Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-20
AND BE BEST IN THE END
Work Should be Done by a Single Con-
tracing Firm, UnhampeTed by
Government Methods.
DOUBTS FEASIBILITY OF BIG DAM
Might be Incapable of With
standing Strain.
STATEMENT SENATE COMMITTEE
I.oolaled Press Dispatch Dv Special wire.

Annotated Press Disnatch ov Special wires
Washington, March Following is
an abstract of statement of John L. Wal
lace former chief engineer of the Panama
Canal Commission, before the Senate
eommittee on interoceanic canals. today:
Mr.. Wallace, in advOcation Of an APP
nroximately straight, sea-level canal. Of
ample width and depth, as the best type,
urged that any other plan which places
restrictions upon the probable pcrma-
nencv of the canal itself, as well as upon
the speed and the size and number OF YES
sells passing through it, must render the
canal far less valuable; that the only de-
terrent factors in this connection are rela-
tive time and cost, and that in approach
ing the discussion the question Of how
much money the American people sup
posedly are willing to invest in the canal
and how much time they are willing to
wait for its proper accomplishment
should be considered. He said that,
Judged by the cap til "a ion and dividends
now paid upon the stock of the Suez Canal
it is apparent that the rates charged for
transit through it are excessive, and that
a material saving would be offered COM
merce by the Panama route.
Assuming that the present tonnage
through Suez of. say, 100000 tons per
year would pass through the Panama
Canal. at a dollar a ton there would be.
he said. 'an approximate income of SlO.-
OOOOOO which is sufficient to Justify an
expenditure of $500, 600 600. The latter
figure he deemed ample to construct the
sea-level canal As to the additional
time involved Mr.. Wallace predicted that
Of Ir. "
the use Of proper business methods OF ad.
ministration, sea level canal can be
fully completed in 10, or to be entirely
safe say ? years. and a lock canal, ever
II only 90 feet above sea level would re
Quire only three years less He reiter
sted that increased efficiency could bs
secured if the work were handled by q
sirge contracting firm. unhampered by
government methods and with every in
centive to early completion, with possibl,
utilization Of two shifts, instead OF onl
shift Of 10 hours.
Mr. Wallace questioned whether Con.
gress would feel justi ied in endorsing the
construction Of any dam OF large dimen
sions, retaining a head of water of say
S5 feet, the foundation of which does nol
extend TO bedrock or to some equal,
impermeable and reliable strata.
as it either safe OF wise" he asked, "t,
authorize the building Of a dam l y mile
long TO retain a head of water of S5 fee
across an alluvial valley, similar to tn
valley Of the Chagres at Gatun, in whicl
exist already two sub-service gorges, on
Of which alone is 1000 feet across ant
240 feet deep, which has evidently bee
rehled with a heterogeneous mass o
gravel, sand, &c. brought down b
mountain streams p" With this situa
ton in view, he said, It is greatly to B
faered that the dam at Gatun propose
by a minority of the Board of Consultin
Engineers and endorsed by a majority
the lsthmian Canal Commission, migl
after some years be found incapable ,
Withstanding the strain upon il. Il
pointed out reasons for apprehension {
this point to a series of dams and ba
RACES holding back "a head Of 80 feet
water which it is proposed by the mino
ity report TO construct across the alluvi
valley Of the Rio Grande on the Pact
side OF the conal. If il is decided to bui
lock canal, Mr.. Wallace said then it
10 be earnestly hoped only such form
lock canal will be authorized as will
admissible in connection with the co
struction of a dam at Gamboa. where
IS positively known that the primary 10
foundation exists at no greater dep
than sea level, rather than at Gatun,