Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-19
NO DECISION REACHED
Type Of Isthmian Canal Not
Yet Determined.
RETURN OF ENGINEERS
THEIR TRIP TO PANAMA WAS OF
GREAT VALUE.
Sessions Will Be Resumed in This
City Tomorrow-Gen. Davis
Announcement.

In regard to the rumor published to the
effect that the majority of the members of
the consulting board of engineers have de-
cided In favor of a lock canal at Panama.
Gen. Davis, chairman of the board, said
this morning:
SO far as am aware neither the board
nor any individual member of it has ex-
pressed any opinion as to the type of
canal that is favored. The board is now in
possession of all the facts bearing upon
the question of type 1t returns to this
city entirely free from any prejudice or
bias respecting that type, so far as is
known to me. The board will be in con-
tinuous session, either as a board or in SEN
arate committees. until it reaches a CON
| ciuslon, which will be arrived at some
near the close.
Two committees have been appointed TO
study the two types of canal sea level and
JOCK, ana these committees are endeavor-
ing 10 develop the best canal of each tyne
When the work shall have been completed
the whole board will be ready to decide
which type 1t prefers
Will Meet Again Tomorrow.
The members of the board of consulting
engineers have all returned to Washing
ton and tomorrow morning will resume
their meetings. The mass of material on
hand is so large that three separate COM
mittees have been appointed for a special
study of a sea level canal and a lock canal
and to consider the unit prices for both,
These committees consist of three members
each and Gen. Davis is chairman of each of
them. The engineers have promised not
to divulge any of their plans and this
rule is kept so strictly that even Chair
man Shonts of the isthmian canal COM
mission is kept in the dark on the SUBJ
tepf II he stated however hat fba
decision will be either in favor of a lock
level canal, the idea of first build
"a lock canal and afterward changing it into
sea level canal by means of second
canal being built at the side of It. being
pronounced impracticable. The board is
expected to be together about six weeks
more, and the foreign engineers expect to
return home by the end of November.
Management of Trip Praised.
Though the trip to the isthmus was a
hard one, especially for those members
accustomed to a cold climate, they are
all highly enthusiastic over the manage
nent of their trip. The heat was at times
excessive, and In the room where the
meetings were held the thermometer often
registered 90 degrees. The heavy rains
which fell almost daily did not bring any
relief. but no member was sick even for a
single day. Although yellow fever still
prevails, the efforts of DR.. William Craw-
- D.
results, and the yellow fever mosquitoes
have been almost entirely destroyed.
Several of the members of the commits
sion commented upon the difference be-
tween the canal zone where American
methods are employed and the regions
where the old regime still predominant.
Next to Colon, which is one of the most
unhealthful and dirty cities, they found
Cristobal, which under the American man
agement had become a healthy city. 1t
has been laid out in a pleasing manner,
the principal building being the old palace
of De Lesseps, which is now used for the
office building of the isthm1an canal COM
mission.
The city of Panama has been greatly inn
proved A water supply has been provided
and sewer system and paved streets are
under construction.
The reception that President Amador of
the republic of Panama gave to the men,
bers of the board was most agreeable.
Though 1t took place in the afternoon, the
weat her was SO bad and the rain fell down
in such streams that the reception had to
take place by artificial light.
Mr.. Stevens the chief engineer of the
car al, appeared one day before the commits
sion and was questioned on various SUBJ
jects.
Visit Of Great Value.
It was the opinion of several members