Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-17
competent to pass upon the question
the national legislature.
DIVISION AMONG EXPERTS

competent to pass upon the question
the national legislature
DIVISION AMONG EXPERTS.
The division among experts AS to
the best type OF canal is treated by
the report, which says that the con-
cluslon has been reached that the fol-
lowing propositions are irrefutable.
That the ideal canal is one at SGD
level; that its construction would be at
tended with no more, probably with
less hazard than one with locks and
dams on doubtful foundations. that
the sea-leyel canal is safer and more
convenient than one with locks. that
II would take but little longer time to
build; that IL is the simpler and the
more economical IN operation and
maintenance"
The estimates OF the minority and the
majority of the board of consulting en-
gineers on the time that would be re-
quired 10 eXcaVate the different types
Of canal are reviewed. and the major
ity report concludes that the sea level
canal would not require more than two
or three years more than the lock type
RISKS MADE LIGHT OF.
Risks encountered in the opera
ton OF the sea-level canal are made
light of by the report. which says the
Gamboa dam would be ready 10 control
the Chagres floods before the Culebra
excavation is half finished, and the bal
ance OF the excavation in the prism aud
below sea level could go on without
Interruption. When the Chagres vs.
subdued and controlled. and the sea .
level canal made. its use viii be attend
ed with no more risk than equal sail
ing distance in the oceans.
A chapter of the report Is devoted 20
the locks and dams proposed by the mi
nority report of the consulting engl-
neers, and these are asserted 10 be an
element of danger. The various acct
dents to which such mechanism might
be subject are recounted and the re-
port asserts that these hazards can be
avoided by the small sacrifice OF time
necessary TO the construction OF the
sea level.
COST OF MAINTENANCE
The claim is made by the report that
ships of all classes could be passed
through the sea-level canal In eight
hours and half; that time would be
consumed i'm passing ships through
locks alone. The cost of annual main
tenance is estimated at $3.50, 600 for
the sea level. and $2,S3O,Ooo for the
lock type.
SEA-LEVEL ADVANTAGES.
Discussing the advantage of the sea-
level canal TO the country controlling
II in time of war. the report says
III free from all obstacles To quick
transit 100 warshlps OF average size
moving In one direction. route clear,
could be passed from ocean TO ocean
In less than a day.
"All naval commanders and COM
mercial masters Of the great national
and private vessels Of the world are
almost to a man opposed unalterably
to the introduction of any lock to lift
vessels overe the low summit that ma
ture has left for us to remove"
The majority argues that an enemy
could destroy a lock canal much cas-
ier than a sea level canal with explo-
sives.
ULTIMATE FINAL COST.
The ultimate final cost of the sea
level canal as estimated by the majority
is $3.50, 900, while the cost Of the
lock canal is regarded as uncertain.
The minority OF the board OF consult
ing engineers estimated the cost at
sl39. 705. 200, and to. this the majority
says should be added the interest on
the extra cost OF maintenance the ex-
penses OF clearing the titles to the
1880 acres OF land that would be sub
merged by the central lake proposed
by the lock plan, which. II Is estlm-
ated, would make the total cost at
least $4,000 900. The cost OF trans
forming the lock plan into q sea-level
canal, after the former Is completed,
is estimated at 5000, 00Q, 900.
In conclusion. the majority says:
your committee feels entirely con-
hdent that the board Of consulting en-
gineers selected 70 study this problem
has submitted plan that responds IN
every respect 10 the condition stated
above, and that the sea level canal
can be realized In 10 or II years at a
cost not TO exceed $50, 900, 900 above that
required by the construction OF the
multi-lock canal proposed by the
ninority"