The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-09-30
Senator Morgan
a Past Master of Satire.

Whatever may be his accomplish
merts in other lines-and they are
numerous and great-it is apparent
that Senator John T. Morgan is also
a master OF sarcasm and satire to a
remarkable degree.
In response TO a letter written him
bv Chairman T. P. Sh0nts. of the Pau
ANA canal commission. inviting the
senator 10 accompany the commission
on the latter's trip to Panama, the
Alabama statesman has made a reply
which is as remarkable for the keen
ness of its satire as for the knowledge
of isthmian conditions which il dis
plays. Senator Morgan writes:
In your telegram OF the 22nd inst.
you speak of a large party who are 10
sail with the commission and the adj
visOry board TO Colon, end are 90
have comfortable facilities for max
ing tours Of inspection and eNamina-
tion of the canal In the matter Of
sightseeing such facilities win afford
much pleasure. which I regret I am
not prepared TO enjoy; but I do not
suppose that such q surface inspec-
ton OF the appearance Of condition I'm
Panama would give me any data from
which 4 could form any Judgment as
20 the pracucability Of a lOck-canal
OF a sealevei canal, or the preference
due To either plan, or as 10 the cost
or the time required for the compile
rion OF the canal on either plan.
7 could not wisely, intelligently
or justly give an opinion TO any COM
missioner or to any member of tie
advisory board as TO the possibility
Of dam at BOhi0. les feet below the
level of the sea. that would supply /
q canal az ninety feet above sea ley /
el. or as % a dam at or below Gatun I
that would supply a canal az thirty
feet above sea level: or as 10 a dam az /
Gamboa that would control the waters
of the Chagres River; or 60 the pOssi-|
Die tunnel 10 either ocean 20 carry on I
those food waters.
Z could not inform the able cour-
aEe0us and distinguished chief of theI
hyeenic service i'm the canal zone|
whether. IL We should flood all tbe|
breeding places of the stegOmyia fas-l
ciata with great lakes. We could not
increase them q thousand fold along
the margins OF the great bodies OIL
fresh water. in the tropical under,
growth THAI would spring up around \
them in q few hours.
Indeed. this rs no question, among
the many vital ones that concern this
great inquiry. upon when any ration
81 mind could give any reliable in
formation or form any correct iudg-
ment from what one could see or hear
in the tours along the canal that this
party of visitors viii have the OppCr-
tunsty 10 make.
must say that 7 distrust the ex-
pected advantages 70 Congress or TO
the country Of any opinions that may
be formed on great engineering prob
lens by q body Of gentlemen who are
uOn-prOfessiCnal and must form their
conclusions from surface appearances. +
Neither OF these important commit
tees can derive any legitimate con-
illusions upon vital facts that must
control that vast subject. from the
opinions of those who are mere guests
Of an excursion party. and they viii
be men OF extraordinary selfpoise z
they are not Influenced by what may
be q prevailing sentiment among
them.
Since the ratification of the Hay
Varilla treaty, which opposed. I have
done an thar 4 could and much more
than ] thought could ever be of ad-|
vantage 10 the country. 20 sustain the
government I'm its purpose TO con-
sruct a canal az Panama. yet I have
1or believed that success could crownl
their efforts, even I'm their most costly
and desperate forms. You may md
The key 10 unlock The barriers tha-l