New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-26
WALLACE ON CANAL WORK
Farors zone Man PO1cer or Let
ting Big Contracts.

John f. Wallace. formerly chief engineer of the
Panama Canal. has contributed article to the
March number of THE Engineering Magazine. re-
counting his observations and experience during the
year i'm which he in charge of the construction
work in the canal In this article Mr. wal
lace declares il 10 be his belief that 1T viii require
more time and money TO construct hgh ieVei
canal the S-foot plan, under the present nlethod
OF government control. than IT will to construct 4
sea level canal provided the work is accomplished
by modern efficient business method" He adVo-
! Gates either placing the work In the hands or one
mana practical engneer-with unlimited author
ity. letting the work TO one large contracting
firm. The article says, in part
OF the factors which exercise the greatest deter
rent influence I'm the accomplishment "f satisiac-
tory results under direct goyernmentat eohtrG te
ment OF public funds The official ana tne oSa
Whether after all. the governmental methods Sc
cure greater honesty. or less scandal IN connection
with disbursements, can best be judged ny com
narson Of the history Of the bureaus
enternrises under cerporate management
In modern ordinary affairs. further, the principle
ment audit system. on the contrary. is based upon
the principle of audit after payment The dis. dis
have been made. with the result that this off,
critically every disbursement, going TO the
extent OF practically interpreting the spirit Of the
II should be apparent to every thinking man that
when the work must be conducted 1000 miles away
necessity OF referring all important questions 10
lions on the isthmus unless they are informed by
results NO matter 8 how Honest or ecient the super
ysHs oGa ss may be , may feel pa s2o
ama-my occasional contact with governmental
methods reaching back to service Of i've years as
ments-has convinced me that attempts 70 carry on
ton bureaus. especially when the work is large.
complicated and distant from the seat or govern
ment-are conducive to extravaganza and waste as
TO both time and money.
mental functions on the isthmus should be con
fined exclusively to a general supervision of the
and sanitary regulations may be necessary to
secure the peace and the health of the community
The question of control of the sommissary. the
o tf OF Of Ser ae II anG
mind. for single contracting organization to con
put into the hands of one strong man, with prac-
tically unlimited authority, combining the tech->
nical and scientific training OF the engineer with
the Administrative and executive ability Of man
of all matters connected with this work from the
control of the ordinary government departments
as TO insure the government that his adminstra-
ton is efficient; the result should be ac-
tracing firm large enough control under one
management the entire constructive work on the
isthmus, under broad and general specifications
and under such general supervision as may appear
If the experience had not been so serious should
look back TO my first connection with this enter
smile TO think had been innocent to sup
pose myself able 10 overcome the long settled in
huences heretofore indicated or to impress my in
dvidualty upon the work employ in it the
methods with which had been familiar for years
The useful mess OF any man who might be called in
as an engineer OF demonstrated capacity, to super
wise enterprise of this character is naturally
measured by the extent TO which lie may be per
mitted TO his methods and make available
the result Of his past experience.
To expect that any person who is really qualified
to conduct the work will radically change his meth
DDS which have been the outcome of lifetime of
experience, and adapt himself to moss-grown gov
eminent methods, is to expect the impossible. 1t
demands that a man should be content to ignore
the instincts Of his profession and subject HIM
self the various influences brought TO bear
upon him. drifting along in perfunctory way, sat
isfied draw his compensation. hoping that in
some way other he may be able eventually to
see the work completed or wasting the best years
Of his life in the partial accomplishment OF II.