Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-20
FlvoHs THE SEA LEVEL TYPE.
Cast More and Take About Three
Years Longer to Con-
% StruCt. .zs.&a&
pe,,.ves Best Would be to Let the
Work to Single Contractor un-
der Proper Supervision.

w
wallace, formerly chief engineer Oh
,ha is,hmlan canal commission, To-Day
,..,iaed before the senate committee
concerning the type of canal to be con-
.,rpcted across the isthmus of Panama.
IA was asked to state his views and
rrefaced his examination with gem
s,al statement, which in part, follows
SEA LEVEL FAVORED.
Mr. wallace, In advocating an APP
proximately straight sea level canal OF
annie width and depth. as the best
TYNE, urged that any other plan which
nlaces restrictions upon the probable
rermarency OF the canal itself as well
as upon the speed and the size and
number OF vessels passing through
II must render the canal far less yalu-
able. that the deterrent factors IN this
connection are relative time and cost,
and that IN approaching the discus
sion the question of how much money
the American people supposedly are
willing 10 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
Capitalization and dividends now paid
upon the stock OF the SueZ canal, II Is
apparent that the rates charged for
transit through II are excessive. and
that thus q material saving would be
offered commerce by the Panama
route.
PROBABLE INCOME.
Assuming that the present tonnage
throughout Suez of say l0,000000 tons
per year, would pass through the Pana.
ma canal even AT dollar a ton, there
would be- he said. IAN approximate in
come Of tl0,O00000. which IL sufficient
To justify an expenditure OF $500 900 ,000
The latter figure he deemed ample to
construct the sea level canal. As to the
additional time involved, Mr.. Wallace
predicted that upon basis ''of reason.
able energy and the use of proper bust
ness methods OF administration, sea
level canal can be fully completed In
10, or to be entirely safe, say II years,
ad lock canal. even II only 60 feet
above sea level would require only
three years less
WOULD CONTRACT WORK.
He reiterated that increased efIicien-
cy could be secured 10 the work were
handled by single contracting firm.
unhampered by government methods
and With every incentive TO early COM
pletlon with possibly utilization of two
SHIFTS instead Of one SHIFT of 10 hours.
Mr. Wallace contended II It was nor
700 much TO hope thai the committee
VIII decline to recommend any form of
cana which is not capable of being In
me future transform ed into ises
ENel canal without undue interference
WIN the worlds traffic or undue add-
llohal cost that this fact alone should
lake the recommendation of the mi
horlty Of the board Of consulting engi-
neers and the recommendations of the
majority OF the isthmian canal COM
mission out Of really serious considera-
ton.
QUESTION OF DAMS.
Mr. Wallace questioned whether Con-
tess would feel justified In endorsing
uie construction OF any dam OF large
dimensions, retaining head of water,
KY 70 Ieet, the foundation Of which
aoss nor extend to bedrock or to some
equally reliable strata.
is II either safe or wise" he asked
t''NN i"N hti' bullllilR vi "A uhlll,
une-hat mile long. to retain a head
OF water OF IS feet across an alluvial
Nshey' similar to the valley of the
.nagies at Gatun, In which exists al
ieady Two subservice gorges, one of
when alone is a thousand feet across
sud Eio feet deep, which has evidently
usen rehlled with Heterogeneous mass
SaVel sand, etc, brought down by
mountain streams?"
4, WIN ms situation In view, he said
greatly to be feared that the dam
N''uh proposed by minority board
~, consulting engineers and endorsed
w majority Of the isthmian canal
,,uhinlslon, might after some years. be
IouIid incapable OF wlthstandng the
stlail upon 1t. lie pointed Out rea-
sunS ior apprehension on this point, and
, ,lu MS remarks ON this subject an
pisu though IN lesser degree. TO tho,
,elleS ot dams and barrages holding
D'cN q mead Of s. feet of water which
proposed by the minority report
~ .ohsiruct across the aluvial valley
~ We tio Grande on the Pacific side
AS TO FORM OF LOCK CANAL
.R i Is decided to build a lock canal
pseu,' %ltl'e satu' then 1t Is to he ear
'y hoped only such form OF lock
,anal WIZ be authorized as will he
,,".sslole IN connection with the con-
ol'oh OF dam at Gamboa whore
20 ppSltlNely known that tho prima-
Iock foundation exists at no great
Cepth than sea level, rather than
pa'ln. There is, he said. no ur-
h"y thi to his mind would Justify
~ s,'W risk OF earth dams AZ Gatun
an, - bo'a, the army engineers he said
r yu'a lhost efficiently supervise the con-
,,@o.or and All the governmental flnc-
.o,,,, including policing, and sanitation
.l easily be- performed under Tho
,tlol and direction OF tho govern
MINT or canal zone.
"a wallace pointed ont that I'm con-
no us additional time required for
construction Of a sea level canal
=. prompt and efficient utilization of
b.. shama railroad Is a matter OF
rea' Importance. "'''' VI
PANAMA RAILROAD.
.,,,. wallace said there are two sux-
a,os'hhe which had been subjected To
,,l reVioW because of crI,icism,,
go on them. First, that Inc rail.
M t hnould be substituted for the on.
ne mo latter Is being constructed.
nv SAID u should be cnmnIa,el,.
'a IN management and control