The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-02-27
FOR A LOCK CANAL
PRESIDENTS OPINION AZ TO
PANAMA WATERWAY.
Security Of Datum Dam, He Believes,
According to Authority Of Eminent
Engineers, 10 Beyond Criticism
-cost Of the Canal.

Washington. -President Roosevelt,
In a message transmitted to congress-,
unequivocally declared himself In
favor of the lock type OF Panama
canal. The sea level canal. he de-
clares, would be an inexcusable folly.
Il commend to YOU" he says to con-
gress, "the most careful consideration
of the report. They show that the
only criticism that can be made Of
the work on the isthmus is that there
has sometimes been almost an excess
of caution in providing against pos
sitle trouble"
Approve 0atun Dam.
President Roosevelt says that the
engineers who made the report ARE
Of all the men In their profession,
within the United States, the men
who are on the whole best qualified
to pass upon these very questions
which they examined"
The message continues:
Then engineers report that, as the
0atun earth dam was the central point
of discussion. they gave II. under in
structions from Mr.. Taft, first consider
alton In the light OF all new evidence
and they add that the type of dam now
under construction is one which meets
with our unanimous approval They say
they are satisfied that there will be no
dangerous or Objectionable seepage
through the materials under the base Of
the dam; nor are they SO soft as to be
liable to be pushed aside by the weight
OF the proposed dam SO as to cause dam
gerous settlement We are also salts
nd fhnf ha lol~ Lax
which 1t Is proposed to use, are suitable
and can be readily placed to form a
tight, stable and permanent DAM
Dams and locks, lock gates and all
other engineering structures involved in
the lock canal project, are feasible and
safe according to the engineers, and
| they can be depended upon to perform
| with certainty their respective functions
| They report that they do not find any
occasion for changing the type OF canal
that has been adopted
Sea Level Plan Costly.
"a change to sea level plan at the
present time would add greatly to the cost
and time Of construction. without COM
| pensating advantages, either in capacity
! Of the canal or in safety of navigation.
and hence would be public misfortune.
1--WE do find,' they say, in the de-
tailed designs that have been adopted.
or that are under consideration. some
matters wnere otner arrangements than
! those now considered seem worthy of
study As these proposed changes are of
tentative nature and do not in any case
AFFECT the main questions herein dis
cussed, they are not taken up in this
report
The declare that the most practical
question in the construction Of the Gatun
dam is the possible slipping and sliding
of the materials underneath and In the
body of the DAM In regard to this
question. they have reached the conclu-
sion that the design upon which the
work rs now being prosecuted abundant
ly fulflls the required degree of stability
and goes far beyond the limits of what
would be regarded as sufficient and safe
in any less important structure
Slips Are Not Serious.
"In regard to the slips which have oc-
Cured at several times. they assert that
they are of no serious consequence,
either In the practical execution of the
work or in the ultimate stability Of the
structure
Having considered the proper height
for the crest of the Gatun dam, they
concluded that IT could be safely re-
duced 20 feet from that originally pro-
posed. namely. to an elevation of 1l5 feet
above sea level, or 80 feet above the nor
NAL level of the water against the dam.
This change. they say. will facilitate
the work Of construction and will reduce
somewhat the cost Of the proposed work.
Canal to Cost $500, 1000.
Their estimate Of the complete cost
Of the canal is $3.50. 100000. They say II Is
incorrect to state that the original esti-
mate cost was $40, Co., 900. as this did not
include sanitation and zone government.
They estimate the expense OF sanitation
and zone government at $27,000.000, while
payments to the Republic Of Panama and
to the new Panama Canal Company
amount to $50000.0oo. which would make
the difference between the present esti-
mate and the previous estimate, with cost
of sanitation and zone government and
payments added. only $143.0000O0. OF
this amount they say, nearly one-halt
can be accounted for by the changes In
the canal and appurtenant works already
referred to and the remainder is to be at
tributed mainly to the higher unit cost
Of the different items OF the work."
Commentator Is expressed at the pres
ent condition of the work, and the en-
gineers voice the belief that Sin no other
great construction work has so much
been done for employees In the way Of
furnishing necessities. comforts and lux
uries of life at the cost of the work as
has been done in this work. This is one
reason for the high cost Of the canal"
Protected from Quakes.
Replying to the criticism that ''the
canal region In liable to earthquake
shocks and that sea level canal would
be less subject to injury by earthquakes
than a lock canal" they assert that
dams and locks are structures of great
stability and little subject to damage by
earthquake Shocks. but that even II they
| could regard earthquakes as source of
serious damage to any type of canal on
the isthmus their effect upon the dams.
locks and regulating works proposed for
the sea level canal would be much the
same as upon similar structures Of the
lock canal
As to the question of water supply they
say: TT is so much greater than any
need thnt can be reasonably anticipated
that the best method OF securing more
water when the time of need arrives does
not require to be considered now They
report that they can find no reason ia
apprehend important loss OF water by
seepage through the ridges surrounding
Gatun dam. while In our Judgment
they add. the bed OF the lake will Be
practically impervious to water"
curie,4ss Cass ~ Taleo atkv