Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-02
lAusTs FROM TWO CONTINENTS
Board Is Composed Of Men Foremost in
Their Profession.
WILL DECIDE AS TO TYPE OF WATERWAY
All Physical Data Regarding ISthmus
Laid Before Them.
FINrlsG IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW
President VIII Go over the Report
and send ~ TO Congress for
Final Action OF that
Body.

Body.
WASHINGTON. Sept. IA notable board
II distinguished engineers assembled IN
Washington today on the request Of Presi-
lent Roosevelt to discuss the relative feasa-
oillty Of a sea level lock canal In
he division OF the American continent at
the Isthmus OF Panama. Constituting the
consulting board OF engineers for canal
plans these men, gathered from both Amer
ca and Europe, were picked from among
hose foremost in their profession The
arst of the meetings at which they VIII
grapple with. the great problem began this
morning In small room at the office
building of the canal commission. The
proceedings were opened by the reading
of the letter Of the president calling them
together and letter from Chairman Shonts
of the commission, which gives in detail
the purposes for which the engineers are
convened In the presidents order 1t Is
,alled "the consulting board of engineers,
but the letter of Chairman Shonts is ad-
dressed to the advisory board of engineers
upon plans for the Panama canal
The letter in part says:
In accordance with the directions of the
president dated April /, 1905 the isthmian
canal commission has the honor TO Ky
Isthmus of Panama and to solicit your
opinion as to the best plan to be followed
within reasonable limits Of cost and time.
AS you are aware, this question has been
studies Tor many years by numerous able
engineers A vast amount of labor has
lion concerning the physics of the isthmus
and in digesting it and in formulating 1t
into plans for a canal
Mr. shonts, after enumerating the docu-
nents presented calls attention to that por=
ton OF the act of congress which prescribes
the physical features of the proposed canal
and directs that the work already begun
shall be utilized as far possible He
concludes his letter follows:
The commission expects to visit the
York during the last week in September.
the exact date to be fixed hereafter; You
are cordially invited to accompany them
This method of presenting the subject to
YOU by offering several well digested plans
& efRod St 'op'S1 by Shie 'e all essential nrorma
tlon could be conveyed in the condensed
form II is needless s,, 70 say th1t ma nlt Ihe
on these plans, but upon any entirely diff
ferent plans which may suggest itself to
plan 1t is most expedient, all things con-
sidered, for the United States to follow in
the completion OF the Panama canal
Makeup of the Board.
BY executive order made last June
the board is thus constituted: General
Barclay Parsons, William H. Burr. General
Henry L. Abbott, Frederic p Stearns
Joseph Ripley, Isham Randolph, all Ameri-
can engineers; Henry Hunter, nominated
by the British government; Herr Eugene
Tincauzer nominated by the German gov
ernment: NJ. Guerard. nominated by the
French government; NJ. Quellenec, con-
sulting engineer, suez canal and J. w.
welcksr, nominated by the government of
nd &c ard NnFlaHn oh
was appointed to assemble today, at the
Offices OF the Isthmian Canal commission.
Decision Not Final.
The decision of the board will not be
fnal but will be made to the Isthmian
canal commission, which in turn will use
it's own judgment in report and recon-
nlendations to the president. The final
conclusion as to the type OF the canal will
be settled by the president and congress.
In calling the board Of consulting engineers
, together the president decided II there was
Al difference OF opinion among the mem
bers OF the board there should be minority
reports, II was also stated that the board
might visit the isthmus before making its
hnal reporl IL IL should be deemed neces-
sary.
The boarS OF consulting engineers will
not have referred TO II detailed questions
uf engineering connected with the con-
struction OF the canal after the type has
been determined Beyond making recon-
mendations as TO the type OF canal
whether locks or sea level together with
suggestions as to the method of construct
ing the lock canal, it's duty as at present
defined and understood by the commission
will cease.
The executive work of the Isthmiau
Canal commission has been much simpli.
hed by the retirement Of Mr.. Wallace as
chief engineer, Previous TO that time the
duties of the commission as executive
body were distributed between Chairman
shonts, Chief Engineer Wallace and Gov.
ernor Magoon. Chairman Shonts having a
general supervision OF the work Of tn,
other commissioners. Wallace was a mem
Der OF the commission but when John f
Stevens made a successor as chiet
engineer he was not made a member OF
the commission, but was employed by
Chairman Shonts, and the engineering anC
construction work is under the direction
instead OF general supervision OF Chair
man Shonts. Chief Engineer Stevens, un
like Mr.. Wallace, is not a member Of tn,
executive board OF the commission. Will,
the engineering work Of the canal will b,
under the immediate supervision of Chic
Stevens, he will be assisted by a committe,
on engineering, consisting of Generals Erns
and Haines Admiral Endicott and Majo
Harrod, who are also members OF the com
mission Such problems Of a technica
character as Chief Stevens desires TO b
worked out, and upon such subjects as h
desires advice win be submitted to tn
committee OF engineers. The problem
which will be submitted to the engineering
committee win not be numerous until afte
the type Of canal has been determined al
though Il is expected that the board. whic
met today, will avail itself OF IN
experience and advice OF the engineering
committee on account or the connection
which the latter have had with the cana
since the United States government too
hold Of the enterprise.
All MemebeFs Present.
All members Of the board were presen
today when General Davis, who had bee
created president of the board by IN