The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-01


 -----------=- ----------- such time as. would cause the least em- barrassment to the administration and the least injury to the work. and that was even willing to go to the extent of remaining for an indehnite time on the commission shaFA4 he desire my counsel and advicei .franging for the change. assisting esn preparing plans for submission to the advisory board of engineers in September or in the fur ther consideration of the question by the administration of changes during its next session.
 His FeelIngs Outraged.
 Much to my surprise he indignantly spurned my suggestion and took the position that was compelled. under what he called my contract. to remain in charge of the Isthmian Canal re- xardless of circumstances or conditions until the completion of the work. and spoke in such a manner as to outrage my feelings to such an extent that fur- ther discussion of the reasons for my actions was out of the question.
 q did not seek the position as Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Com mission and considering my salary as General Manager of the Illinois Gen. tral Railroad Company and my other sources of earnings. my financial con- dition was not improved by my ac- ceptance of the position. and 1t was with the greatest reluctance that did SO,
 while 1t was my own expectation that I should continue my connection with the work. 1t did not occur to me that I was not free to withdraw if jus tice to myself and my family and to my reputation as an engineer required me to do so It was not only my right to Oi the naffar the most careful consideration in all Its bearings, considering not only the gen. eral situation as 1t affected the work. but my family, personal aid business relations and all the various factors en- tering into the problem; and ] couio not concede the right to the Secretary of War or any one to dictate my de- cision. The only debatable questions were the details as to putting my de- oision into effect. and while l stated to the Secretary what my desires were I told him that I was perfectly willing to conform to his wishes as far as pos sible as to the time and manner or my withdrawal.
 Wallace Took Exception.
 Tt was this suggestion to which ne chose to refer as a dicker. TO that statement I naturally took exception, particularly as he stated that he did not care for any reports that l might make, summarizing and analyzlnS the results of a years hard work on the Isthmus; also that he did not value my counsel and advice and that the only service he desired was that of con sruction engineer on the Isthmus. NO intimation of friction between the Sec retary and myself would ever have be- come public If it had not, accident ally or otherwise. been given out by the persons in attendance at the con ference on Sunday other than myseh, and I desire to state emphatically. ano the representatives Of the press VIII bear me out. that I have refused abso- lutely. either directly or indirectly. to be interviewed and have remained sill ent under the inunendos which have been daily published since the confer ence. and I would not have made even this statement at this time If 1t had not been for the severe strictures con- tained in the published statement of the Secretary, which l consider unjust and uncalled for ana Whlch could serve no useful purpose.
 Tn regard to the situation at Pan- anna, at no time during the progress or the work could my relations have been severed more opportunely than now and with less damage to the work. A complete organization of departments and bureaus has been effected. MT. w E, IDduCney, II StHlltmdH oL ms h engineering attainments. who has been chief engineer of the Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company. and who had occupied the position Of division engineer in charge of the Cu- lebra division. was, upon my ieavinS the Isthmus, placed in charge Of the work as acting chief engineer, he hav- ing occupied similar position during my absence from the 1sthmus at the
 H,tr hn f,1nr of April and having conducted the work through the demoralization at- tendant upon the change in organiza- ton.
 Dauchey Competent.
 The only work which can be per formed until after Congress at It's next session shall take some decided action Is the gradual increase In the organi- zation and the addition of units of machinery along a well denned plan winch MT. Dauchey thoroughly under stood
 "The simple work of excavating at culebra and preparing for further ex- cavation are the only things which could be done pending final decision from Congress. The only possible benefit that my personal services as chief engineer could have been to the work was such as might be due to the purely personal elehent "'iSA "ouio have been largely supplied by my con tinuance with the work in an advisory capacity "As far as the actual engineering and construction work was concerned MT. Dauchey was fully as capable as I Despite all of the discouragement and obstacles which have surrounded this work. as the Secretary knows and has practically stated in his letter, endeavored to faithfully and vigorous Iv nerfornn the duties of my office anc have never complained or criticised ! mv supertors or any one connected with the work. and. as stated in th< secretary's communication. l have new l ar reouested additional emoluments oi