Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-19
Nf7oFlPs@m, BEL DEN &C.,
Howard and Sixteenth Streets

cember bills are paid the commission will
Type of Canal.
On the type of the canal to be constructed
Secretary Taft said
And now about the type of the canal. /
do not propose to discuss that. 1t is being
considered by board consisting of many
OF the best engineers of this country: Mr..
AIireu Noble, the engineer of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad Mr. William Barclay Par
sons, the engineer of the underground sys-
tenn i'm New York. Mr. Isham Randolph of
the Chicago drainage canal; Mr.. William IL.
Burr, professor of engineering In Columbia
college; Mr.. +. p Stearns, the hydraulic
engineer of Boston; General II. l.. Abbott.
one OF the greatest of army engineers, who
has made study of the canal for years;
Mr., Joseph Ripley, chief civil engineer of
the SOD canal Mr., Henry w Hunter Of the
English government at the request of the
president; Mr. Adolph Guerard one of the
leading civil engineers in the employ of
and appointed by the French government;
Mr.. Eugen Tincauzar, chief engineer OF the
Kiel canal, appointed by the German gov
eminent; Mr. e. Quellennec the consult
ing engineer OF the Suez canal. and Mr..
@. w. Welcker. appointed by the Neither
lands government. The board is presided
over by Major General George w. Davis
OF the United States army, a gentleman of
long experience In engineering and works
OF construction. The great question before
the board is, Shall the canal be a sea-level
or lock canal? If Il is to be a lock canal
as recommended by the Walker Commission
/ think the president may build the canal
consulting congress further as to the type
II 1t Is to be sea-level canal the ques-
ton, II seems TO me, for reasons already
stated. should be left to congress.
There are various plans. Mr.. Buneau-
Narilla produces plan by which he would
construct a lock canal, the highest lock
vision for the ultimate reduction OF this
canal to a sea level Another. Mr.. Bates
presents plan for making, by dams
two great lakes at the ter1nini of the canal
and with comparatively low lock a canal
between. shall not stop to discuss these
various plans, because am neither COM
petent nor have I time to do so. 1t will
be sufficient to discuss them when the
advisory board shall have returned its
judgment, when the commission shall have
reported and when the matter is before
the president for decision,
Opposition from Railroads.
One of the great obstacles to success in
building the canal is the opposition of
powerful persons and interests to its con-
struction. Some of this opposition comes
from those who are sincerely convinced
that the Panama route is not a practic-
able route, and that there are other and
easier routes to be preferred. II is not
10 be expected that owners and managers
oil. great transcontinental lines should be-
come enthusiastic over an enterprise which,
II carried to completion, must certainly
affect the rates OF freight between the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Even now
there Is some question as to whether low
rates and equality OF service to all on the
pSnama railroad may not reduce trans
sued directing equality of service and rates
70 all and also reduction of rates. But
80 congested is the railroad by transporta-
uon OF material for the Canal commission
and so interrupted Is the traffic by quar-
anime ana other causes, that II Is inn
possible now TO say what will be the effect
OF this policy under the conditions which
we hope to make normal when all the
commercial traftic and all the canal trans
. mr. nj nd "a al ~ Fan
TOT. But referring TO the obstacle found
~ the opposition of powerful interests to
forms. 1t is found in the misrepresenta-
tons OF conditions on the isthmus, In I'M
founded reports concerning friction be-
tween those having authority In the canal
work, in limitations of irregularities and
frauds and favoritism In contracts with
out any evidence whatever to justify sus-
plelon, ana generally in the constant sug-
gestlon or presumption that the eXpendi-
lure OF millions In building the canal must
Involve what Is called graft" Doubtless
congressional Investigations will be held
from time TO time.
Doubtless they ought to be held TO assure
the public; but II they are TO be permitted
70 delay the work on the canal and to par
awe the energy OF those upon whom the
burden OF pushing the work must fall, then
come exactly what many private interests
would be glad to have them become, the
sntbnS,s OF al the high hopes for trans;
not permit such a castrophe.
Keeping Up the Interest.
AS ! have already said. / have just re-
turned from a trip to the isthmus. / was
there year ago. and so long as the work
remains under my supervision shall deem
~ my duty 20 vistt the isthmus once a
year. shall do this not only TO keep in
formed OF the work in actual progress. but
because believe IL stimulates the subordi-
sait Ia az enterprise like this to have u
Ieu that their work is under the immedi-
ave observation OF the supervisory power,
20 sSo Ihst what they are doing is matter
~ interest and observation for everybody
from the president down.
II recall that while at the meeting OF the
CINCINNATI Commercial club last year pro-
pOssl was made that a steamer be chart
eIed 70 visit Panama this winter, and
asreed 10 be on OF the party. or at least to
time my annual visit so that / should be
OF the isthmus when you were. My impress
SION Is that II would be wiser To postpone
your visit until about this time next year.
when ! understand you have perhaps a
twenty years anniyersary. I do this be-
cduse az That tine there will be a hotel
eonaLIucLeQ az Ancon on Lhs Panama aloa |