The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-10-05
MORGAN SAYS Nay
Alabama Senator Declines to
Go on junket to Panama.
so WRITES To SHONTS
Thinks Tour Of Inspection OF Canal
Route and Conditions Of Isthmus
by Commission Will Result in
No Tangible Good.

No Tangible Good.
Senator John T. Morgan Of Alabama
wrote 8 letter to Chairman F. P.
Shonts of the Panama canal commits
sion, declining the invitation to &C.
company the commission which left
New York Thursday for Panama. The
senator thinks nothing will be accom-.
plished by the trip. His letter says
in part:
sIn your telegram of the 22d in.
slant you speak of a large party who
are to sail with the commission and
the advisory board to Colon and are
to have comfortable facilities for
making tours Of inspection and exam.
ination of the canal. In the matter
of sightseeing, such facilities will af-
ford much pleasure, which / regret
| am not prepared to enjoy; but do
not suppose that such surface in
spection Of the appearance OF condl'
tons in Panama would give me any
data from which I could form any
Judgment as 10 the praoticability OF
lock canal, or a sea level canal. or
the preference due to either plan, or
as to the cost, or the cine required for
the completion of the canal on either
plan.
Il could not wisely, inteiligently or
Justly give an opinion to any commits
sioner, or to any member of the adj
visory board as to the possibility OF
a dam at Bahio, 16S feet below the
level of the sea, that would supply
the canal at 80 feet above sea level;
or as to a dam at or Lelow Gatun
that would supply canal at 30 feet
above sea level; or as to a dam at
Gamboa that would control the waters
Of the Chagres river; or as to pos
sible tunnel to either ocean to carry
off those fcod waters.
81 could not inform the able, cour-
ageous and distinguished chief OF the
hygienic service in the canal zone
whether, if we should flood all the
breeding places of the stegomyia fas-
ciata. with great lakes, we would not
increase them thousand fold along
the margins of the great bodies OF
fresh water, IN the tropical under
growth that would spring up around
them in a few hours. Indeed, this is
no question, among the many vital
interests that concern this great IN
ordry upon which s.,iy rational MIND
could give any reliable information or
form any correct judgment, from what
one could see or hear in the tours
along the canal zone that this party
of visitors will have the opportunity
to make.
81 must say that I distrust the ,ex-
pected advantages to congress Or 70
the country, of such an excursion OF
the value Of any opinion that may be
formed on great engineering problems
by a body OF gentlemen who are non
professional and must form their con-
clusions from surface appearances.
Neither of these important commit
tees can derive any legitimate conclu'
sions upon vital facts that must con
troll that vast subject, from the opln'
ions of those who are mere guests
of an excursion party, and they Will
be men OF extraordinary self poise, II
they are not Influenced by what may
be a, prevailing sentiment among
them.
"since the ratification of the Hay.
Varilla treaty, which opposed, have
done all that could and much more
than I thought could ever be OF ad'
vantage to the country to sustain tho
government in its purpose to construct
a canal in Panama. Yet l have not
beiieyed that success could crown
their efforts, even in their most cost
ly and desperate form You may find
the key to unlock the barriers tha1
nature has interposed at Panama II
YOU should be so fortunate, | Will
applaud your genius and courage. l
will vote to provide you with every
reasonable authority and power to ae-
complish your task and to meet your
tremendous responsibility.
.<In the effort to answer your friend
" invitation with perfect frankness,
= have said anything that jars upon
your sepsibilities, I have not so ln-
tended it and would regret it. beg
to assure you Of my sincere respect
and to say that I will rejoice with
YOU In the successful completion OF
the great work in your charge. SIN
cerely yours,
fsigned) JOHN T. MORGAN"