The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-02-22

Built In Shorter Time and Great
Saving In cash-Locks Won't Les
sen Its Usefulness.
Washington. Feb 20 - President
Roosevelt transmitted 20 congress the
report of the board OF consulting engi-
neers on the Panama canal. together
with the letter OF Secretary Taft he
report of the lsthman canal commits
sion and a letter by Chief Engineer
Stevens. The letter OF the president
in part is as follows.
ITO the senate and house of repre-.
sentatiyes l submit herewith the let
ter of the secretary OF war transmit
ting the report OF the board of con.
sulting engineers on the Panama canal
and the report OF the lsthmian canal
commission thereon. together with a
letter written 10 the chairman of the
Isthmian canal commission 10y Chief
Engineer stevens. Both the board OF
consulting engineers and the canal
commission d. ide in their report
"The majority OF the board of con.
sultlng engineers. eight In number. in.
cluding the five foreign engineers IA.
vor a sea level canal; and one mem
ber Of the canal commission. Admiral
Endicoit. takes toe same view Five
Of the eight American members Of the
board Of consulting engineers and nye
members OF the Isthmian canal com
mission favor the lock canal and so
does Chief Engineer Stevens The
secretary of war recommends a lock
canal pursuant % the rec0umenda-
'ions of the minority OF the board OF
consulting engineers and OF The ma.
joritv OF the canal commission. After
careful study of The papers submitted
and full and exhaustive consideration
Of the whole subject. I concur in this
recommendation
"a careful study Of the reports
seems TO establish a strong probability
that the following are the facts. The
sea level canal would be slightly less
exposed 20 damage in the event OF
war. the running expenses. apart from
the heavy cost OF interest on the
amount employed TO build il would be
less. and for small ships the time Of
transit would probably be less.
"On the other hand the lock canal
at a level of So feet or thereabOuts
would not cost much more than half
az much 10 build and could be built
in about bali the time. while there
would be very much less risk connect
ed with building IT, and for large
ships the transit would be quicker,
while taking into account the interest
on the amount saved in building. the
actual cost Of maintenance would be
less.
After being built It would he easier
to enlarge the lock canal than the sea
level canal Moreover. what has been
actually demonstrated in mailing and
operating the great lock canal, the
500. a more important artery Of traffic
than the great sea level canal, the
Suez goes TO support the opinion OF
the minority Of the consulting board
of engineers and Of the majority OF
the Isthmian canal commission as 10
the superior safety. feasibility and de-
STABILITY Of building lock canal at
Panama.
THE law now on our statute books
seems to contemplate a lock canal. In
my Judgment a lock canal. as herein
recommended. is advisable II the
congress directs that a sea level canal
be constructed its direction will of
course he carried out. Otherwise the
canal will be built on substant' ally the
plan for 2 lock canal outlinel in the
accompanying papers. such changes
being made. Of course. as may be found
actually necessary. including possibly
the change recommended by the secre'
tary Of war. as to the site of the dam
on the Pacifc side.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The estimated cost of S247O2l,OOD
for the sea level canal and Sl29. .705 200
for the SJfoot level canal, difference
of 100000 600 The Isthmian canal
commission and tho chief engineer re-
gard the estimate for the sea level
canal as too low by at least S25. 600
for reasons statel In their reports.
The Free Lance Is prepared to do AL