New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-06
PLEADS FOR "STRAITS.'
Bunau-Varilla appeals to President
for His Canal Plan.

Philippe Bunau-Varilla, formerly chief engineer
OF the French Panama Canal Company has adj
dressed to the President an open letter In which
he declares that the conclusions the Information
al Consulting Board the Panama Canal are in
vital places erroneous and misleading. He defends
his own proposed plans. NJ Bunau- Varilla explains
his letter Of some four thousand words to Presi-
dent Roosevelt in these words:
Before leaving for France next week | COM
appeal from President Roosevelt badly informed
10 PRESIDENT Roosevelt better informed and this
nigh duty am discharging publicly now.
After referring to the rejection of his project
by the International Consulting Board. he says Of
his plan:
1t was based on the principle of reducing TO the
minimum the excavation in the dry. which offers
TO It's maximum the excavation by floating dredges
which disposes of all the isthmian difficulties. does
the wonderful qualities Of power and cheapness II
be made in deep body OF water close to the point
of extraction
1 profess for several members of the Interna.
tional Consulting Board personal sentiments of
friendship, but this cannot prevent me from de-
spired its Studies
tics and partisan spirit excludes the scientific
spirit of experimental induction.
Speaking of what he terms 1.-The unexplainable
silence Of the report of the consulting board on
the proposal laid down before them OF building a
lockess waterway, the writer says
Il, 1t surprises that the consulting board in Its
silent on the chaper Of the Of
Panama, which was submitted to them and had
The reason of this Silence seems to be clear, in
view Of what has just been stated. As the objec-
lions formulated by the board against the trans
ITO are based on the d ION
the high level lock canal T and for the sea level
passage contrary to my proposition It would not
feet with such obvious Increase OF width as
that of $50 feet to 500 feet,
-0nlH haap IN
the. difficulties pointed out for the transit. and
to any 10 conditions of transformation. are really
vanished with such an Increase of width. 1t would
fxation Of the sea level channel at 800 feet or
more liberated entirely tho transit from any inter
1 challenge to sustain with the appendices Of the
report In hand before unpre1udiced and competent
First-That the transformation requires greater
the idea Of transformation in view '''s' ''''O
second.That the upstream gates Of the upper
This is dismissed BY, the very simple reason that
ThiFd-That there viii be any suspension Of pas
lated or In flight. during all the transformation If
explanation. which I did not give because I
thought the most ordinary engineers would see at
Fourth-That the time of constructing the locks.
with the same dimensions as those of the minority
be established by the figures of the minority re-
'as the sts caed and that at OF th
tun site IS considered.
The engineer diplomat ends his letter follows:
In defending this solution, which results from
the experience I acquired at the head of the works
of the old Panama Company. the solution of what
has been called for centuries the mystery of the
Isthmus; in promoting the realization for the ben
eht of the United States and OF the world Of an
artificial Bosporus between North and South
America, yesterday a dream, to-day a reality,
serve also great moral interest now common to
America and France. as my countrymen have al
DIV rVad mil az he tUyn Ofh
landmarks OF the history of the United States the
War OF Independence and the purchase OF Louisi-
I remain thus faithful to the political and
scientific traditions Of the two great republics OF
the old and OF the world.