The Ordway new era., 1905-09-22
EXPEDITE The CANAL
paEsloENT 70 pANAaA DoARn.
Urges Necessity Of . Plan u csNstruod
tion-Wants oea levsl Canal
" FeasIbls90ut Wishes
Prompt Action.

Washington, Sept. -PreaiAenA
Roosevelt is urging in the strongest
terms the necessity for plan for the
construction Of the Panama eanap
which may be accomplished in thd
shortest possible time. In his recent
remarks to the consulting board 0C
engineers of the isthmian canal COM
mission he said many things which ar0'
regarded as OF the utmost Importance
in that connection. These remarks
have Just been Transcribed and trans
mitted to the board here. and General
Davis. its chairman. has been author
lied to make them public.
The President said:
"First-The utmost practical speed
OF construction.
"Second-Practical certainty that
the plan proposed will be feasible. that
1t can be carried out with the mimi
mum risk.
.'The quantity of work and tho
amount of work should be minimize4
SO far as possible.
There may be good reason why the
delay incident to the adoption OF q plan
for an ideal canal should be incurred;
but II there Is not, then hope to- So9
the canal constructed ON . system
which will bring to the nearest p009l.
BILE date in the future the time when It
Is practicable to take the first ship
across the isthmus: that IL, which will
In the shortest possible time secure q
Panama waterway between the oceans
OF such n character as to guarantee
permanent and ample communication
for the greatest ships Of our navy and
for the largest steamers on either tho
Atlantic or the Pacific. The delay in
transit of the vessels. owing to addi-
tlonal locks. would be OF small conse-
quence when compared with shorten
Ing the time for the construction OF
the canal or diminishing the risks In
Its construction.
In short, / desire your best judg-
ment on all the various questions TO b0
considered in choosing among the var
ious plans for q comparatively high
level muiti-lock canal. for q lower level
with fewer locks. and for a sea level
canal. Finally. I urge upon you the
necessity OF as great expedition In
coming to a decision as 10 compatible
with thoroughness in considering the
conditions.
What I am about to say must be
considered in the light OF suggestion,
not rs direction. have named you be
cause, In my judgment, you are espe-
cially fitted to serve as advisers In
planning the greatest engineering work
the world has yet seen: and I expect
you to advise me. not what you think
want to hear. but what you think
ought to hear. NJ
There are two or three considera>
tions which trust you will steadily
keep before your minds in coming to
conclusion rs to the proper type OF
canal. l hope that ultimately It will
prove possible to build a sen level ca
nal. Such a canal would undoubtedly
be best in the end. II feasible: and
feel that one OF the chief advantages
Of the Panama route Is that ultimately
a sea level canal will be a possibility.
But while paying due heed to the ideal
perfectibility of the scheme from an.
engineers standpoint, remember the
need of having plan which shall pro
vide for the immediate building Of .
canal on the safest terms and in the
shortest possible time.
.'If to build q sea level canal will but
slightly increase the risk, then. Ok
course. 1t is preferable. But Il to
adopt a plan OF a sea level canal meAn9
to incur hazard and to insure inden-
mite delay. then 1t 10 not prefer able.
II the advantages and disadvantages
are closely balanced, expect You to
say 80. desire. also, to know
whether, II you recommend q high
level multi-lock canal. 1t will be pos
sible, after It is completed. to turn It
into or substitute for It, In time, n sea-
level canal, without interrupting the