Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-02
Eminent Engineers 0
America and Europe
In Consultation Upon the Final
Plans Of the Waterway.
sill Undecided Whether Canal viii Be Of
Lock or Sea Level Variety.

Washington. Sept. IA notable
boarl of distinguished engineers as
sembled in Washington, today, upon
the request of President Roosevelt to
determine the relative feasibility of a
sea level or lock canal in the division of
the American continent at the 18TH
mus Of Panama. Constituting the con-
suting board Of engineers for the ca
nal plan. these men gathered from both
America and Europe. were picked
from among those foremost in their
profession. The first of the meetings
at which they will grapple with the
great problem began, this morning, in
a small room at the office building of
isthmian Canal commission. The meet
ing was opened by reading a letter
from the President calling them to-
gcth.r and a letter from Chairman
Shonts of the commission. which gives
in detail the purposes for which the en-
gincrrs are convened. Mr.. Shonts' let
Ter in part says:
In accordance with the directions of
the President, dated April l, 1905. the
Isthmian Canal commission has the
honor to lay before you physical data
concerning the Isthmus of Panama and
tn solicit your opinion as to the best
plan to be followed in the completion
Of the Panama canal within reasonable
limits Of cost and time.
AS you are aware. this question has
been the subject of prolonged and clab-
crate study for many years by numcr-
Gus able engineers. A vast amount of
labor has been expended i'm the collec-
ton of information concerning the
physics of the isthmus and in digesting
~
canal.
During the last year. additional sur
Neys and observations have been made
upon the dsthmus. the results of which
are laid before you. 1t may be stated
here i'm general terms that the Informal
ton which they furnish does not in
volve any radical change in the plans
previously favored. Among the obser-
experience of the last year in excavat-
ing the Culebra cut. from which some
Of our engineers have drawn unwarrart-
,,l conclusions as to the PROBABLE cost
of the work. There Is nothing i'm this
experience to Justify the belief that the
unit. prices used In previous estimates
were 10 high. or that the estimate of the
tim. required for completing the work
was to liberal Nevertheless. this OK
peri"ncc mas been used as an argument
IN favor Of sea level cannal. which has
been condemned 10y the two commits
sinus mentioned above. 1t becomes nee
essay to consider once more the sea
I"v"l canal scheme.
The plan. which adopted by Con-
gregs-at least by inference-in the act
approved June ~. 1902. is the plan UNI
DER which the work is now progressing
and under which all work Of construct
ion has been done since the United
States acquired the property. II closely
resembles the plan of the Comte
Technique. in many essential particu-
lars. nut differs from it in the height
Of the Rohio dam and the important
results which flow therefrom. The ad-
vantagcs which its authors expected to
derive from this change were:
Ito take fuller advantage of the
topography of the country. by which
il was possible to make the gigantic
spllway automatic instead Of mechani
ctl and adequate for the discharge OF
the greatest floods with only one chan
mel to the sea instead OF Two.
ITO increase the distance of LAKE
uavig ,tion from seven to nearly 1a
miles.
"3-To reduce the estimated cost OF
the canal by about s15.O00.000.
The disadvantage of the change Is
III" somewhat greater difficulties IN
constructing the higher dam and ths
docks Of greater lift difficulties. how
ever, which are hy no means insuper-
aDlc
"A Disadvantage which the two plans
have In common is that the rapid de-
NelopmcntS of naval architecture make
1t difficult tn determine the proper di
mensipns of the lock chambers. 1t Is
TO be considered however. that up e
the Present tim, such development:
has not been greatly hampered by dc
hcient depth in the harbors of the
world. and that development here af-
Ter will have that obstruction to con
tend with. Moreover, II is not possib.,
to dispense with locks entirely. Ever
with the sea level canal. tide loci
VIII be required at the Panama end.
In addition to the Ian above men
Toned. pamphlet has been prepared
by Linon w. Bates, which gives an out
iine a sketch of plan proposed b!
him, which is Interesting on accour
f Its novelty and is therefore laid he
fore you. II does not give detail
inmates Of cost. To obtain this. ex
iensive additional Surveys, to occup.
al least a years time. would be neces
sary.
paper has been submitted to tn
president by p. Bunau-Varnilla. whicl
explains method by which a cana
constructed at first with locks may b
subsequently, altered to sea level can
a. This paper also is submitted fo
Your consideration
The canal commission expects to Wis
The isthmus of Panama the last wee
vi september and has invited the en-
glheers to accompany them.
Washington. Sept. Eminent engi
neers Of America and Europe met. Fri
DAY. upon the call of President Roose
feit to investigate and make recon-
meniations OF the type of canal that
nnnt