Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-01
Committee Appointed.


hopes to complete in time to allow its report
to go to Congress in December. 1t is eX
pected that the President will make a rec
ommendation to Congress concerning the
kind of q canal to be built. and that early
in the next session there will be congress
sional action that will assure the beginning
of work the canal based on some definite
plan.
Advantage of a Lock Canal.
]. w. Welcker of Holland who is the
foremost government engineer in his own
country, IS quoted saying regarding the
plans of the engineers:
Il understand that the sessions will con-
tinue through several weeks, and that be-
fore any decision is arrived at regarding
the type of canal that will be constructed
We shall be taken to the isthmus to look
over the ground. OF course / do not know
what sort of waterway will be selected as
1t is as difficult to prophesy the result Of
the deliberations of fourteen engineers from
different parts of the world as for one to
nave foretold what would be the result of
the peace conference.
1T is my own opinion, however, that a
lock canal would be sufficient for all COM
mercial purposes. would cost much less and
would be finished in about two thirds of the
time required for a Sea-level canal The
lock system would be able to take care of
the worlds commerce that would go through
II. The Suez canal is through level coun-
anna canal. II made sea level would have
to be cut through great rock that would
entail much more expense. 1t would take
l think. about ten or twelve years while
the lock canal would require about six or
eight years"
1t Is said that no one of the fourteen emf
nent engineers constituting the board has
given any indication of favorng a sea-level
isthmian canal, but, on the contrary the
majority OF them have from time to time
expressed themselves in favor of locks
though few have suggested that in the
course OF the next fifty years, should the
easy TO make gradual change to a sea-
level waterway.
Establishment Of the Board.
BY the executive order made in June q
board of consulting engineers was consti-
tuted, consisting of Gen. George w Davis,
Alfred Noble. William Barclay Parsons.
William II. Burr, Gen. Henry L. Abbott.
Frederic p Stearns, Joseph Ripley. Isham
Randolph, all American engineers; Henry
Hunter, nominated by the British govern
ment; Herr Eugen Tincauzer nominated
by the German government; NJ. Guerard
nominated by the French government; NJ
Quelenec, consulting engineer, Suez canal,
and j. w. Welcker, nominated by the gov
eminent of the Netherlands II Is this
board which assembled today at the offices
of the isthm!an canal commission
The board of consulting engineers will
have referred to 1t all the information that
has been collected by the commission bear
ing upon the subject of type of canal
This information may be sufficient for the
board to determine whether the canal
should be constructed with locks or should
be sea-level canal. and If the former
should be recommended, then details az
to the character of locks. The recommended
tons of the consulting engineers will not
canal commission, which, in turn will use
Its own judgment in a report and recon-
mendations to the President. The final
conclusion as to the type of canal will he
settled by the President and Congress- In
calling the board of consulting engineers
together the President directed that in case
there was difference of opinion among
members of the board there should he
minority reports. 1t was also directed that
the board might visit the isthmus before
making its final report If 1t should be
deemed necessary.
Information Collected.
General Davis, chairman of the consult
Ing board General Ernst General Hams.
Admiral Endcott and Major Harrod MEM
bers of the isthmian commission, held a
meeting yesterday and discussed the pre-
liminaries of the meeting today, with a
view of bringing before the board the data
which the commission has on hand In a
manner to secure the best results and ex-
petition. The information consists of re-
ports, surveys, maps and other documents
bearing upon the subjects to be considered
Several members of the cons ulting board
have personal knowledge of the conditions
on the iSthmuS, as they have served on
other commissions which have made a
thorough study of the canal problems.
The board of consulting engineers Will
not have referred to 1t questions of en-
cheering regarding the construction of the
canal after the type has been determined.
Beyond making recommendations to the
type of canal, whether locks or sea-level,
together with suggestions to the method
Of tr,rIs tYNer thn lnnly nj I,,tr-
at present defined and understood - the
commission, will cease
Executive Work Simplifed.
The executive work of the is.hmian canal
commission has been much smplified by
the retirement of Mr.. Wallace as chief en-
gineer. Prior to that time the duties of the
commission executive body were dis
tributed between Chairman Shonts, Chief
Engineer Wallace and Gov. Magoon, Chair
man Shonts having a general supervision
of the work of the other commissioners
Wallace was a member of the commission,
but when John F. Stevens was made his
successor as chief engineer he was not
made a member of the com Mission, but was
employed by Chairman SI<ilts, and the en-
glneering and construction work Is under
the direct instead of the general super
vision of Chairman Shonts Chief Engineer
Stevens, unlike MIR. Wallace Is not a men,
Der of the executive board of the commits
sion. While the engineering work of the
canal will be under the immediate super
sisted by committee on engineering. con-
list nj nd n