West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-04-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
The Panama Canal Commission Get
ting Down 10 Business at Last.
WILL MAKE THE DIRT FLY.
Tho Republican Leaders Arc wOrri-
cd ovor Treasury D'fot Which
Is Rapidly Increasing,
ILL MAKE THE DIRT FLY.
From Our Regular Correspondent

From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, DC, Apr.I7, 1905.
Despite the unfortunate differences
between the two parties in Congress
over the initiation of the Panama
canal, that great enterprise may now
be said TO have passed from the
realm of politics and to be regarded
as a national undertaking regarded
by all patriotic Americans with int
crest and hope. This fact was
clearly illustrated during the Pres
idents recent visit to Texas where
he was assured that, despite the fact
that Senators from Texas had felt
it their duty to oppose the raufca-
ton OF the Panama treaty, the peo-
pie of Texas were heartily in favor
of its construction and wished him
all success in the conduct of great
enterprise. The reorganization Of
| VIC Sdhal NblhlulaolOu HAS DCGn
achieved and the new organization
is getting to work with commendible
promptness. 1t has already an
nounced its intention of making all
of its transactions pnblic, SO that
nothing il does may be regarded as
underhanded and this alone is cal
culated to inspire confidence. A
system of individual responsibility,
which is in thorough accord with
the general sentiments OF the Amer
ican people and which has always
produced the most satisfactory
results in private enterprises, has
been adopted and hereafter when
anything goes wrong, as some things
are certain to do, the public will
know, as will the President, Just
where rests the responsibility, on
whom rests the blame il any there
is.
Chief Engineer Wallace, who
attracted the favorable notice of the
Congressional delegation wh c h
visited the isthmus and who enjoys
the utmost confidence of the Pres
ident and of his colleague, will lave
direct charge Of the construction of
the canal and will avail himself of
the abilities of the other engineers
on the Commission as he may see
fit. The great problem of con.
structing a lock canal or a sea level
canal remains to be settled and it is
not likely TO be solved at once, but
this means no delay In the work
Mr.. Wallace has informed the Com
mission that there is no occasion to
attempt TO settle this problem at
present. There is a great excava-
ton 20 be made in any event; that
is the first thing 70 be done and he
suggests that the Commission
continue to "dig" with all possible
energy. AS the work progresses the
question Of solid foundations on
which to place the proposed locks
will solve ITSELF as the surfaces on
which the lock.canal plans call for
lock foundations arc exposed.
Moreover, the Commission believes
that il lacks the authority to make
so radical a change in the design OF
the canal without the approval of
Congress. II, as the work progres.
ses, it seems best to dispense with
locks altogether and construct sea
level canal, recommendations IN
accordance with the facts will be
made to Congress and full authority
will doubtless be given the Commits
sion TO adopt the most feasible
plan.
The first work undertaken will be
the excavation Of what is known as
the Culebrs cut This cannot pro.
ceed very rapidly for the reason
that the work will necessarily be
cramped, and more so as the work
progresses. The disposal Of the
great amount Of material winch
must be taken out will Of itself
present serious problem and when
a certain number Of men and a
certain number Of excsvsting ma
chimes have been placed in operation
further increase will be rendered i'm.
! practible. The present plans call for
a ninety foot canal and the Com.
mission does not expect to deviate
from this specification.
With regard to the cost, Engineer
| Wallace reports that it will doubt
less be less than was at first esuma.
ted, whatever form Of canal i,
constructed. The lock canal will
cost considerably less than the
| stro,ooo, 900 estimated, and ever
the sea level canal can be con
] structed for comparatively small