Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-20

through IT.. must render the canal far less
valuable: that the only deterrent factors IN
this connection relative time and cost,
and that in approaching the discussion the
question of how much money the American
people supposedly are willing to invest in
the canal. and how much time they are will
ing to walt for its proper Accomplishment
should be considered. He said that. Judged
by the Capitalization and dividends now
paid upon the stock of the Suez canal it is
apparent that the rates charged for transit
through ii are excessive, and that thus a
material saving would be offered commerce
by the Panama route
Assuming that the present tonnage
through Suez of, say, 1O.U0.0oO tons per
year. would pass through the Panama ca
nal, even at a dollar ton. there would
be, he said. an approximate income OF
$40 100000, which is sufficient to Justify an
expenditure of $500 600 000'
The latter figure he deemed ample to con-
struct the Sea-leVel canal AS to the addt-
tfonal time involved. Mr.. Wallace predicted
that upon a basis ''of reasona Bile energy
and the use of proper business methods OF
administration. Sea-level canal can be
fully completed in ten, or, to be entirely
safe say, twelve years. and a lock canal
even II only sixty feet above sea level
would require only three years less He re-
fterated that increased efficiency could be
secured If the workers were handled by a
single contracting firm. unhampered by
government methods. and with every in
centive to early completion with possibly
utilization of two shifts instead of one shift
of ten hours.
Mr. Wallace contended If IL was not too
much to hope that the committee will de-
chine TO recommend any form OF canal which
is not capable of being in the near future
transformed into sea-leveI canal without
undue Interference with the worlds traffic
or undue additional cost: that this fact
alone should take the recommendations OF
the minority of the board of consulting en-
gfneers and the recommendations of the
majority of the isthmian canal commission
out OF really serious consideration.
The Proposed Dam.
Mr.. Wallace questioned whether Congress
would feel justified in indorsing the con-
struction or any dam of laisge dimensions,
retaining head of water, OF say eighty
five feet, the foundation of which does not
extend to bed rock to some equally i'm
permeable and reliable strata
rs it either safe or wise he asked to
authorize the building of dam one and
one-half miles long to retain a head of
water of eighty-fiye feet across an alluyiaI
valley, similar to the valley of the Chagres
at Gatun, In which exists already two
subgorges, one of which alone is a thou
sand feet across and 240 feet deep. which
has evidently been refilled with a heteno-
geneous mass of gravel, sand, etc, brought
down by mountain streams?'
With this situation in view he said II is
greatly to be feared that the dam at Gatun,
proposed by a minority of the board OF
consulting engineers and indorsed by a ma
might, after some years be found incapable
of withstanding the strain upon IL. He
pointed out reasons for apprehension
this point, and said his remarks this
subject applied, though In less degree. to
the series of dams and barrage holding
back head of fifty-hve feet of water
which II is proposed by the minority re-
port to construct across the alluvisl valley
of the Rio Grande on the Pacific side of the
canal
If IL is decided to build a lock canal, Mr..
Wallace said then Il is to be earnestly
hoped only such form of lock canal will be
authorized as will be admissible in connec-
tion with the construction of a dam at
Gamboa, where 1t is positively known that
the primary rock foundation exists at no
greater depth than sea level. rather than
at Gatun. There is. he said, urgency
that to his mind would Justify the great
risk OF earth dams at Gatun or la Boca-
The army engineers. he said could most
efficiently supervise the contractor and al
the governmental functions. including polio
ing and sanitation, could easily be per-
formed under the control and direction OF
the governor of the canal zone.
Utilizatio.- Of the Railroad.
Mr.. Wallace pointed out that in consider
ing additional time required for the con-
struction of sea-level canal the prompt
and efficient utilization of the Panama
railroad iH a matter of great importance.
Mr.. Wallace said there are two EueGes-
tions which had been subjected to careful