The Springfield herald., 1905-09-22
EXPEDITE THE CANAL
PRESIDENT 70 PANAMA BOARD.
Urges Necessity Of a Plan Of construe-
tlon-Wants Sea Level Canal
" Feasible-But Wishes
PROMPT Action,

Washington, Sept. 49, President
Roosevelt is urging In the strongest
terms the necessity for a plan for the
construction of the Panama canal
which may be accomplished in the
shortest possible time. In his recent
remarks to the consulting board OF
engineers of the isthmian canal com.
mission he said many things which are
regarded as of the utmost importance
in that connection. These remarks
have just been transcribed and trans
mitted to the board here. and General
Davis, Its chairman, has been author
lied to make them public.
The President said:
"F'irst-The utmost practical speed
of construction.
"Second-Practical certainty that
the plan proposed will be feasible. that
1t can be carried out with the mini
mum risk.
1.-The quantity of work and the
amount of work should be minimized
SO far as possible.
There may be good reason why the
delay incident to the adoption of plan
for an ideal canal should be incurred;
but If there is not. then l hope to see
the canal constructed on system
which will bring to the nearest possi-
is practicable to take the first ship
across the isthmus; that is. which will
in the shortest possible time secure
Panama waterway between the oceans
of such a character as to guarantee
permanent and ample communication
for 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 addl-
tional locks, would be of small conse-
quence when compared with shorten
ing the time for the construction of
the canal or diminishing the risks in
its construction.
"In short, / desire your best judg-
ment on all the various questions to be
considered In choosing among the var
ious plans for comparatively high
level multi-lock canal, for lower level
with fewer locks. and for a sea level
canal. Finally, l urge upon you the
necessity of as great expedition In
coming to decision as Is compatible
with thoroughness in considering the
conditions.
What I am about to say must be
considered in the light of suggestion,
not as direction. have named you be-
cause, in my judgment, you are espe-
cially fitted to serve as advisers in
planning the greatest engineering work
the world has yet seen; and l expect
you to advise me, not what you think
l want to hear, but what you think
ought to hear.
There are two or three considera-
tions which / trust you will steadily
keep before your minds in coming to
conclusion as to the proper type of
canal. l hope that ultimately 1t will
prove possible to build a sea level ca
nal Such a canal would undoubtedly
be best in the end, If feasible; and l
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 standpoint, remember the
need of having plan which shall pro-
vide for the immediate building of a
shortest possible time.
"If to build sea level canal will but
slightly increase the risk, then, of
course, it is preferable. But II to
adopt plan of sea level canal means
to incur hazard and to insure indefi-
mite delay then it is not preferable.
If the advantages and disadvantages
are closely balanced, l expect you to
say so. l desire, also, to know
whether. if you recommend high
level multi-lock canal, it will be pos
slble, after it is completed, to turn it
into or substitute for 1t, in time, sea-
level canal, without interrupting the
traffic upon it."