Milford chronicle., 1906-02-23
PRESIDENT URGES
LOCK CANAL
Sends Engineers Report to Congress,
But FaVors Minority Plan.
EAvES TIME AND MONEY

Washington, Feb. 20. - Presiden
Roosevelt transmitted to congress tn,
report Of the board of consulting engi
neers on the Panama canal, together
with the letter of Secretary Taft. the
report of the Isthmian canal commits
sion and letter by Chief Engineer
Stevens. The letter of the president
in part is as follows:
ITO the senate and house of repre-
sentatives-I 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 Isthmian canal
commission thereon, together with
letter written to the. chairman of the
Isthmian canal commission by Chief
Engineer Stevens. Both the board of
consulting engineers and the canal
commission divide in their report.
''The majority of the board of con.
sulting engineers, eight in number. in.
cluding the five foreign engineers. fa-
vor a sea level canal; and one mem.
Der OF the canal commission. Admiral
Endicott, takes the same view. Five
OF the eight American members of the
board of consulting engineers and five
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 to the recommends
tions of the minority of the board of
consulting engineers and of the ma.
jority Of the canal commission. After
careful study of the papers submitted
and full and exhaustive consideration
Of the whole subject, I concur in this
"A careful study of the reports
seems to establish a strong probability
hat the following are the facts: The
sea level canal would be slightly less
to damage in the event of
var, the running expenses, apart from
he heavy cost of interest on the
mount employed to build it. would be
ass, and for small ships the time of
ransit would probably be less.
"On the other hand, the lock canal
t a level Of 80 feet or thereabouts
-ould not cost much more than half
8 much to build and could be built
| about half the time. while there
ould be very much less risk connect.
with building it. and for large
lips the transit would be quicker,
lille taking into account the interest
the amount saved in building. the
'tual cost of maintenance would be
S.
"After being built it would be easier
enlarge the lock canal than the sea
vel canal Moreover. what has been
tually demonstrated in making and
Grating the great lock canal. the
o, a more important artery of traffic
an the great sea level canal. the
ez goes to support the opinion of
; minority of the consulting board
engineers and of the majority of
Isthmian canal commission as to
superior safety, feasibility and de-
ability of building a lock canal at
lama.
The law now on our statute books :
MS 70 contemplate lock canal. In
judgment a lock canal, as herein
is advisable. If the d
gress directs that a sea level canal
constructed its direction will of ~
rse be carried out Otherwise the -
al will be built on substantially the
! for a lock canal outlined in the !
papers. such changes Il
g made Of course as may be found a
ally necessary, including possibly
change recommended by the secre.
of war, as to the site of the dam
he Pacific side.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
le estimated cost of S247O21. 900 81
he sea level canal and s139, ,7O5, 200
he S5-foot level canal, a difference
1070O0,000. The Isthmian canal
mission and the chief engineer re-
the estimate for the sea level a
as too low by at least $25.OOO. 900
easons stated in their reports.
PROBE OIL AND COAL TRUSTS