
permanent form the results of tn
boards protracted meetings The for
eign delegates desire to leave for thei
homes by the 9th inst. To accommo
date them in this the full board ha
agreed that they may conclude som
purely formal work connected will
this project, such as the approval O
certain minutes and signing of paper
at a special meeting to be held in Pari
in December or January. 1t is ex
pected that one of the American mem
bers of the board will go to Paris t
wind up this business, all of whicl
must be done before the final report o
the board can be regarded as complet
and ready for submission to tn
isthmian canal commission. The com
mission in turn must record its owl
judgment on the conclusions reachet
by the board of engineers, and ther
is even now a belief current that tina
judgment will be adverse to the board
plan. AL.
However, tiere are two more i'm
portant steps, at which there may b
important changes proposed, for tn
commission must pass the plans an,
its own recommendation to the presi
dent, who in turn must stamp ther
with his own approval or disapprova
and forward them to congress, whicI
after all, will be the court of last re
sort as between the sea level and Iocl
canal propects; simply through the FAC
that additional legislation will be ne
cessary If a sea level canal is to b
built, for the board finds that sue
canal will cost from $4,000, 900 I
$1OO,OOO,O0O more than the cheapes
practical lock canal and will consum
from five to seven Years more IN ~