New-York tribune., 1906-06-11

Where sre the reports OF the borings showing the
nature OF the material that perimeter?
Where the cross sections showing the thick
ness OF The proposed banks OF this hypothetical
lae7
TO attempt % establish the canal on this plan
without having this indispensable data is be
thought OF. Surely Congress viii not adopt such
plan without having fun ana decisive information
On these absolutely vital points.
Congress and the people are entitled TO the most
conclusive proof these points Why has this
whole phase OF the case been entirely ignored?
Maybe the building OF the great dam al Gatun
wouldn't form 6 lake. after all: then what? If 1t
6id form lake maybe the enormous pressure of
water would break through the perineter OF that
lake IN q dozen. hundred. different places who
knoEB7 Maybe after building the great dam a
Gatun they would have build thirty or forty
niles OF other DAMS dikes levees. etc, to contain
ne waters Of that enormous reservoir; who
isf
Upon these points DO not believe there is scrap
physically Impossible that the board can have
Sg91s spTTsys ana norpgs OF the peTimeter Of this
enough engineers at the isthmus 10 have fairly
started on such survey The work Of surveying
small task IN comparison with the enormous work
exc G definitely locating The perno'er Of this great
hsve had years OF experience IN heavy works
n he tropics know what It is 10 carry transit
shd 6 level through these mighty jungles often
practically iulpenetrable and knowing the obstacles
eoatrontng an engineering corps in this class OF
s9 soFk wish TO emphasize the proposition that
IN
proposed great lake for the simple reason that il
information within the time.
For the minority OF the board to make the recon-
Henoauon which Il has made and for the President
ana Secretary OF War 10 adopt such report in
ne absence q the most unquestioned and authentic
Gaia on these absolutely vital points would seem
. Se eztraordinary but as in the nature of things
icy cannot possibly have any conclusive informa-
uoa n regard 10 the nature, character and extent
- me perlneter Of this proposed lake. il seems
Aar have been led into grave error. They have
.e339SnIaelloed the adoption OF plan which the
au5lce 5 betofe US is an engineering impossibility.
"a "a lock Plan Is feasible on the isthmus but not
geat T have heretofore expressed the opinion in
ne IT!oLne-I wish TO repeat and emphasize
me board and reoorTnended by the President is an
,t. ,te.Nslng iinpossibnity, for the simple reason
S SSolle not cause the formation Of a lake such as
psSes ] I1e water would run out in thousand
chnoe c enoe no lake would be formed Of the size and
stacleI set forth IN the minority report.
ross 's age many other grave defects in the pro-
Co.. Co.. +ook plan. but time and money would over
m men THIS obstacle. however. is insuperable
Eer slleft IN his message TO Congress referred
: - - Jlines 10 the 500 Canal in some measure
believe mat il lock system works Wei at the
the isfbet y o2es-ihat % II VIII work equally well at
ps-etL me 500 and the proposed lock system at
.onle1piated az Panama are so vast in Comparison
de6-,ss s'e-e Al The 500, that IT is impossible 20
c!6e ltfr an The 500" is email, and. in a simple
- as!-y controlled. There vast lakes at
,rbs oo9, as a part Of a lock system, and nothing
Malch a. al suggests The proposed plan of Panama
Fb,re 80 proposed at the isthmus merely 10 lift
~ ~ liplgh the Culebra Cut by means OF locks
anu 'ats,o ahd Pedro Miguel without any lakes OF
lo5ks !, tten the plan would resemble the 500"
m ,fia fiia would be entirely practical.
q, Ae lake feature of the proposed lock system
,rg iilaiila is dangerous experiment II is noth-
ITeoeoae e a man an experiment. and on scale of
lros.--e -e---e1 magnitude. II introduces many
hes & g-a.l4Jies into the problem II looks 10 me
6a-9s tieai lakes away up there in the air, the
Ni4e 2 contain them liable TO be shattered by
sure ~ - ~ 700 frequent or burst by the pres
VI NE hundreds Of millions OF tons OF water