The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-20
AMERICAN v WANTS
TO BUILD CANAL
Engineer Has Plan for Taking En-
tire Panama Contract Off
Governments Hands.
New York Sun Special saru,ca

New York Sun Special Service.
Washington, Sept. 20.-Before the
board OF consulting engineers, an
American has appeared who is willing
to take a contract. for the construction
Of the entire Panama canal at def
mite price, giving adequate guarantees
to the government as to the time and
manner OF completing the great work,
and with ample responsible capital be-
This American is Lindon w. Bates,
the eminent hydraulic engineer, former
y OF Chicago, but now settled in New
York after having done important work
in his line all over the world. The
sboldness Of Mr.. Bates suggestion i'm
pressed the members Of the board of en-
gineers who listened to him.
Ready to Make Bid.
While Mr.. Bates did not make for
NAL proposition to the foregoing eff
feet, it is well known that he stands
ready to carry out the suggestions which
he did offer. Inasmuch as the board of
consulting engineers has nothing to do
with the manner in which the canal
shall be constructed, and the policy of
the government in this respect has not
yet, been outlined, Mr.. Bates did not
feel warranted in bringing forward
formal proposal at this time.
But It the government should wish it,
if the president and congress should
later on decide to adopt the Bates
project as the type Of the canal and
wish to utilize the services of a re-
sponsible man and a highly capitalized
| engineering corporation to execute the
work, Mr.. Bates and his firm stand
investing $15,000,O0O or 100000
worth Of plant and cash at the outset
and giving bond to the government pre-
cisely as is done in all other: contracts.
Has Big Money Backing.
Mr.. Bates is at the head Of large
contracting and engineering concern in
New York, which has as members the
Deutsche Bank Of Berlin and repre-
ing institutions in the United States. It
would be daring undertaking, but
there is no doubt Of the willingness and
ability Of these men to accept con-
tract if the government be found will
ing to give it to them.
Mr.. Bates outlined his project for the
canal before the board in detail, hav;
his ideas in printed form, accom-
panied by engravings and maps.
Of course, it remains for the board
of consulting engineers to pass upon
the merits of his plans. These projects
may or may not be found desirable. But
if the former should turn out to be the
fact, the time may come when the pres
ident and congress mey wish to avail
themselves Of this opportunity to Sc
cure an adequate canal by one contract,
with guarantees from responsible fnan-
cial houses as to the execution Of the
work.
Definite Cost to Be Known.
In this way the country would know
precisely what the canal was going to
cost, and would know in advance, too
precisely the sort of canal it was 60
ing to have. S.. a.
Il If the Bates plan means an inferior
canal the government probably would
not touch it at any price. Public opin
ion would 9not support the government
in trying to save money and getting an
inferior channel as "a result Of all the
} outlay But if, on the other hand, the
board Of engineers chances to report in
favor Of Bates contention that his
} projects really call for superior -anc
safer canal, then the chance to let the
whole thing out at contract and shut
, off waste and possibility Of scandal un
der direct government supervision may
appeal strongly to the president and tt
congress.
No doubt it would require high or
!