Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-03-23
WALLACE FAVORS
SEA LEVEL CANAL.
Says Only Deterrent Factor to His Plan
for Panama Is Time and
Expense.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March co..
John +. Wallace, former chief engineer.
of the Panama canal commission, before
the Senate committee on interoceanici
canals, in advocating an approximately
straight, sea level canal, urged that any
other plan which places restrictions upon;
the probable permanency of the canal
itself, as well as upon the speed and the
size and number of vessels passing
through it, must render the canal far less
Ealuable; that the only deterrent factors
I'm this connection are relative time and
cost and that in approaching the destina-
Flon the question of how much money
fhe American people supposedly are will
ling to invest i'll the canal and how much
time they are willing to wait for its
proper accomplishment should be con-
sidered.
> Cheaper Than Suez Canal
He said that, judged by the capitaliza-
fion and dividends now paid upon the
stock of the Suez canal, it is apparent
that the rates charged for transit
through it are excessive, and thus ma
terial saving would be offered commerce
by the Panama route.
Assuming that the present tonnage
through SueZ of say, 100000 tons per
year would pass through the Panama
canal, even at ST a ton, there would be-"
he said IAN approximate income of $1O,-
100000 which is sufficient to Justify an
expenditure of $3OO,OOO,OOO." The lat
ter figures he deemed ample to construct
the sea level canal.
AS to the additional time involved Mr..
Wallace predicted that upon a basis ''of
reasonable energy and the use of proper
business methods of administration,
sea level canal can be fully completed in
ten. or tc be entirely safe, say twelve
years, and lock canal, even if only 60
feet above sea level, would require only,
three years less.'
Against All Red Tape.
He reiterated that increased efficiency
could be secured if the work were han
died by single contracting firm, un-
hampered by government methods and
with every incentive to early completion
with possibly utilization of two shifts
instead of one shift of ten hours.
Mr.. Wallace pointed out that in con-
sidering additional time required for the
construction of sea level canal the
prompt and efficient utilization of the
Importance. Mr.. Wallace said there are
two suggestions which had been subject
ed to careful review because of criticisms
passed on them.
Outsiders to Keep Out.
First, the railway should be substi-
tuted for the canal while the latter is
being constructed. If so it should be
completely separated in management and
control from any steamship line at either
end, and the transfers from ship to ship
should be at fiat rate per ton regard
less of classification except that light
and bulky articles should be rated at
certain number of cubic feet to the ton
This rate, he contended, should not ex-
coed So per ton and be reduced as bust
ness increases. Under such system of
administration, he urged, there is no oc-
casion for the Panama railway to main
tain a corporate existence with officers
in New York, for the road can be better
controlled by a single competent railway
manager on the isthmus.