Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-17
URGES ADOPTION
Of CANAL PLAN
ROOSEVELT ADVISES BOARD
OF ENGINEERS
TIME THE IMPORTANT FACTOR
Emphasizes Necessity Of Selecting a
Scheme Which Shall Be Safe and
Provide for Earliest Pos
sible Completion
TIME THE IMPORTANT FACTOR
BY Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-President
Roosevelt is urging in the strongest
terms the necessity for plan for the
construction of the Panama canal
which may be accomplished In the
shortest possible time. In his recent re-
gineers of the Isthmian canal commits
sion he said many things which are
regarded as of the utmost Importance
in that connection. These remarks have
been transcribed and transmitted to the
board here, and Gen. Davis, it's chair
man, has been authorized to make them
public.
The president said: What I am
about to say must be considered in the
light of suggestion, not as direction. I
have named you because in my judg-
ment, you are especially fitted to serve
as advisers in planning the greatest en-
gineering work the world has yet seen
and expect you to advise me, not what
you think l want to hear but what you
think 1 ought to hear
There are two or three considera-
tions which I trust you will steadily
keep before your minds in coming to
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 undoubtedly be
best in the end, if feasible. and 1 feel
80 al,i inf olr atac fNf tt1a
Panama route is that ultimately a sea
level canal will be a possibility. But
while paying due heed to the ideal per-
fectibility of the scheme from an en-
gneers standpoint. remember the need
of having a plan which shall provide
for the immediate building of the canal
on the safest terms and in the shortest
possible time. -
IF to build sea level canal will but
slightly increase the risk, then, of
course, it is preferable, but if to adopt
a plan of a sea level canal means to
incur hazard and to insure indefinite
delay then it is not preferable. If the
advantages and disadvantages are
closely balanced I expect you to say so.
l desire also to know whether, if you
recommend a high level, multi-lock
canal it will be possible, after it is
completed, to turn it into or to substi-
tute for it in time a sea level canal
without interrupting the traffic upon it.
Prime Considerations Stated
1.-TWO of the prime considerations to
be kept steadily in mind are:
"First-The utmost practicable speed
OF construction.
"Second-Practical certainty that the
plan proposed will be feasible, that it
can be carried out with a minimum of
risk.
"The quantity of work and the
amount of work should be minimized so
far as possible.
There may be good reason why the
delay incident to the adoption of a
plan for an ideal canal should be in
Cured, but, if there Is not, then I hope
to see the canal constructed on a sys-
tenn which will bring to the nearest
possible date in the future the time
when it is practicable to take the first
ship across the isthmus; that is, which
will in the shortest time possible Sc
cure a Panama waterway between the
oceans of such character as to guar
antee permanent and ample communi-
cation for the greatest ships of our
navy and for the largest steamers on
either the Atlantic or the Pacific. The
delay in transit of the vessels, owing
TO additional locks, would be of small
consequence when compared with
shortening the time for the construc-
ton of the canal or diminishing the
risks in it's construction.
I'm short, l desire your best judg-
nent on all the various questions to
be considered in choosing among the
various plans for a comparatively
high level multi-lock canal, or for
lower level with fewer locks, or for a
sea level canal. Finally, I urge upon
YOU the necessity of as great expedi-
ton in coming to a decision as Is COM
patible with thoroughness in consid- =
ering the conditions"