The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-03

b~iTInlHSnaH Ala-s september ~
Senator John T. Morgan, of Alabama,
has written a letter to Chairman
Shonts, of the Panama Canal Commas
sion, declining the invitation to ac-
company the commission which left
New York today for Panama The
senator thinks nothing will be accom-
plished by the "trip. His letter says IN
part:
In your telegram of the 22nd in
slant you speak of a large party who
are to sail with the commission aud
the advisory board TO Colon, and are
to have comfortable facilities for max
ing tours of nspection and examina-
ton of the canal. In the matter cf
sight seeing, such facilities will AT
ford much pleasure, which | regret |
am not prepared to enjoy. but | do not
suppose that sucn a surface inspection
of the appearance of conditions in Pan
anna would give me any data from
which | could form any judgment as to
the practicability of a lock canal or u
sea level canal, or the preference due
to either plan. or as TO the cost. or
the time required for tn completion OF
the canal on either plan.
81 could not wisely, intelligently and
Justly give an opinion TO any commits
sioner or to any member of b advise
ry board as to tie possibility of a dam
at Bohio, one hundred and sixty-elgnt
feet below the level of the sea, that
would supply a canal at ninety feet
above sea level; or as to a dam at Or
below Gatun that would supply a ca
nal at 80 feet above sea level; or as TO
a dam at Gamboa that would control
the waters of the. Chagres river; OF as
to a possible tunnel to either ocean
to carry off those flood waters.
81 could not inform the able, cour-
ageous and distinguished chief of the
hygienic service in the canal zone
whether, If we should food all The
breeding places of the stegomyia-fas-
ciata with great lakes, we would not
increase them 4 thousand fold alhug
the margins of the great bodies OF
fresh water, in the tropical under
growth that would spring up around
them in a few hours.
81 must say that I distrust the ex-
pected advantage to Congress or to the
country, of such an excursion, or 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-
illusions from surface appearances.
"Since the ratification of the Hay
Varilla treaty, which | opposed, l have
done all that l could and much mjre
than l thought could eve be of advail-
tag t the country, to sustain The
government in it's purpose to construct
a canal at Panama. Yet have no be-
lieved that success could crown their
efforts, ever in their most costly and
desperate form. You may find the Key
to unlock the barriers that nature mas
interposed at Panama. If o should
be so fortunate l would applaud your
genius and courage. l will vote to
provide you with every reasonable ATT
thority and power to accomplish y1ur
task and to meet your tremendous :e-
sponsibility.
eff in the effort to answer your
friendly invitation with perfect frank
ness | have said anything that jars
upon your sensibilites | have not so
intended it and would regret it. / beg
to assure you OF my sincere respect
and to say I will rejoice with you in
the successful completion of the great
work in your charge.
Sincerely yours,
(signed) JOHN T. MORGAN