Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-02-24
PRESIDENT URGES
LOCK CANAL
Sends Engineers Report TO Congress,
But FavOrs Minority Plan.
SAVES TINE AND MONEY

Washington. Feb. 20. - President
Roosevelt transmitted to congress the
report of the board OF con ulting engi-
neers on the Panama canal, together
with the letter of Secretary Taft, the
report of the Isthmiaa canal commits
sion and letter by Chief Engineer
Stevens. The letter Of the president
ia part is as follows:
ITO the senate anG house OF repre-
senjatives-I submit herewith the let
ter of the secretary of war transmit
ting the report OF the board of con
sulting engineers on the Panama canal
and the report OF the Isthmian canal
commission thereon. together with a
letter written 70 the chairman OF the
isthmian canal commission by Chief
Engineer Stevens. Both the board OF
consulting engineers and the canal
commission di<ide In their report.
"The majority OF the board OF con
sulung engineers. eight in number in
GLIDING the FIVE foreign engineers. IA
vor a sea level canal: and one mem
Der Of the canal commission. Admiral
Endicott takes the same view. Five
Of the eight American members Of the
board Of consulting engineers and five
members Of the Isthmian canal com
mission favor the lock canal. and 50
does Chief Engineer Stevens. The
secretary Of war recommends a lock
canal pursuant to the recommends
tions Of the minority Of the board OF
consulting engineers and OF the ma
jority OF the canal commission. After
careful study Of the papers submitted
and ,ull and Exhaustive consideration
Of the whole subject. I concur in this
recommendation.
"A careful study OF the reports
seems TO establish a strong probability
that the following are the facts: The
sea level canal would be slightly less
exposed 70 damage in the event OF
war. the running expenses. apart from
the heavy cost OF interest on the
amount employed to build 80. would be
less. and for small ships the time OF
transit would probably be less.
ION the other hand. the lock canal
at a level OF so feet or Whereabouts
would not cost much more than half
rs much 20 build and could be built
in about half the time. while there
would be very much less risk connect
ed with building Il. and for large
ships the transit would be quicker
while taking into account the interest
on the amount saved In building. the
actual cost OF maintenance would be
less.
After being built e would be easier
% enlarge the lock canal than the sea
level canal. Moreover. what has been
actually demonstrated in making and
operating the great lock canal. the
500 a more important artery OF tramc
than the great sea level canal. the
Suez goes 10 support the opinion Of
the minority OF tho consulting board
OF engineers and Of the majority Of
the Isthmian canal commission as 10
the s"Derior safety. feasibility and de
STABILITY OF building a lock canal at
Panama.
"The law now on our statute books
seems 20 contemplate a lock canal In
my judgment "a lock canal. as herein
recommended IS advisable If the
congress directs that a sea level canal
be constructed its direction will OF
course be carried out Otherwise the
canal viii Doe built on substantially the
plan for lock canal outlined in the
accompanying papers, such changes
being made OF course. as may be found
actually necessary. including possibly
the change recommended by the secre-
tary OF war. as 60 the site Of the dam
on the Pacific side
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The estimated cost of s247O2I 900
for the sea level canal and 1898. 7O5 200
for the S5-foot level canal. a difference
Of $l070O0000. The Isthmian canal
commission and the chief engineer re-
gard the estimate for the sea level
canal as too low by at least 5000. 900
! for reasons stated in their reports.
To PEOPE oil Ann COAE -pttc-e