New-York tribune., 1905-02-23
TELL OF CANAL WORK.
Professor Burr and ". b. Parsons
Call Disease Reports Exaggerated.

Professor William H Burr, of Columbia, and
William Barclay Parsons. who. with General
Davis, comprise the engineering committee of the
lsthmian Canal Commission. arrived yesterday
morning on the Alliance from Panama. They have
been on the isthmus six weeks. making a special
study of the work done and going the engi-
@eering problems. to determine the feasibility of a
sea level canal Professor Burr said that while
he could say nothing regarding that plan it would
be included in the report that would be made at
once to the commission. He declared that the
work under way was of such nature that either
a lock or level canal could be built when the
question was settled.
The work generally was found to be in better
and more advanced condition than they had ex-
pected In a statement which Professor Burr
gave out he said:
Four thousand laborers are now at work on diff
ierent portions Of the work and one thousand more
Central America Substantial A progress is being
made, At Panama and Colon the laying of sewers
ana waterplpes is going on steadily SO that in the
near near future both these cities will for the arst
supplied with an abundance of wholesome water.
The presence Of yellow fever is 20 be regretted,
present in tropical countries in America. unless
long Continued sanitary precautions have been
taken The same medical officers who succeeded
In eimnatng the fever from Havana are now
question: equally successruI results will he pro-
duced. At the present time there is nothing ap-
greatly improved those found in previous
The committee returns more than satisfied with
the general conditions OF the enterprise, and be-
Heves that completion can be attained in less time
than is popularity supposed The preliminary work
is now really ended. and the actual work OF con-
struction on large scale can soon begin.
Professor William Libbey. Professor OF Physical
Geography at Princeton. who has been the
isthnnus six weeks making geographical study Of
conditions in relation to the practicability OF a
canal. was another arrival He said he believed
in a sea level canal. One problem the alb
sence in many places of bed rock foundation. In
some places the soil muck for $50 feet down;
another great difficulty, he declared. would be the
controlling OF the Chagres River.
The engineering committee said he "are the
men TO do the work. They will make canal If
they are let alone The engineering problems are
not too big for them. Borings being made to
determine the feasibility OF a sea level canal
Professor Burr. when at his home last night,
said that the reports OF disease the isthmus
had been grossly exaggerated. There had been
only twenty-five to thirty OF yellow fever. he
said. The medical force duty doing good
work They had the disease practically under con-
troll, and. the general situation. he declared. was
most gratifying.
William Barclay Parsons said last night that he
was unable to make any statement relating to the
sea level canal until the report OF his committee
had been presented to the commission. He also
said that the reports of disease had been much
exaggerated
Mr.. Parsonss attention was called to the in
Vesugaton OF the affairs OF the Panama Railroad
Ihese fees are all right; all get them,' he
said, All corporations pass them Ten dollars is
handed each after each meeting. They amount to
$50 to 500 year"