The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1905-09-22
HURRY UP ON CANAL
Is Urgent Appeal Of PreSi-
dent Roosevelt.
DELAY GROWS IRRITATING
Sea Level Waterway is Favored, But
President Wants 1t Open at the
Earliest Practicable =
n Moment

-
President Roosevelt is urging in
the strongest terms the necessity for
a plan for the construction of the
Panama canal which may be accom-
plished in the shortest possible time.
In his recent remarks to the con-
sulting board Of engineers of the
Panama canal commission he said
things regarded of the utmost import
ance in that connection. His remarks
have just been Transcribed and trans
mitted to the board in washington
and General Davis, its chairman, has
been authorized to make them public.
The president said, among other
Thugs:
What I am about to say must be
considered in the light Of suggestion,
not as direction. have named you
because, in my judgment, you are es-
pecially fitted to serve as advisors
in planning the greatest engineering
work the world has yet seen, and l
expect you to advise me, not what
you think want to heart, but what
you think l ought to hear.
There are two or three considera-
lions which trust you will steadily
keep before your minds in coming to
a conclusion as to the proper type
of canal. l hope that ultimately it
will prove possible to build a sea
level canal--such @ canal would un-
doubtedly be best in the end If feast
BILE, and l feel that one of the chief
advantages of the Panama route is
that ultimately a sea level canal will
be a possibility. But while paying due
heed to the ideal perfecttbility OF
the scheme from an engineering stand
point, remember the need of having
plan which shall provide for the i'm
mediate building Of a canal on the SAT-
est terms and In the shortest posi-
BILE time. If to build a sea level
canal will but slightly increase the
risk, then, Of course, it is prefer
able.
"But if to adopt the plan Of a sea
level means to incur hazard and
brings On delay, then 1t is not pref
cradle. If the advantages and disad-
vantages are closely balanced l ex-
pect you to say so. l desire also to
know whether If you recommend a
high level multi-lock canal, It will DO
possible after 1t is completed to turn
it into or substitute for it in time
sea level canal without interrupting
the traffic upon it. Two Of the prime
considerations to be kept steadily in
mind are:
81 The utmost practicable speed
Of construction.
"2. Practical certainty that the
plan proposed will be feasible and
that 1t can be carried out with the
minimum risk.
THE quantity of work and the
amount of work should be minimized
SO far as possible.
1.-THE delay In transit of the YES
sells owing to additional locks wis
be Of small consequence when COM
pared with shortening the time for
the construction of the canal or d.
minishIng the risks IN its construc-
ton. In short l desire your best
judgment on all the various ques-
lions to be considered in choosing
among the various plans for com
paratively high multilock canal for
a lower level with fewer locks and /
for a sea level canal.
FINALLY, urge upon you the neces- |
sity Of as great expedition In COM
ing to a decision as is compatible |
with thoroughness IN considering the
construction"