The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-06

| pEItth 30 hDbOluItly III -COIiiltt WIN $1,000
experience IL has tried to cloud the trans
formation with imaginary and not existing
II is obvious that II a street has to be doubled
In width and lowered at the same time the
circulation will not be trouble one instant
during the transf2rm9tion' The eaGG dEnloInGi
where II passes actually, When the new way
the previous way is then excavated and paved
at the new level in its turn. 10
This Is the simple system t6 6lct Saeata ny
in the successive depressions Of the summit
S Fssens sss at md hf folI Ss x m ~ tSsy re assF['S and
demonstrated unobjectionable. II the STANDARD
width Of 100 feet necessary for N na Wy fest Or 1s
more for the sea level passage. 1t has been
shown also that the navigation channel
would be contracted II such increase was not
This is true whatever may be the lateral
slopes Of the cut, steep or not steep, =, ,bo
oo hns d1sGu SeS4d, m and G to. s",' found oSi%di at the
bottom OF page s2, Ia. / regret, to say. a BIASED
0ofb.,IIs i d dps sns not xI s}sb51} i clearly 3 Sassd' Oh but T The fact
that the steepness Of the side slopes 70 taken
into account shows that the board had COM
m Widts! tbst e to To s syp i3o a Sy Sl Which
/ had declared to be defective, that l had
reeommended not to adopt. rh,oh ,or
proposition itself, but which does not; when
eiadssf on wat fSstu Gsn b bea said the Of a GdRisS"sslen SO
presented as to suggest that the o6jec-
tons applying to the feature excluded by
i faS Pr94RRS s least "P tRRate can be said Is that
such an obllque manPu vre Is entirely neon
patible with the clear sincerity OF a seiehliho
discussion.
THE CONSULTING BOARD ON THE PROPOSAL
LAID BEFORE THEM TO BUILD a LOCK-
LESS WATERWAY: THE STRAIT OF
PANAMA.
It is surprising that the consulting board
in its discussion OF the system | proposed
has remained silent on the imp88rthnt cnapt6er
mitted to them and, had provoked so much
public attention and discussion.
The reason for this silence seems TO De s' ear
objections formulated by the board against
the transformation are based on the unex;;
RR fiSSsfSsd rdSS di9lSBe e Kept shs for the The f hieh level sSefq lock
canal and for the sea level passage contrary
to my. proposition, it would not nave peen
| possible to keep these objections on their rect
with such an obvious increase or width as
that Of 1850, feet to 500 feet.
that the dirqoulties pointed out for the transit,
to apply TO any conditions OF transformation,
are really vanishing with such an increase OF
width. it would have been necessary 70 state
frankly that the fxatlon Of the sea Level chan
mel at 800 feet or more Liberated entirely the
tIdISlt uliy
II The maintenance Of the cloud Of difficulties
Of OF a BIZ biassed discussion, and The most Important
| part OF the project submitted to, the board
was left out OF Consideration, for the purpose
Of keeping the cloud. In its place, in order TO
lead everybody TO think Of the transforms
ton as Of something loaded with dangers
Outside Of the imaginary interference with
trafic the other objections are without
u do not want to extend this already too
cong letter. However. 1 wish TO state that l
dhallenge any one TO prove. With the appen-
diees OF the report in hand. before unPreJu-
/. That the transformation requires greater
loekages than would be needed withlocks made
without the idea of transformation IN view.
2. That the upstream. gates Of the upper
locks will present special difficulties OF opera
tlon. This is dism 1ITsS T. by the tn io very s,m PIE
downstream gates, of the same locks as will
be projected without any idea of trans
5, That, there, will be any, SUSPENSION Of
whether isolated or in flight, during all the
fact would require an explanation which !
did not give because / thought the most
ordinary engineers would see at once how
4. That the work of constructing the locks
with the same dimensions as those OF the
years. This can be established by the figures
Of the minority report. II the difference in the
amount of excavation between the sites
indicated and that of the Gatun site is con-
sidered. pages PAS and 81 OF the report.)
OPINION OF THE CONSULTING ENoINEER OF
II suEz CANAL ABOUT H SUPPOSED
DIFFICULTIES AND COST OF THE
TRANSFORMATION
The objections raised against the principle
of Transformation on the grounds of a sup
posed cost which is erroneous and of sup
been Judged in the following way by Mr.
Quellennec, consulting engineer Of the Suez
Canal. page 1850 of the report):
| think also that the transformation of a high
operation and not presenting great difficulties II
certain measures are taken az the time OF con
position Of the upstream gates. l think also that
such a TRANSFORMATION can be made at less cost
Lock Canal Committee for such transformation; =
To conclude. ! prefer a sea ievel canal and I
temporary one, and so constructed that II may
be easily turned into a sea level canal.
This expression of scient life views covers
and ratlhes the whole principle which l have
It il in strict conformity with the modern
principles OF enllghtened engineering which
mentarily.
THESE ERRONEOUS AND MlsLFAD ING RsTI-
MATES OF THE TRANSFORMATIONS CANNOT
BE SHELTERED AGAINST THE JUDG-
MINT OF A NEAR FUTURE.
The obviously wllful neglect of the knowl-
edge acquired now Of the real cost Of sub
aqueous rock extraction, the production,
without stating their limits. Of objections
which would apply only to this kind of trans
formation. which would aim at a narrow sea
level channel less than 800, feet in width, has
been probably deemed a dangerous fact for
a near future by those who use such argu-
ments In this great debate.
In order to avoid the severity OF the judy
ment Of the scientific world in a short space
Of time, the recommended ion not to adopt the
principle of transformation is follow ed by
these lines (page,4iS OF the report:
1t is believed that in the future meth DDS and
appliances for, the work required for depressing
the canal will be improved TO such an extent as 70
greatly diminish the cost and time OF the transfer
nation.
The positiveness OF this assertion estab-
fishes that these methods and appliances
have not to be discovered. They exist now,
but the consulting board has decided, with
the exception Of Mr.. Quellennec, to disregard
them. II is a poor shelter that such a reserve
affords in view of the minuteness of the de-
scription of the methods made (pages 224 and
following OF the report.
THE INSTABILITY OF Ii HUGE oATUN JAM.
II I have a right Of appeal in what concerns
the unjusJlfable trial to which my propo-
aition has been submitted, It might seem I'M
proper TO throw any criticism on another
proposition.
However, ]. am bound to decline any re-
sponsibility for the employment that has
been mada In the erect ion of the huge Gntun