The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-20
FOR SEA Level.
John F. Wallace, Former Engi-
neer Of Isthmian Canal,
Lays His Views Before the Sem
ate Committee.
EXPENSE WARRANTED
By the Probable Volume of BUSH
ness, He Says.
Believes the Work Should Be
Done by Contract.
WARRANTED

Washington, March 2o.-John T.
Wallace, formerly chief engineer of the
isthmian canal commission, today testi-
fed before the senate committee con-
corning the type OF canal to be con-
structed across the isthmus of Panama.
He was asked to state his views and
prefaced his examination with a gen
eral statement, which in part follows:
Mr.. Wallace, in advocating an a-p-
proMmately straight sea level canal, of
ample width and depth as the best
type, urged that any other plan which
places restrictions upon the probable
permanency of the canal itself as well
as upon the speed and the size and
number of vessels passing through it,
must render the canal far less valu-
able; that the only deterrent factors in
this connection are relative time and
cost and that in approaching the dis
cuSsion the question OF how much
money the American people supposed
~ are willing to invest in the canal and
how much time they are willing to
wait for it's proper accomplishment
should be considered. He said that
judged by the capitalization and divi-
bends now paid upon the stock of the
Suez canal it is apparent that the rates
charged for transit through it are ex-
cessive and that thus a material saving
Assuming that the present tonnage
through Suez, of say ten millions tons
per year would pass through the Pan
ANA canal, even at a dollar a ton there
would be-" he said, "an approximate
income of $10,0O0,OO0, which IS suffi-
cient to Justify an expenditure OF $780,
coo, 900" The latter figure he deemed
ample to construct the sea level canal.
AS to the additional time involved, Mr.
Wallace predicted that upon a basis
"of reasonable energy and the use Of
proper business methods Of admins
tration, sea level canal can be fully
completed in ten, or to be entirely safe,
say twelve years, and lock canal even
If only so feet above sea level, would
require only three years less"
Favors Single Contract.
He reiterated that increased eff
cheney could be secured If the work
were handled by a single contracting
firm, unhampered by government
early completion with possibly utiliza-
ton Of two shifts instead of one shift
Of ten hours.
Mr.. Wallace contended If It was not
too much to hope that the committee
viii decline to recommend any form of
canal which is not capable of being in
the future transformed into a sea level
canal without undue Interference with
the worlds traffic or undue additional
cost; that this fact alone should take
the recOmm endatonS of the minority
of the board of consulting engineers
and the recommendation of the ma
jority Of the isthmian canal commission
out of really serious consideration.
Mr.. Wallace questioned whether
congress would feel justified in endors-
ing the construction Of any dam of
large dim enSions, retaining a head of
water, say 8 5 feet the founda ton of
which does not extend to bedrock or
to some equally imperm eable and re
liable strata.
us It either safe or wise he asked,
Ito authorize the building of dam
II Y miles long to retain a head OF
water Of S5 feet across an alluvial
valley, similar to the valley of the
Chagres at Gstun, in which exists al
ready two subseryice gOrges. one Of
which alone is a thousand feet across
and 240 feet deep, which has evil
IDENTIFY been rehlled with hetro-
geneous mass Of gravel, sand, etc,
brought down by mountain streams. -
With this situation in view, he said
it Is greatly to be feared that the dam
at Gatun proposed by a minority
board of consulting engineers and en-
dorsed by majority Of the isthmian
canal commission, might after some
years be found incapable of with
standing the strain upon it. He point
ed out reasons for apprehension on
this point. and said his remarks on
this subject applied, though in a lesser
degree, to the series of dams and bar
RACES holding back q head of 55 feet
of water which it is proposed by the
minority report to construct across
the auuvial valley Of the Rio Grande
on the Pacific side of the canal If it
is decided to build a lock canal Mr.
Wallace said, then it is to be earnestly
hoped only such form of lock canal
Will be authorized as viii be admissible
in connection with the construction of
a dam at Gamboa, where it is posi-
lively known that the primary rock
foundation exists at no greater depth
than sea level. rather than at Gatun.
/ There is. he said. no urgency that to
his mind would Justify the great risk
Of earth dams at Gatun or La Boca.
Governor Could Do All
Z The army engineers, he said. could
most efficiently supervise the con
/ tractors and all the governments
/ functions. including policing and sani-
/ tatiOn, could easily be performed I'M
/ der the control and direction of the
( governor of the canal zone. Mr.. Wal
/ lace pointed out that in CONSIDERING
4 additional time required for the con
struction of a sea level canal the
4 prompt and efficient utilization Of the
Panama railway is a matter of great
I importance.
Mr.. Wallace said there are two sue-
I gestiors which had been subjected &c
careful review because of criticisms
J passed on them. First. that the railway
should be substituted for the cana
| while the lsftteT is being constructed
IF 50, he said, it should be completely
separated in management and contro