New-York tribune., 1905-07-01
NEW CANAL ENGINEER.
JOHN f. STETENS CHOSEN.
Succeeds Mr., Wauace-WM Haze
Full Charge of York on Isthmus.
rrRoM THE TRIBUNE suaEAu.l !

Washington, June SO-Theodore p Shonts
chairman Of the Panama Canal Commission, to-
day announced the selection of John f. Stevens
chief engineer of the canal.
Mr.. Stevens succeeds John f. Wallace, whose
resignation accepted yesterday. and his ap-
pointment takes effect at once. Mr.. Stevens will
also be made general manager of the Panama
Railroad. He viii not be member Of the
Isthmian Canal Commission His salary will be
$4,000 a year.
The following Official statement was made by
Secretary Taft.
Mr.. John f. Stevens has been appointed chief
engineer of the Isthmian Canal, with residence
on the isthmus to take effect at once; MI,
Stevens is now in the service OF the fhiilppallnie
Commission as government expert IN the IooV
miles of Philippine railways about TO pe con-
was to have to-day accompanied Secretary Taft
to the Philippines, but has been transferred TO
the Panama Canal He was until recently VICE
president and general manager of the Rock ISL
and system. formerly chief engineer ano general
manager of the Great Northern Kalwas' anu
has extensive experience In the pToJecuon, con-
struction operation and management OF large
enterprises. ,.,.
canal especially relate to the practicai WORK OF
construction and operation. The technical plans
are 10 be determined by the commission, as q
body, with the advisory international Doaiu oi
engineers recently appointed by the president,
and whose plans as decided from Stage "
stage will be executed on the tsthmus Dy the
cbief engineer With the chief engineer con-
fning himself 70 the actual work OF construco ,
tion and operation and concentrating upon ~ Ine
execution of the plans adopted by the conn.,
mission II is believed that the canai WORK VIII
be more actively prosecuted
CONFIDENCE IN MR. STEVENS.
D1 have the utmost confidence in Mr.. Stevens.
said Chairman Shonts. He is an engineer OF
unouestioned ability. but he is far more-he =
a man with executive capacity OF an eHcepliohai
character What need on the isthmus Is d
leader Of men. a man who knows no" 10 uiiNe'
wba, 10 expect from his subordinates. and how
to enlist their enthusiasm and support man
who will not waste his time figuring out teen
nicaI details. but who will delegate that work
tn the board of expert engineers selected for that
,,,,rpose while he keeps his attention riVeted Oh
the larger end TO be accomplished. That is the
kind of man 1 believe John Stevens to be.
When st was suggested that Mr.. Shonts had
been exceptionally expeditions in making MS Sc
lection. he said:
Perhaps not expeditions as you thlIlk; w mn niie
could not believe that Mr.. Wallace reaiiy con-
temDlatsd throwing up his job. could not counI
on his doing otherwise in the light OF ms caple
TO the Secretary so goL oIsy q, T,an nnder con-
sideration and this is my selection II "as ilos
much trouble to find out stevens ; lec9ru SS S
ouaIifcat tions because Colonel EDWARDS hao
heen investigating them for long tllne, anu
when Edwards does a thing 1t is Wen done 81
vens is the man the Secretary had plckeu oue ~
~ sI1nervise the construction of the railroads III
the Philippines but he was just the man we
needed for this work, and the Secretary aIioWeu
rs 10 take him. I had long talk with nun x in
New-York on Tuesday afternoon Iheh ne leit
for Chicago and promised to let me know ms
decision He arrived there last night ana talked
the matter over with his family and TINS lhoih-
ing he Informed that he would accept:
Won know Stevens is the fellow VINO pulit ule
Rocky Mountain division OF the G5eat NorIheIu
road which understand to be one OF the nnest
nieces of road in the world. He expended pc
tween $50 O0OO 600 and i0O000OO for j. j. HiI
and Mr. Hill has nothing but the highest praise
for him Could you want better testinloIllai
1han that? Stevens is slayer, too. he mas re,
ceiZei several fattering offers since he agreed
to 90 out to the Philippines to take charge OF tne
railroads for Secretary Taft put Would not
listen 10 them.
When asked who likely to be appointed
assistant chief engineer. Mr.. Shonts replied;
don't know That is matter for Stevens TO
decide He will have entire charge or ms sun-
ordinate force. That is my way OF doing busl-
ness pick out my man and ask him Tor re-
srIts / expect him to get them. but IN his own
wav When l ask a man to meet me at the cor
ner Of Wall and Broad SITS, don't care now ne
gets there and I don't presume TO dictate 10
him whether he shall come In a cab or on loot
Tha is what I propose TO do with Stevens. he
&c ia dig that canal with the tools and the men
ne chooses All we will ask Of him Is that ne
shall dig It.