Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-04-21
ALL FAVOR THE CANAL
TO BE BUILT UPON BUSINESS
PRINCIPLES.

Chief Engineer Wallace Will Be Assisted BY First
Class Aids-Mhether Il Be Sea Level or Lock
Canal viii Be Determined BY the Nature of
the Excavations and Authorization by Con.
sress-The First Work on CuIebra Cut the
Most Difficult-The Entire Work Will Cost
Less Than Estimated, the Lock Canal Less
Than Sn0.000. 900 and the Sea Level Cut
Little More than That Sum- Partyism Dor
mant-Rspublicans Worried Over Treasury
Dcficit-Germany Fails to Draw the United
States Into Foreign Trouble.
From our regular correspondent
WAsuINGToN, ID. C., April I3.
Despite the unfortunate differences
between the two parties in Congress
over the initiation of the Panama
canal, that great enterprise may now
be said 10 have passed from the realm
of politics and to be regarded as a
national undertaking regarded by all
patriotic Americans with interest and
hope. This fact was clearly illustrated
during the Presidents recent visit to
Texas where he was assured that de-
spite the fact that the Senators from
Texas had felt it to be their duty TO
oppose the ratification of the Panama
treaty, the people OF Texas were hearth
ly in favor of its construction and
wished him all success in the conduct
of the great enterprise. The reorga-
nization OF the canal commission has
been achieved and the new organiza-
ton is getting to work with commend
able promptness. 1t has already an
nounced its intention OF making all OF
its transactions public, SO that nothing
it does may be regarded as underhand
ed and this alone is calculated to in
spire confidence. A system of indi-
vidual responsibility, which is in
thorough accord with the general SEN
timents of the American people aud
which has always produced the most
satisfactory results in private enter
prise, has been adopted and hereafter
when anything goes wrong, as some
things are certain to do, the public
will know, as will the President, just
where rests the responsibility. on whom
rests the blame if any there is.
Chief Engineer Wallace, who at
tracted the favorable notice of the
Congressional delegation which visited
the isthmus and who enjoys the ut
most confidence of the President and
of his colleagues, will have direc.
charge of the construction OF the canal
and will avail himself OF the a! ilities
of the other engineers OF the commits
sion as he may see fit. The great prob.
lem OF constructing lock canal or a
sea level canal remains to he settled
and is not likely to be solved at once,
but this means no delay in the work.
Mr.. Wallace has informed the men,
bers OF the commission that there is no
occasion to attempt to settle this
problem at present. There is a great
excavation to be made in any event
that is the first thing to be done and
he suggests that the Commission con.
tinue to "dig" with all possible energy.
AS the work progresses the question oil
solid foundations on which to place the
proposed locks will solve itself, as the
surfaces on which the lock canal plans
call for lock foundations are exposed
Moreover, the Commission believes
that it lacks the authority to make &C
radical change in the design Of the
canal without the approval OF Con
gross. If, as the work progresses, il
seems best 10 dispense with look.
altogether and construct q sea leve
canal, recommendation in accordance
with the facts will 10 made to Congress
and full authority will doubtless b'
given the Commission to adopt th'
most feasible plan.
The first work undertaken will b.
the excavation Of what is known "a tn,
Culebra cut. This cannot proceed very
rapidly for the reason that the worl
will necessarily be cramped. the NOR
so the work progresses. The dispose
OF the great amount OF material which
must be taken out will OF itself presen
a serious problem and when a certain
number of men and a certain humble
of excavating machines have beer
placed in operation further increas,
will be rendered impracticable. Tn
present plans call for ninety foot cana
and the Commission does not expec
to deviatesfrom this specification.
With regard to the cost. Engines
Wallace reports that it will doubles
be less than was at first estimated
whatever form OF canal is constructed
The lock canal will cost cousiderabl,
less than the $4,000, 900 estimated
and even sea level canal can be con
structed for comparatively small in
crease over that amount, all through
the time required would be consider
ably longer.
There is little doing in the politica
line in Washington these days, al
though no day passes. without som'
prominent politician coming to TIT
capital. Democrats generally say tina
the time for political discussion j,
inopportune; that it is better anc
wiser to wait for a while and see wha
the President and the new Congress
will do; that it is too soon to make
any predictions for 1908, and that tn,
Congressional elections OF 1906 will
necessarily depend very largely on tn,
action of the coming Congress. There
is, nevertheless, a very general expec
tation among the Democratic leader.
that the Congress will be ruled by thu
stand. patters and that if such prove.
to be the case the next house, will have
a Democratic majority.
Republican leaders are unmistak
ably worried over the Treasury defici
but they have not yet reached poin
where they can formulate plans Il
remedy the gradual falling behind o
the federal finances and they are un
willing to commit themselves. There
has been some effort on the part O
interested parties to create q senti
ment in favor of taxing tea and coffee
but it fell very fiat. 1t soon becam,
very evident that the idea was pu
forth by the brewers and distillers who
fear an increased tax on their pro
ducts and who would like to diver