The Washington times., 1907-04-11
ALMIGHTY MADE
The GATUN DAM
FOUNDATIONS
Representative Tawney
Gives President I'M
preSsionS OF
Panama.

''Uhe Almighty made the foundations
OF the Gatun dam. There's nothing the
matter with 1t. and the only thing we've
got TO co is TO build a mountain upon II
10 mold the water
There are no tremendous engineering
problems to face upon the isthmus. Only
dirt to move and good sanitary condl-
tons To be maintained. / am sorry the
engineers OF the country have made IN
effort to convince the people OF the
insurmountable problems that confront
our woTkmen.
II did have a kick against the quar-
rantine officers. but now that it is al
over, I'm going to let IL drop.
Representative Tawney OF Minnesota,
Republican whip OF the House. chair
man of the Appropriations Committee
OF the same body. vice chairman of the
Republican Congressional Committee,
stanch standpatter. and a whole lot OF
other things too numerous - mention,
was at the White House today 70 give
the President his impressions of the
Panama canal He was accompanied
to the Presidents office by Representa-
tive J. van Veehten Olcott OF New York,
and after their chat with the Executive
talked very freely OF the conditions upon
the isthmus and OF their trip 70 and from
the canal zone.
To Finish in Five Years.
cat the present rate Of progress the
work ought to be done inside of FIVE
years" said Bdr. Tawney, and when
the full equipment OF rolling stock Is
on the ground. the rate viii be a good
deal more rapid than it is now. For
Instance. there are now eighty-five en-
gines IT. use. When they get all they
have ordered they viii have 155. There
are 1900 fat cars to be added to those
now in use. and everything else in the
rolling stock and machinery line IN pro-
portion.
'eThe difficulties that confront our
workmen do not seem to a layman to
be so tremendous There are plenty of
locks IN this country that are as long
and almost as high Yet the engineers
have sought to convey the impression
throughout the country that the prob
lens are simply appalling. OF course.
I may be wrong on this, but to me it
looks as If there were nothing TO be
done except TO move the dirt out and
keep the sanitary conditions up to the
present state OF perfection. There is
not a single case of yellow fever on the
isthmus, the mosquitoes have been ban
ished. and sickness Is no more preva-
lent there than 1t is in the best governed
cit yin the states The Gatun dam
IS ali right. It's foundations We're laid
by the Almighty, and all we have TO do
is to build a mountain upon those foun-
dations between the other mountains to
hold back the waters of the river. That
IS certainly not a hair-raisiug PROPOSE
ton. All that IS required is steady.
patient work and common sense.
Governor Stevens Hold Up.
speaking OF the way his party was
held up by orders of Chief Engineer
and Governor Stevens and Colonel
Gorgas. Mr.. TaWney said that all the
members were pretty hot over The
affair when it happened. but hare de-
cided TO let 1t drop. Owing to a mis-
understanding. which was caused
mainly by the forgetfulness or ignor-
ance Of DR.. Pierce. one Of the sanitary
officers. the party was obliged to remain
on ship before being allowed 10 land
nearly one whole day longer than they
had been assured would be necessary.
Before the expiration OF the Sunday on
which the hoId-up occurred Governor
Stevens learned that an exception had
been made in the case Of another party
that had visited the isthmus a month
previously. so ordered that the same
courtesy be extended to them. The re-
suit of the delay. however, was rather
pleasant than otherwise, for they went
over the canal route on Monday, when
the work was IN full blast. Had they
made their visit when they first planned
10 do it. on Sunday. the machinery
would have all been at a standstlIl.
Mr.. TaWney was asked If he was a
"thiri-termer," his attention being
called to the fact that the Legislature
or his home State had already declared
FOR Roosevelt.
'Inasmuch as I have been elected 10
Congress for eight consecutive times"
he replied, Il do not feel that il would
be delicate for me to make a reply &c
that question"