The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-17
SENATE COMMITTEE
Continued from mage One.

/
IAN earth dam on an alluvial base
| as proposed by the minority might be
! assured IL the earthquake passed the
| locality and II a crack In the dam or
| its base should open the dam would
go out, the lock drain and the canal
| be ruined.
UP TO CONGRESS.
After reviewing the legislation and
| the message of the president on the
subject OF the canal, the report says
that IL is due to the executive branch
OF the government that the uncer-
tainties confronting the president as
TO his powers in the premises be set
tied and disposed of affirmsiively once
and for all, by the only national au-
thority competent to pass upon the
questionable national Legislature.
The division among experts as 20
the best types of canal is treated by
the report which says that the con-
| clusion has been reached that the
| following propositions are irrefutable:
That the ideal canal is one at sea-
| level: that its construction would he
| attended with no more. and probably
| with less havard han one with locks
and dame on doubtful foundations; that
| the sea-level canal is safer and more
| convenient than one with locks; that
| II would take but little longer time
| TO build: that Il is the simpler and the
more economical In operation ana
| maintenance.
The ma iority report concludes that the
sea level canal would not require more
than two or three years more than the
lock type.
RISK SMADE LIGHT.
| Risks encountered in the operation OF
the sea-level canal are made light of
| by the report, which says that when
the Chagres is subdued and controlled and
the sea-level canal made its use will be
| attended by no more risk than equal SAIL
| ing distance in the oceans. The report
asserts that ships OF all classes could be
passed through the ea level canal In eight
hours and that half that time would be
consumed in passing ships through locks
| alone. The cost OF annual maintenance
| is estimated at 81. $4,000 for the sea-level
| and 81 $50. 00o for the lock type.
Discussing the advantage Of the sea-
| level canal TO the country controlling II
| in time OF war, tine report says:
"If free from all obritacles to qlMck tran
! SIT. 100 warships OF average size, moving
| in one direction, route clear could be
| passed from ocean 10 ocean In less than
| a day.
"Al naval commanders and CONNER
cial matters of the great national and pr-
| vate vessels of the world are almost TO a
man opposed unalterably TO the introduc-
| tion OF any lock TO lift vessels of the low
| move"
ENEMY COULD DESTROY.
| The majority argues that an enemy
| could destroy a lock canal much easier
| than a sea-level canal. AS estimated by
| the majority the cost of sea-level canal
li-be s2f6-e7 eee ,aea-wit4ie .-eest-oA-the
| lock canal is regarded as uncertain
The minority of the board of consulting
| engineers estimated the cost at Sl39, ,705 200
and to this the majority says should be
| added the interest on the extra cost of
| maintenance. the expenses of clearing the
| titles TO the 11s,O00 acres OF land that
would be submerged by the central lake
| proposed by the lock plan, which ii Is
estimated would make the total cost AT
least slso,0oO0O0.
The cost OF transforming the lock plan
| into sea-level canal, after the former
Is completed is estimated at 5000. .O000 900.
| In conclusion the majority says: your
! committee feels entirely confident that the
! board OF consulting engineers selected &c
| study this problem has submitted a plar
that responds in every respect 10 the con.
dittons stated above, and that the sea.
level canal can be realized in 10 or L
years at cost Of not 10 exceed SCI. 600 On
above that required for the construction
Of the multi-lock canal proposed by IN,
minority"
The minority report OF the committe,
favoring the lock type OF canal. proposed
by the minority Of the board OF consult
ing engineers, will be made public earl,
| next week