The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-31
Board viii Wrtsft with Panama
Canal Problem
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF DATA
Great Mass Of Documents, Maps and
Blue Prints VIII Be Gone Over
BY Experts In the
Business.
BY wArTERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington, August so.-(Special.)-T
board of consulting engineers. consisting
of fourteen members. five of whom are
from foreign countries, meet here day
after tomorrow for the purpose of con-
sidering the various plans proposed to
and by the isthmian canal cmmission for
the construction of a canal across the
isthmus of Panama, between Cristobal
and Laboca. The deliberations of the
board of consulting engineers will con-
tinue as long as they may deem 1t neces-
sary and wise before they make their
report to the commission.
The isthmian canal commission will
have all the proposed plans in such de-
tailed form, with maps, surveys and other
documents, sufficient to enable the con-
sulting engineers to consider and decide
the questions presented to them Should 1t
be deemed necessary by the members OF
the consulting board, they may visit the
isthmus before making their final re-
port. If there is a differences of opinion
between the members of the consulting
board. minority reports are requested.
Davis Made Chairman.
Gen. George w. Davis is designated as
chairman Of the board of consulting en-
gineers. instructions more detailed will
be given to the board when 1t convenes
Friday The mass of data which will be
placed before the engineers embraces
every proposition that has been made
70 the e.. ernmenr concerning the best
methods of building a waterway. In the
lot are the plans of several isthmian conn
missions, including the plans of the 1901
Ill. AAd
that Panama was the best place for con-
pecting the two oceans. The plans of Lin
den Bates are there and they come nearer
TO the sea-level idea than any other
scheme that has yet been worked out and
applied to paper. The working map of
the old French company and the schemes
of Buena Varilla, the French engineer,
are also In the collection.
After fourteen engineering experts have
wrestled with this aggregation OF maps,
blue prints and statistical tables, they
will make up their minds as to the style
of canal the United States should build.
They will report on the advantages and
disadvantages of waterways of thirty,
sixty and ninety-foot levels, and reliable
estimates of the cost OF building these
different kinds of canals will be submit
ted, together with calculations as to the
length of time required for each.
VIII Make Report.
After the conclusions have been reached
the reports will be handed to the regular
canal commission of which Mr.. Shonts Is
the head. The regular commission will
peruse the conclusions of the members of
the consulting board, after which the
papers will be turned over to the Presi-
dent who will transmit them to Congress
when the whole matter will be gone into
at length, especially If there are minority
reports.
Long before this matter Is transmitted
to Congress, however, It is expected that
the committees Of the Senate and House
will be busy investigating allegations
which have been made from, time to
time with reference to the work on the
canal. Former Chief Engineer Wallace Is
expected to figure. as the star witness In
these committee hearings. Verifcations of
the report that he has serious doubts Of
the feasibility of constructing a canal
over the Panama route will be awaited
with interest. In some quarters there is
disposition to criticize the appointment OF
the board of consulting engineers on the
ground that 1t carries with 1t an intima-
ton of lack of confidence in the regular
commission presided over by Chairman
Shonts.