The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1905-03-08
TEN YEAR Or TWENTY YEAR
CANAL.
Pittsburg Post.


When the American people I'M
dertake any enterprise of public
character, the bent of their judg-
ment is that it shall be of the best.
regardless of cost, but they cannot
80 manage matters that it shall be
regardless of delay. That enters
the question as au insurmountableI
obstacle. There is division of
opinion as to the Panama canal
whether it shall be a sea-level
canal, at an expense of $3.50, OO0,-
600, to be completed in ten or
twenty years. A more moderate
proposition is that for canal sixty
feet above the sea level, which
will cost S179,OOO,OOO. or some
fifty-two millions less than canal
at sea level. On this difference ss
to cost opinion halts. AS to the
question. which is most important
consideration, when the canal can
be completed, the first estimates
of sea.level canal is that it would
require ten years; but it is now
oontended by the engineers who
are trusted with the plans and the
work that by the use of improved
machinery and by the employment
of methods used in the construo-
ton of the Chicago drainage canal,
which will be practicable on the
isthmus, a sea-level can be con-
structed at Panama in ten years,
instead of fifteen or twenty. A
saving of five years in the time of
construction is the all-important
requisite with the Western and
Southern people. who are esger
for the canal but, regardless of cost,
are not willing to wait for it until
the half or third of a generation
passes. The difference in time
will make the people more easily
satisfied with a sea-level route,
which is of course the most desirs-
bic on a commercial basis. 1t has
been admitted from the start that
it would be preferable, even With
the admitted increased expendi-
ture of fifty two millions of dc liars,
which will not count for as much
as it formerly did in American
finance.
The E-.-oh and tho aarlp A mari
can engineers decided against such
a canal, on the sea-leveI basis, on
the ground of the difficulties in
construction, and of course the
greatly increased cost. But later
American engineers have simL IL
fed this problem by lowering the
cost and shortening the time of
construction. No looks will be
requisite for the canal under the
new plans, except the two that are
made necessary by the difference
in tidal range between the Atlantic
and the Pacific.
1t may be that as the work pro-
ceeds the engineers may come to
the conclusion that q sea-level
canal can be constructed in five
years, instead of ten. So much
the better, but it suggests doubt
full proposition. The work of ex-
cavation is simply enormous, far
beyond that of any enterprise ever
attempted in the history of the
world American enterprise and
ingenuity go for great deal, but
they cannot level great mountains
or fill up enormous excavations.
The American people, with the
great expenditure they are under
taking, want a canal across the
isthmus not in fifteen or twenty
years, but in five or, at the utmost,
ten years. Such canal is in fact
needed now. and the shorter time
will prevail with. the sea-level
enterprise. The question of ex-
pense. The American people,
enterprise and ingenuity will en-
gage in a contest against time in
this great enterprise, and with un-
expected and unknown facilities
for beating Father Time" will
win the battle and the memorable
achievement. They will know no
such word as fail. especially as it
is to be the most memorable
achievement in the history of the
world.
IN Gaf1rdov Ioaf ebo,kI. H.