Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-26
WALLACE WRITES on CANAL
Former Engineer Insists Government
Methods Are Imprsotiosble
LETTING WORK BY CONTRACT PREFERABLE
Engineer In Charse. ~ Capable,
shouId he Allowed to Pursue His
Plans Unbsmpered. Respon-
sibIe onIy for Results.

NEW YORK. Feb. &.-John r. Wallace,
formerly chief engineer OF the Panama
anal. has contributed an article to the
March number OF The Engineering Maya
zine" recommending his observations and
experience during the year in which he
was in charge Of the construction work
in the canal zone. In this article Mr.. Wal
lace declares IL TO be his belief that 1T
will reqire more time than money to con-
struct a high level canal on the eighty
five foot plan. under the present method Of
government control. than 1t will TO con-
strict see level canal. provided the work
is accomplished by modern eficient meth
dds He advocates either placing the
work in tho hands Of one mana practical
engineer-with unlimited authority. or let
ting the work to one large contracting
firm. The article says in part:
or the factors which exercise tho great
est deterrent influence in The accomplish
Incnt Of satisfactory results under direct
the laws governing the disbursement OF
public funds. The official and tho CONNER
cial ideals are evidently DRAMATICALLY OPP
posed. Whether. after all. the govern
mental methods secure greater honesty
lesS scandal In connection with dis
hursements can best be judged by COM
bureaus with that Of our own great bus
mess or engineering enterprises under cor
=
IN modern ordinary affairs further. the
principle Of audit before the system is
on the contrary. Is based on the principle
81 audit after payment. The disbursing Of
hcer ts responsible for any errors that
may have been made. with the result that
this officer and his subordinatcs naturally
scrutinise most critically every disbursc-
ment. going even to- the extent 10 rae
tically interpreting tho spirit Of the les
islaton authorizing the expenditure.
Systru, Il ImDracticable
1t should be apparent TO every ,rl.! ...
man that when the work must Dc Gao
quoted 100 mies away from ca, -.
government a policy imposing the NIT
slty Of referring all Important questions "a
Washington ana submitting them tnerU 10
men VINO necessarily cannot be conVersant
with the conditions on the istnmus unless
they are informed by the parties ON the
ground cannot give satisfactory results,
no matter now honest emcIcnt the super
vIsinS officials may be. | may perhaps
1ccl too strongly on this point, Dut my
experience at Panama-mN occasional con-
TACT with governmental Inetnoas reaching
pAck to a service of hNc years As assistant
engineer on river and haroor improve
lnents-hae convinced Inc that attempts
10 carry on constructive wCiA under tne
direction OF Washington bureaus. espC-
cially wnen the work rs large, conplcd ted
are conducive OF extravaganza ana waste
as to botn time and money. / am emphat-
lcally OF the opinion that governments
functions the isthmus should be con
lined exclusively to a general supervisor
OF the WORK. ana enforcement OF sUcn sim
pie ordinances and sanitary regulations "a
may be necessary TO secure the peace anc
The health of the community effected by
the constructive work
The question of the commissary, the rat,
OF wages paid by the subcontractors and
host OF other details make 1t necessary, Il
my mind, for a slngie contracting organ
ization TO control the entire work. Eitnel
the work should be put into the hands Of
one strong man, with practically unlimited
authority. combining the technical ant
scicntlnc training Of the engineer with tn
administrative ana executive ability of
man OF force; with this should be coupled
the separation of all matters connecte'
with this work from the control OF IN
ORDINARY government departments at Wash
lngton-but under such supervision onl!
10 ia insure the government that his ad
nlinistration is efficient; or the same result
snouid pe accomplished through letting o
the work to contracting nrnl. larg
enough 10 control under one management
TIE entire constructive Work on the isth
mus. unoer broad and general spectrica
uOns ana under sucL EcLcrai supervision
as may apptas 10 cchs.ess 40 be proper
Hi. own Mistakes.
H. conclusion. the article says;
II the experience had rot been so seri
GUS. ! should look back TO my first con
nectlon with this enterprise and the eN
perience gained herewith, and smile I
think l had been so innocent as to thin
myself able TO overcome the long settle
influences heretofore indicated, or TO i'm
% employ in il the methods with which
lad been familiar for years. The useful
ness OF any man who might he called !
as an engineer OF demonstrated capacit
10 supervise an enterprise of this charaC
ter is naturally measured by the extent
which be may be permitted 10 use his ow
methods ana make available the result
his past experience. To expect that an
person who is really qualified 10 oondu6
The work will radically change his methods
which have been the outcome OF hfetinl
OF experience. and adapt himself to moss
grown government methods. is to eNpe6
lne impossible II demands that ma
should be content TO ignore the instinct
Of his profession and to subject himself
the various Influences brought to bea
upon him. drifting along in a perfuncto
way, satisfied to draw his compensation
hoping that in some way or other he ma
be able eventually 10 see the work con