The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-16
aprxrnx nE AN EXPERT.

There have been so many brilliant and optimistic statements about the canal followed by so many disappoint- ments, that the public at large has almost ceased to wonder at any un- favorable report they may hear. they have lost much of their confidence in the optimists. That there is an almost universal failure to understand why there has been so much delay and mis- management, and so many unfavorable criticisms regarding the manner in which the work Is done is not to be wondered at.
 The American people want a canal across the Tsthmus. While large per cent of them were opposed to the Panama route they have shown them selves willing to acqaiesce in the opin- ion of the majority and have the big ditch dug at that point. A waterway to connect the two oceans has become twentieth century need, and all want to see the, work succeed, And yet, disguise it as we may, we are bound to see that the people have been grievcusiy disappointed. When the start was made the public was led to believe that the work would go forward without delay to a successful ending The time and cost were by some fixed with as much positivity as one would speak of building house.
 The bright promises and anticipa- tions have failed to be realized. Many and various have been the reasons given for such failure. but one of the severest comments we have seen Is that of MT. ". J. Oliver. given in an inter view in The Washington Post. MT. Oliver is the engineer who has the con- tract for tunneling Lookout Mountain. and The Chattanooga News declares that If there is man in the South competent to give an opinion on this work (the Panama canal) it would his interview he declared that the canal will never be built except by private contractors, and added:
 That is a rather strong statement to make, but 1t seems to me that the pre- sent canal methods form only a school for engineers and contractors. It takes more time to teach them how to do the work than it would to build the canal under private contract. Men who have made a success of developing railroads and maintaining them have been put at digging a canal.
 Mir. Wallace took with him a large number of hands used on the Illinois Central, and as they were not used to the kind of work required, he and they simply fell down. It was said that he was to get q $60,000 year job. Has anybody heard of his getting that job? Time is constantly wasted in these pri- mary methods. Shonts was the head of a railroad. He knows his business and I know mine. Could I tell him to do mine? He maintains the railway after 1t is finished. I build the railway and turn it over. And so Shonts and the engineers and contractors all go down to the isthmus to learn the business. By the time they all get through learn ing the business where will the canal be?
 Whether these opinions and com ments are fully justified is a matter about which there will necessarily be differences of opinion. but how are we to dispute his conclusions after all that we have been reading on the sub ject for months? And his question. where will the canal be?" is one that cannot be readily answered. There have been so many evidences of gross mismanagement, so many misstate- ments and so many disappointments that the American people should not be blamed if they have lost confidence in the affair altogether. They have had enough to almost cause them to doubt if there will ever be canal at Panama.