The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-11-21

Washington, November 1S.-By a
vote of 8 to ) today the board Of con-
suIting engineers of the Isthmian Ca
nal Commission placed itself upon re-
cord as fayOring the construction Of
the Panama canal on the sea level.
This decision represents the outcome Of
nearly three months hard work.
Ear:y III September the engineers gath
cred from HI Parts OF the world to as
sist The American engineers in the de-
cisi0n O. the momentous question OF
CONSTRUCTING Tie i'aEama canal, at sea
level or at greater altitude, involving
q system Of locks.
The foreigners came TO Washington
absolutely without instructions from
Their own governments and without
bias, determined to be guided to their
decision solely by the facts to be pre-
sented to them. 1t was not until last
Tuesday that anything i'll the nature OF
a decisive vote was taken and that af-
ter all was indirect test. Just what
that proposition was cannot be stated
with absolute certainty, but 1t is con-
iectured that the isue was whether
or not a lock canal Of certain type
should be constructed. At any rate the
vote disclosed the fact that a majority
Of the eight American members under
the lead Of General Abbott was strong
iy in favor Of lock canal.
The foreigners were against the
particular type mentioned III tne
oOf ain n 20
at that moment they were opposed ta
the whole proposition Of lock canal
The real test came today, and the time
between Tuesday and the meeting thl*
morning was consumed in some very
strong presentations on the part OF the
majority of the American delegates tC
influence their foreign colleagues tc
accept one of the other lock PROPOSE
tions. The Americans, however, werl
not unanimous, for there is reason &c
believe that three of their number
probably General Davis and Mr.. Par
sons and Mr.. Burr joined the foreign
delegates in this last vote, which re-
corded the board as favoring the sea
level canal.
The decision was reached about noon
and thereby the toard practically con
cluded it's labors. There will be
few more meetings next week, simply
to deal with small details and to pu1
into permanent form the results Of The
boards protracted meetings. The for
eign delegates desire to leave for theit
European homes by the 9th instant
To accommodate them in this the full
board has agreed that they may colr
clude some purely formal work at 6
special meeting to be held in Paris n
December or January. 1t is eXpected
that one of the American members OF
the board will go to Paris to wind ur
this business, all of which must lie
done before the final report OF tnc
board can be regarded as complete and
ready for submission to the 1Sthm'an
canal commission. The commission IN
turn must record its own judgment
upon The conclusions reached by the
board of engineers, and there is ever
now a belief current that the juds
ment will be adverse to the boari's
plan. However, there are two more
important steps, either of which there
may be great changes proposed, for the
commission must pass the plans and its
own recommendations to the PreSl
dent, who in turn must stamp then
with his own approval or disapprova
and forward them to congress, which
after all. will DC the court of last re
sort As between the sea level and locs
canal projects; simply through tine
fact that additional legislation will bt
necessary if sea level canal is to bf
built, for the board finds that such
a canal will cost from seyenty-five tC
one hundred millions dollars more
than the cheapest practical lock cana,
and will consume from five to sever
years more in the construct lrs