New-York tribune., 1906-06-20
KNOX FOR LOCK CANAL.
STRONG SENATE SPEECH.
Shoes RocLs from Gatun Dam SITE
Trend A7cay from Sea LeUel.
From TIE Tribune Bureau.I J

/ from Tribune Bureaul
Washington, June Ex-senator Knox delivered
a powerful argument in favor of the lock plan
for the Panama Canal in the Senate to-day ana
probably made several converts from among
those who have hitherto favored the sea level
project or who have been undecided. Mr. Knoxs
argument clear cut and convincing, ana
at one point was even dramatic.
Referring to Senator Kfttredge's statement
| that the Gatun dam. the keystone of the lock
canal would have TO be constructed on a mud
foundation, the Senator from Pennsylvania said
that the Senate need not take the word OF ex-
perts. need not act on the judgment of the en-
gineers. but could determine for Itself the KIND
of foundation on which this dam would rest
and he finished his sentence he struck his
desk with a rock cylinder, which. he explained
was the core extracted at the site OF the pro-
posed dam by diamond drill Mr.. Knox ex-
hibited ITO similar specimens, all properly la
belled, and after he had finished his remarks
Senators who gathered about him to extend con-
gratulatons on his forcible speech, examined the
various cores and listened TO Mr.. Knox's
plantations.
Summing up his remarks. Mr.. Knox said that
briefly he was for the lock as opposed to the
sea level canal for the following reasons:
First-That the lock plan offered entirely prac
Cba9res H Rver WHICH me sea level pan did not
would be secured by the lock plan
larger vessels be turned in the level canal,
while this would be entirely practicable in the lock
sufficient width for this purpose.
FourthTha he was not Impressed by the sgpp05 pos
other in the lock canal as lock crews ana station
airy power. which would be provided would minimize
Fifth-That it had been demonstrated by the most
ample and extensive borings that the proposed
locks could all be built on rock foundations. and
that moreover these foundations Of sufficient
n extending the locks to double the
= Sixtb|That every detail Of the lock canal had
been carefully worked out. while no single detail
had been worked out for the sea level plan
greatest saving of time and money, and avoided all
chance of obstacles presented by unexpected gee
Eighth|Because he did not regard possible earth
Ninth-Because the lock canal could be trans
formed into sea level canal at any time while n;e
canal would take care of from 6OOOoOOo TO 100000
tons year which would me meet & EYER re- oa
between the lock and the sea level canal. at com
sUficent to defray the entire converting
the lock canal into a sea level wateIway; ,a no. ho
made large enough 10 accommodate the large ships
Eleventh-Because it had been demonstrated that
every of the lock canal was safe and prac-
cerning the sea level project 1t was all theory,
Twelfth-Beeause the lock canal would afford far
better facilities Of transportation for less tian halr
the expenditure.
Senator Knox began speaking at o'clock
when the Senate chamber was half empty but
as it became known that he was dis
cussing the canal the chamber filed. and he was
listened TO by an attentive audience. The men
who have hitherto favored the level canal
paid him the strictest attention.
The vote on the Kittredge sea level bill will
be taken on Thursday afternoon. and it is still
impossible 10 predict with certainty the result.
The Senate is evenly divided with a half dozen
Senators who insist that they have not yet made
their decisions, but the trend of opinion is
toward the lock plan. and the indications seem
to be that by Thursday this project will COM
mand a majority Of the votes in the Senate.
Should the Kittredge bill be defeated, the Sen
ate will, of course. accept without demurrer the
lock provision which the House placed In the
Sundry Civil bill