The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1905-09-30
HURRY UP ON CANAL,
SAYS PRES. ROOSEVELT.
DELAY GROWS IRRITATING SEA
LEVEL WATERWAY IS FAV-
ORED, BUT PRESIDENT WANTS
1T OPEN AT THE EARLIEST
PRACTICABLE MOMENT.

| President Roosevelt is urging in the
strongest terms the necessity for plan
for the constructed of the Panama canal
which may be accomplished in the shor-
test possible time. In his recent remarks
to the consulting board Of engineers OF
the Panama canal commission he said
things regardee of the utmost import
ance in that concection. His remarks
have just been transcribed and trans
mitted to the board in Washington and
General Davis, its chairman, has been
authorized TO make them public. The
president said, among other things:
"What I am about to say must be
concidered IN the light of suggestion:
not as direction. | have named you
because, in my Judgment, you are espe-
ciaHy fitted to serve as advisors in plan
ming the gratest engineering work the
world has yet seen, and I expect you to
advise me, not what you think I want to
heart, but what you think l ought to
hear. "There are two or three consid-
erations which trust you will steadily
keep before your minds in coming to
concluson as to the proper type of canal.
l hope that ultimately it will prove
possable to build sea leval canal-such
a canal would undoubtedly be best in
the end if feasible, and I feel that one
of the chef advantages OF the Panama
rout is that ultimately sea level canal
will be possibility. But while paying
due heed to the ideal perfictibility of
the scheme from an engineering stand
point, remember the need of having a
plan which shall provide for the immed-
late building of canal on the safest
terms and in the shortest possible time.
If to build a sea level canal will but
slightly increase the risk, then, of oouse,
it is preferable,
''But tt to adopt the plan of a sea level
means to incur hazard and brings on
delay, then it is not preferable. If the
advantages and disadvantages are clos
ely balance expect you to say so. de-
sire also to know whether il you recon-
mend high leael muiti-lock canal, it
will be possible after it is completed to
turn it into or substitute for 1t in time
sea level canal without interrupting the
traffic upon it. Two of the prime con sid
erations to be kept steadily in mind are:
u. The utmost practicable speed Of
construction.
"2. Practical certainty that the plan
proposed will be feasible and that it can
be carried out with the menimdm risk,
"The quantity Of work and the amount
of work should be minimized so far as
possible.
''The delay in transit of the vessels
owing to additional locks will be of small
consequence when compared with short
ming the time for the construction of
the canal or diminishing the risk in it's
construction. In short desire your best
judgment on all the various questions to
considered in choosing among the var
ious plans for comparatively high
multi-lock canal for lower level with
fewer locks and for a sea level canal.
FINALLY, urge upon you the neces-
iity of as great expedition in coming
to decision as Is compatible with thor
oughnees IN considering the constru-
cton. ."-"Poplarville Free Press.