The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-17

ted the plan to the chairman Of tho
commission, Mr.. Shonts, who went
carefully over it with Mr. Rogers, the
legal adviser OF the commission. to
see that all legal difficulties were met.
He then submitted copies Of the plan
to both Secretary Taft and myself.
Secretary Taft submitted it to some
Of the best counsel at the New York
bar, and afterwards 1 went over 1t
very carefully with Mr. Taft and Mr..
Shonts, and We laid the plan In its
general features before Mr. Root. NY
conclusion is that it combines the
maximum Of advantage with the mini
mum Of disadvantage. Under 1t a
premium will be put upon the speedy
and economical construction of the
canal. and a penalty imposed on delay
and waste. The plan as promulgated
is tentative; doubtless it will have to
be changed in some respects before
We can come to a satisfactory agree
ment with responsible contractors
perhaps even after the bids nave been
received; and of course it Is possible
that we can not come to an agree
ment, in which case the government
will do the work itself Meanwhile
the work on the Isthmus is progress
ing steadily and without any let-up.
For One Commissioner.
A seven-headed commission is Of
course a clumsy executive instrument.
We should have but one commissioner,
with such heads of departments and
other officers under 1im as We find
necessary. We should be expressly
permitted to employ the best engin-
GERS in the country as consulting en-
gineers.
l accompany this paper with a map
showing substantially what the canal
the Culebra cut has been made and
the dams built (f they are built as at
present prOposedD there will then be
at both tine Pacific and Atlantic ends
Of the canal, two great fresh-water
lakes, connected by a broad channel
running at the bottom Of a ravine,
across the backbone of the western
hemisphere. Those best informed be-
lieve that the work will be completed
in about eight years; but it is never
safe to phorhesy about such a work
as this, especially in the tropics.
1 anne informed that representatives
Of the commercial clubs of four cities
Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati and st.
Louis-the membership of which in
cludes most of the leading business
men of those cities, expect to visit the
Isthmus for the purpose of examin-
ing the work Of construction of the
canal. l am glad to hear it, and shall
direct that every facility be given them
to see all that is to be seen in ths
work which the government Is doing.
Such interest as a visit like this would
indicate will have a good effect upon
the men who are doing the work. On
one hand, while on the other hand it
will offer as witnesses Of the exact
conditions men whose experience as
business men and whose impartiality
will make the result Of their observa-
tions of value to the country as a
whole.
Predict Success.
OF the success of the enterprise 7
am as well convinced as one can be
of any enterprise that is human. 1t is
stupendous work upon which our
there on the Isthmus, and while we
should hold them to a strict account
ability for the way in which they per-
form it, we should yet recognize, with
frank generosity. the epic nature Of
the task on which they are engaged
and it's world wide Importance. They
are doing something which will re-
dound UNNECESSARILY to the credit of
America, which will benefit all the
world, and which will last for ages
to come Under Mr.. Shonts and Mr..
Stevens and Doctor Gorgas this work
has started with every omen of good
fortune. They and their worthy asso-
ciates, from the highest to the lowest,
are entitled to the same credit that
we would give to the picked men of a
victorious army; for this conquest of
peace will, in it's great and far-reach-
ing effect, stand as among the very
greatest cOnquests, whether of peace
or of war, which have ever been won
by any of the peoples of mankind.
A badge is to be given to every Ameri-
can citizen who for a specified time
has taken part in this work; for par
ticipation in it will hereafter be held
to reflect honor upon the man particle
pating just as it reflects honor upoc
a soldier to have belonged to a mighty
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