The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-16
ROOSEVELT IN A HURRY
Urges the Canal Commission to Ex-
pedite the Work.

Washington, Sept. 16.-President
Roosevelt is urging, in the strongest
terms, the necessity for a plan for the
construction of the Panama canal
which may be accomplished IN the
shortest possible time. In his recent
remarks to the consulting engineers
| re said many things which are re.
garded as of the utmost Importance.
| These remarks have just been trans
| cribed and transmitted to the board
here and General Davis, its chairman
has been authorized to make them
public. The president said: What !
am about to say must be considered
| in the light of suggestion, not as di-
rection 1 have named you because
in my judgment you are especially
fitted to serve as advisors in planning
| the greatest engineering work the
world has yet seen; and / expect you
| to advise me, not what you think !
want to hear, but what you think l
ought to hear. There are two or three
considerations which L trust you VIII
steadily keep before your minds IN
coming to a conclusion as TO the
proper type of canal.
II hope that ultimately 1t Will prove
possible to build sea level canal Sucn
canal would undoubtedly be best IN
the end. if 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 perfectib1lity OF
the ScnGl1lo lIOIll dIl cIlSllCCl . StoAN
point, remember the need of having a
plan which shall provide for the imme-
date building of a canal on the snort
est possible time. If to build sea lever
canal will but slightly increase the RISK
then of course it is preferable But IL 10
adopt a plan of a sea level canal means
to incur hazard and to ensure indehnlte
delay, then it is not preferable. II the
( advantages and disadvantages are close
| w balanced I expect you to say SO.
desire also to know whether If you
recommend a high level multi-lock
canal it will be possible after it is com
| Melted to turn it into or TO SUBSTITUTE
| for it, in time sea leevl canal Wienous
interrunting the traffic upon it. Two of
| the prime considerations to be kept
steadily in mind are: One, the utmost
practical speed of construction Two,
practical certainty that the plan pro-
nosed will be feasible, that 1t can De
| carried out with the minimum risk.
1.-THE quantity of work ana the
auount of work should be minimized
as far as possible. There may be GOOD
reason why the delay lncIdenL 70 lLS
adontion of ia plan for an ideal canal
should be incurred; but If there is not,
then hope to see the canal construct
ed on a system which will bring 10 the
nearest possible date In the future tne
time when it is practicable to take the
first ship across the 1sthmus; that is,
which will in the shortest time possible
secure a Panama waterway oetWeeh
the oceans of such character as 10
guarantee permanent and ample COM
1nunication for the greatest ships OF
our navy and for the largest steamers
on either the Atlantic or the Pacific.
The delay in transit of the vessels
owing to additional locks would be OF
sv-,a1I consequence when compared with
Shortening the time for the construction
If fT1e canal or diminishing the risks in
it's construction ...s4 -,
I'm short I desire your best Juogment on
o11 fhe Various questions to be considered
in choosing among the various plans for
~ go. = lower level with fewer locks. and
FOR q sea level level canal. Finally, urge
Inon YOU the necessity OF as great ex-
ccoonmpatable with thoroughness in consider
ing the conditions