The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-06
WALLACE REVEALS
CANAL CONDITIONS
Former Chief Engineer Declares
New York Lawyer Is in
Everything.
Saws Successors Had No Benefit
from His Conclusions on
the Work.
. LIl.~. "a
journal Special Service.

-- 8Eis- |
journal Special Service.
Washington, Feb. 6.-William Nelson
Cromwell Of New York is the Pooh
Bah of the Panama canal. according to
Chicago, formerly chief engineer of the
great isthmfan waterway, and other evil
dence in the possession Of the inter
oceanic canal committee of the senate.
Mr.. Cromwell was the principal agent
of the new Panama canal company IN
the direction of it's negotiations for the
sale of the concession and property on
the isthmus.
He is, or until recently was, general
counsel of the company and prosecuted
g claim for $2,200, 900 against the
United States for property which the
company asserted the United States
had acquired and for which it failed
to pay. |
Adviser to Taft.
He is the adviser Of the secretary of
war in Panama canal matters. |
He Is general counsel for the isthmian
canal commission. 2
He and his secretary are directors
Of the Panama Railroad company.
he was fiscal agent of the Panama re-
public and Mr.. Wallace declared he
promoted the revolution which sep
arated Panama from the Republic of
Colombia.
He is today the legal adviser Of the
Panama republic.
He owns 22.5 per cent Of the stock of
the Panama-American corporation
which manufactures ice and electric
current on the isthmus.
Secrecy About Cromwell.
AZ few months ago so much secrecy
was thrown about MI. Cromwell con-
nection with the government and. the
as to the exact status Of the New York
lawyer. It was intimated that in as
sisting the administration he was actu-
ated only by high and generous mo-
tives; that he was receiving no recon-
pense for his unremittingg AND pains
taking attention to canal matters,
CT considered him. said Mr.. Wal
lace Yesterday, to the senate inter
oceanic canal committee, "a danger
Gus man, Z
why Wallace Quit. i
ST told Secretary Taft Ibid not
want to go back to the isthmus as chief
engineer,o said Mr.. Wallace. My rea-
son was 7 was made jointly responsible
with Mr.. Shonts and Mr.. Magoon for
work on the canal, while, MI. Shonts
had, a verbal agreement with the presl-
dent that he should have a free hand IN
the management. of all matters. l felt
that Mr.. Shonts was not as well quail
fed as I was, either as a business man
or an. administrator, and he was not
an engineer. l thought I was to be
director general of the canal work. l
o.. thought It better to sacrifice my am
billions regarding this work, which was
to be the browning event of my life,
than remain to be Inundated, or forced
to disobey orders, or create friction
That was the reason assigned by MT
Wallace for leaving the canal service
as he stated it to the senator's.
Wallace on Stand Again.
MI. Wallace was again before the
senate committee on interoceanlc canals
today Yesterday he was diverted from
a description of conditions on the 18th
mus which he made today. He. gave
minute account Of the conditions n
countered in getting material and sup
plies and the delays that occurred II
filling acquisitions. 1879,
While he. was cabling, to have tn
orders expedited, he said, he receive
word from Admiral Walker that cable
grams cost money: 1t was a dellcat
hint, he said, that he had better no
use the cables SO much.
= Mr.. Wallace said to the commute
that he did YEARS work and that hi
successors had no benefit Of his analyst
or recommendations, because ii
~ said, 1.-THE secretary Of war told N
he did not want it and had no use fc
me, except on the isthmus as a directin
engineer. He was so angry in his trea
ment that he all but cursed me.
The work I did, said Mr.. Wa
lace, "extended over a complete yea
taking in dry, and wet seasons. / W:
working along a definite program Whle
-4.-IaJ 4& ,,,,f -, r-r.1flnr in NV a
nual report and would have lone
if I had been permitted to make a 7
." port. experimental with the Frent
-. e~xcavators so as to tell whether
would be the more economical to u
: or destroy these machines which co
probably $50, OOO, 900. I experiments
far enough to know that these machin
-, were not fit for use.'
q His Estimates.
II. Telling Of these experiments N
Wallace said he had not estimated tn
because excavating could be done
March for 43 cents a cubic yard,
could be lone for, the same cost In t.
rainy season in May. It was impo1
ant to determine whether the high
cost of excaating was due to the hea7
rainfall, the reduction Of time to eigf
hour day or the use. of the French e
cavators, said Mr.. Wallace. Cuntin
ing he said that he understood tn
the cost had gone up q great deal aft
he left.
REORGANIZATION was delnoralized,
said; for theNfeason that the men h
seen their chief idiscredited and knt
that a successor was to be appoint
who would not be in Ssympathy with t
work that had been done.
1t was brought out that Mr.. w
lace IS successors had not the benefit
e. his analysis of the years work a
his recommendations.
atWhy did they not have it2' ask
Mr. Taliaferro.
because the secretary of war t.
me he did not want it and had no
for me, except on the isthmus as a
recting engineer" said Mr.. Wallace.
eide you mean that he was angry
asked Senator Morgan.
Eyes, sir; so angfy that In his tire
ment he all but cursed me, replied
FNVallaee.