Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-03-20
From Washington.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
WASHINGTON March 90

committee endorsed the majority plan of
he board of consulting engineers in
favor of sea-level canal at Panama.
He agreed with the preceding witnesses,
Professors Burr and Parsons, that there
is serious doubt as to the permanency Of
the propose big dam at Ga.uu, which is
the key of the lock canal plan. Mr..
Wallace said that the only objections to
the sea-leyel canal are the factors of
relative time aud cost of construction
He adopted the calculations OF Profess
for Parsons, that the extreme time re-
quired would be ~ years compared with
9 years for the lock canal, and said that
as the work on the sea-level plan was
the every day work of digging and haul
Jog away what is dug, he thought
it was possible to further reduce
the time of construction, especially
if the work was done under contract.
As TO the cost, Mr.. Wallace said that
the commerce passing through the canal
would in the near future pay the interest
on the bonds issued to construct it. II
10, 900, 000 tons per annum passed
through, even at the low rate Of dollar
a ton, the income would be sufficient to
justify an expenditure of $50, 900, 900,
which would be ample. Because of the
advantages of the sea level type, about
which there we're NO element. Of doubt,
Mr.. Wallace did moi therefore believe
that the factors OF time and cost should
weigh heavily in deciding The question
Of type. He suggested that if any ac-
cident should happen TO the dams or
lccks of lock canal the repairs might
take several years, and the world having
become accustomed to the advantages OF
the canal would incur such loss of time
with the greatest possible sense OF injury.
He strongly urged building the canal by
contract and the equipment OF the Pan
ANA Railroad with the best modern
facilities for the transference of cargoes
from ships to cars and from cars TO ships
during the construction Of the canal
He recommended that the railroad
should be separated in management and
control from any steamship line at each
end and be made a simple transfer line
across the istbmus, charging fiat rate
per ton. This, he said, would do away
with the necessity for the present cor
porate organization Of the road in New
York.
Admiral Dewey today gave the house
committee on naval affairs his views on
what the American navy needs and ex-
pressed himself in favor of the c0nstruc-
lion Of big battleships like the British
terror, the Is, 900 ton 'I,readnaught,
and OF the addition to the navy of sub
marine boats. He thought, also, that
few boats of the monitor class should
be added for use in time of peace, and
he expressed himself in favor of sub
marine boats because, in time of war,
they could be relied upon to harrass The
enemy if any of our ports should ever
be besieged.
Existing laws in several states regard
ing the cOmpulsion Of labor unions 80
come under the insurance provisions
we're discussed this morning at the ses-
sion of the executive council of the
American Federation of Labor. 1t was
decided to make an effort to have all
unions come under the provision of the
law, applying to fraternal societies.
Representative Stephens, Of Texas, to-
day introduced bill in the Honse, au-
lhoriziDg the President to negotiate for
the purchase by the United States of
the coal and asphalt deposits in the
Choctaw, and Chickasaw lands in Indian
Territory, at price not exceeding |
So, 600, 600. The lands under the
Stephens bill, are to be leased for the
benefit OF the school funds in whatever
new State they may be located by the
legislature of that Stale The leases
become void il the lessees 60 into COM
bine with any railroad for the contro! of
the prices Of the coal and asphalt in
question.
Representative Sherman, of New
York, stated today that he wonld &C
cept the Craftsmanship of the republican,
committee if it is offered |
to him. Representative Babcock, of
Wisconsin, the present chairman, posi-
lively refuses to serve again.
Liberia, founded nearly century ago by |
Henry Clay and his followers as an adjunct |
TO America and especially for the accommo-
lation of emancipated negroes, is proving a |
dismal filure from the view Of the Ameri |
can tradesman. "The outlook for Liberia"
says Consul General Lyon, Of MOnrovia.
from a commercial snd industrial view point
is diScouraging The country has been prac-
iically abandoned by its alma mater. and /
seems to exist only for the purpose Of being |
exploited by European countries. Trade
and commerce between the United States and
Liberia should have prospered. but have
dwiudled almost to the vanishing point
Of the 100000 population one.tenth are
American negroes and the remainder natives.
A hazing bill was agreed upon yester-
day by the subcommittee sent to An
napolis to investigate discipline there.
The bill! will be repo ted today to the
full committee on naval affairs aud
doubtless will be introduced in the House
10 few days. 1t provides for a gradu-
ated system of punishment for haziDg,
empowers the Secretary of the Navy to
dismiss midshipmen when he sees fit
and makes it possible for him to have
eases Of hszing investigated by courts
The Market
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