The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-11-23
SEA.LEVEL CANAL FAVORED
rruiNrRns NHrvRr on RAN.
ANA WATERWAY rMosKCT


waahlugson. Nov 10, The beard 81
consulting engineers u the islhmiau
canal commission Saturday declared
itself by large majority IN favor u
sea level canal. The conclusion was
reached after a long aud careful study
OF the project. Since the beginning
of September the board had held meet.
Tugs aud IN special subcommittee had
studied the plans for q sea level and
lock canal with the greatest cate
A trip 10 the lsthmus was made TO en-.
able the members 20 form better Idea
Of the physical difficulties which had
TO be considered The members ~ the
board are men OF the greatest reputa
ton In their line OF work. France,
Germany and Holland had sent their
most eminent specialists at the re.
quest Of the American government
From the beginning II was evident
that a majority OF the members was
in favor % the sea level canal. Their
point OF view was that. even II It cosl
more than lock canal and would
take longer In the building, II would
ultimately be OF greater use, as Il will
enable Bhipg TO make q much shorter
trip than II they were Obliged TO go
through three OF four locks. On the
other hand was a minority which
wanted TO see the canal built In 40
short time as possible and with the
least cost, declaring that a few hours
longer for the trip through the 18th.
mus made little or no difference
The cost OF the sea level canal ID eB-
timated by the engineers at about
s230,000,000. Although this amount
seems much larger than the amount
necessary for the construction OF the
lock canal, II IL claimed by the adyo-
Gates OF the sea level plan 10 be In
reality only comparatively slightly
higher. II was pointed out in the
meetings OF the board that lock
canal would necessitate between $780,
100000 and S40,00O,0O0 as payment for
the private grounds ond the lands be-
longing 10 the. republic OF Panama
which would be Inundated by the con
structIon OF the lock system. This item
in the view Of the majority OF the
board is entirely done away with by
the adoption OF the yea level caral.
As for the time II will take TO con.
struct the sea level canal, several
members Of the board expressed the
opinion that the construction Of the
sea level canal will not In reality take
80 very much more time than that Of
the lock canal, and that II no tnex
pected difficulties are met with II
should not require more than two OF
three years additional The lock-
would have been 80 large, In theii
view, that even the drawing OF thu
plans for them would have taken con
siderably more than year, and thu
building OF cement constructions CALI
for a higher class OF workmen thar
tho ordinary laborers used for the dig
ging Of tho canal. The tropical condi
tons Of the Isthmus, the sea level PEG
pIe contend, also initiate against thii
class OF labor. The majority OF the en-
gineers take the position that thu
building OF the sea level should no
take more than 10 years. IL Ii ex
pected that ships will 20 through tn
canal under their own power. Whei
two ships will have 10 pass each othe
in the canal, one Will have 10 stoI
and walt TO allow freer Dayigable con
ditions for the individual ships In tn
restricted space,