New-York tribune., 1908-01-17
TPHOLDS NAVY'S STAND
UIDER LOCKS At PANAMA.
Recommendation 4ppro0ed by Presi-
dent-Senators Hear Taft.


washington. Jan I6-President Roosevelt
has approved the recommendation of the 18TH
,,ian Canal Commmisson, indorsed by Secretary
Taft that the width Of the locks of the Panama
Canal be increased from 100 TO no feet The
President simply approves the recommendation
fer the increase Of the width of the locks. but
makes ne comment thereon. The locks are 10
be 600 feet in length.
The action of the commission is recon-
rnendins the widening of the locks is made in
order TO meet requirements of the navy that
can reasonably be expected in the near future
The general board of the navy. in a memoran-
dunn 10 the Secretary OF the Navy. dated Octo-
Der - last. expressed the opinion that .the
width Of the locks as now fxed-namely, 100
fee1-is insufficient for probable ships of future
construction. and that sound policy would die
tate an increase 10 a clear width Of 10 feet.
The commission feels il should be guided by
the wishes Of the navy.
In a memorandum to Secretary Taft the COM
mission says the cost of all the locks at 100
feet wide is estimated at S52.5Soo11. while
width OF 10 feet viii cost SJ169oS30. "a diff
ference too small TO be considered assuming
ne necessity for the increased width to be as
stated by the navy
In transmitting the recommendation Of the
commission TO the President Secretary Taft
sets out that increasing the width to no feet
viii not only increase the cost of the canal by
about S5O00Oo0 but viii also somewhat re-
-1;ce its capacity because Of more water and
time required to make the lockages. He adds:
This Of course. can be met so far as the
water is concerned by providing a dam at Ala
hrieia and thus increasing the supply to be
held for discharge into the Gatun Lake in the
dry season when lockaEes will tend 10 reduce
its level After consideration II seems TO me
wise 10 widen the locks accordingly even at tiie
risk Of slightly reducing the capacity OF the
canal. so far as the number Of steamships 10
be passed through it in day is concerned
SENATE COMMITTEE HEARS Mr.. TAFT
sacre+arv Taft appeared before the Senate
ro-,r,ittee on Interoceanic Canals to-day 10
give information concerning the project ana 10
orar suggestions for legislation He expressed
.he opinion that the canal should he competed
within six years from next July, and that its
intimate cost would be approximately S3O0oOo,-
600 including the purchase price.
The proposed widening Of the locks was care
fully explained by Secretary Taft He asserted
that with the locks widened 10 10 feet steamer
of los feet beam could easily pass through The
largest ship this government is planning TO
build al present viii have a beam OF only 30
feet
Nj Taft discussed at length the trouble with
-hA Pacific Mail Steamship Line because Of its
4ail,,-e 70 furnish enough steamers. He said
that owing 10 this inadequacy in service the
business Of the railroad had fallen of one-haf
since the government took possession. and II
was question in his mind whether the govern
rneut should not engage in the steamship ousl-
ness on the Pacific in order 70 retain the Pan
ana route now existing and keep the isthnian
business from going by way of Tehuantepec or
some other route
Fza urged that there be no reduction in the
Of +77e
fact that according TO his estimate. they were
-e-eiv5ng IN pay and privileges from 30 TO 60
re- cent higher income than they could earn IN
the United States. He gave 1t as his opinion
that any reduction would cause serious labor
difficulties. Even with skilled labor wages at
the present standard. he said, there was recently
z strike on the refusal Of the commission TO
increase the wages. and q force Of men sufh-
Gent TO run sixty-five steam shovels was de-
plered 10 a force sufficient TO run only thirteen
The Secretary said the water rents charged
at Panama viii in fifty years pay all cost Of
providing the waterworks the Improvement Of
streets and the construction OF the sewerage
system. At the end OF that period the work
Will become the property OF Panama
SANITARY CONDITIONS IMPROVED.
In regard 10 sanitary and climatic conditions
he declared that il is not SO unhealthful 10
live in the tropics as II was formerly Inc
Suanish war taught Us and all the world a
great deal about how TO live in the tropics,
h. said.
Senator Kittredge asked Mr.. Taft whether
be had arv recommendations for new legisla-
lion for the canal zone. The secretary re-
piled that he thought there should be an ap-
peal from the courts Of the zone to the Su-
Ererne Court Of the United States, but with
that exception he had no recommendations to
make. After the construction Of the canal has
been completed he thought a comprehensive
form Of government should be devised for the
z0ne but he saw no reason for that now
This year has satisfied me- he said, that a
contract for doing the work on the Panama
Canal is impracticabe.7 He added that any
firm able 70 supply the large amount Of money
needed 70 carry on the work would demand
such q large profit as 10 make it inadvisable
10 enter upon il.