Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-09-28
HURRY UP THE CANAL
PRESIDENT URGES CONSULTING
eOARD TO MAKE HASTE.
"Advise Me, Not What You Think
Want to Hear, but What You Think
Ought to Hear" He Warns -Impor-
taut Utterances.

President Roosevelt is urging in the
strongest terms the necessity for
plan for the construction of the Pana
ma canal which may be accomplished
in the shortest possible time. In his
recent remarks to the Consulting
Board of Engineers of the Isthmian
Canal Commission he said many
things which are regarded as Of tn.
utmost Importance in that connection.
These remarks have just been tran
scribCd and transmitted to the Board,
and General Davis, its chairman, has
been authorized 10 make them public.
The President said:
What l am about to say must be con-
sidered in the light Of suggestion. not as
direction. | have named you because IN
my judgment you are especially fitted to
serve as advisers in planning the great
est engineering work the world has yet
seen; and L expect you to advise me.
not what you think | want to hear, but
what you think | ought to hear
There are two or three considerations
which | trust You Will steadily keep be-
fore your minds in coming to Il conclu-
sion as to the proper type of canal
hope that ultimately it will prove pos
sible to build a sea level canal. Such a
canal would undoubtedly be best in the
end, if feasible; and | feel that one OF
the chief advantages of the Panama
route is that ultimately a sea level canal
will be a possibility. But while paying
due heed to the ideal perfectibility of
the scheme from an engineers stand
point, remember the need Of having
plan which shall provide for the imme
date building of canal on the safest
terms and in the shortest possible time.
If to build sea level canal will but
slightly increase the risk. then of course
it is preferable. But if to adopt the
plan of a sea level canal means to incur
our hazard, and insure indefinite delay,
then it is not preferable. If the advan-
tases and disadvantages are closely bal
anced | expect you to say so. l desire
also to Know whether. if you recommend
4 high level multilock canal it will be
possible after it is completed to turn it
into or substitute for it. in time, a sea
level canal. without interrupting the
traffic upon it. Two of the prime con-
sderations to be kept steadily III mind
are: 1.-The utmost practicable speed of
construction: 2-practical certainty that
the plan proposed will he feasible. that
it can be carried out with the minimum
risk
The quantity of work and the amount
of work should be minimized so far rs
possible.
There may be good reason why the de-
lay incident to the adoption Of a plan
for an ideal canal should be incurred:
but if there is not, then | hope t. see
the canal constructed on a system which
Will bring to the nearest possible date in
the future the time when it is practicable
to take the first ship across the isthmus;
that is, which will in the shortest time
possible secure Panama waterway be-
tween the oceans Of such a character as
to guarantee permanent and ample com
municatiOn fer the greatest ships Of our
navy and for the largest steamers on
either the Atlantic or the Pacific The
delay in transit Of the vessels owing
to additional locks would be of small
consequence Whcn compared with short
ening the time for the construction of
the canal or diminishing the risks in its
construction.
In short. desire your best Judgment
on all the various questions to be con
sidered in choosing among the various
plans for comparatively high level
multi-lock canal. for 4 lower level with
fewer locks, and for sea level canal.
Finally, l urge upon You the necessity
of as great expedition in coming to Il
decision as is compatible with thorough
hess in considering the conditions