Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-28
CANAL AND HOME STREAMS
REPRESENTATIVE BURTON DIS
cussEs THE PANAMA PROJECT.
Saws United States Must Not Shrink
From It's Responsibility
River Improvement.

Representative Theodore E. Burton of
Ohio made an address last evening before
his fellow members of the University Club,
his double theme being THE Panama
Canal and Rivers and Harbors." He
declared it would be impossible to do justice
to both headings in one brief evening talk
and he touched only the salient points con-
corning the canal and the more important
phases of river and harbor legislation and
appropriation.
In a general way Mr.. Burton described
the aspects of the canal zone as 1t APP
peared to him during the recent congress
sional visit, and he said the trip had the
effect of dissipating many erroneous i'm
pressions.
Contrary to public opinion the climatic
conditions on the isthmus are not unbear-
ably hot, nor is the yendure al all Jungle
like Mr. Burton asserted most of the
country is not unlike man sections OF our
own United States. Culebra cut and the
scenes of active canal work generally DO
not offer Spectacles of armies of men with
picks and shovels. but it is a fact that
more men are employed laying railroad
tracks, upon which the material eXcaVated
can be hauled for dumping, than there are
In actual digging
Must Go Forward.
Summing up his attitude toward the big
ditch Mr.. Burton said
The American people have gone into this
thing and they must not shrink from it or
the responsibilities it brings. Expressions
of dissatisfaction and discomfort must be
guarded against, and there should be no
grunbling and calamity bowling in the
event of accident. which are almost bound
to occur in an undertaking of such unpre-
cedented magnitude.
do
millennium upon the completion of the canal
no pipe dreams about what 1t will &C
compi1sh. 1t will unquestionably bring
about q great increase in the commerce
of the United States and, in fact, the
Panama canal marks the next step in the
development of the great highways OF the
world / regard 1t as primarily CONNER
ciaI enterprise, and 1 do not believe 1T
should be fortified and held for our very
own. but there should be some arrange
ment such as that at Suez'
Home Enterprises.
Speaking of rivers and harbors and Of
the work of the rivers and harbors COM
mittee in the House., of which he is chair
man. Mr. Burton commented in no uncer-
tain terms upon the increasing difficulty
of doing exact justice to all sections Of the
country In the anpual appropriation bills.
He referred in caustic language to certain
unnamed Jurisdictions which year after year
seek to advance their own interests with
absolutely no regard for the oftentimes
greater needs Of their fellow-men in other
states.
Mr. Burton declared that the existing sys-
tenn, which permits this class and sectional
exploitation, is at fault, and he
spoke Of the possible value, of the
adoption of some plan which would
provide for state or municipal or private
Improvement Of rivers and harbors, with re-
turns to be secured by collection of tolls
He spoke also Of the regulation. or ad-
j,tstment of railroad freight rates which
Invariably follow closely upon the trail OF
legislation for improvement of rivers and
harhorS.