New-York tribune., 1909-01-25
MAY ALTER CANAL PLAN
MR. TAFT INTIM4TES POS
SIBLE ACTION.
Present ErcardtiOn Suitable for
Either Lock or Sea LeUeI Uater-
scay-To Cost Ouer $500, 900, 900.

Charleston, s. c.. Jan 24.-Wiam II. Taft
in his speech here last night intimated that the
plans for the Panama Canal may yet be changed
TO provide for sea level waterway The work
that is to be done in Panama by the present
expedition" he said rs one of navigation OBJ
servation and discussion the work that is
going down there The Congress. he said
had required by law that the lock type should be
built From some Of the metropolitan journals
he said. IT would appear that his visit was TOT
settle this question
Il don't think that the work has progressed So
far but that change might be made without
great cost" he continued But unless the
change is made promptly, or within year, great
expense would be entaiIed"
Mr.. Stearns of Boston Mr Taft said was the
greatest authority In the world on dams He
predicted that If different judgment and
clusion reached, the present President and
the next he believed. would not be bound by the
pride of opinion. but would recommend
change. The cost he asserted, must not stand
in the way of the completion OF the project.
Almost all the money already spent has been
for excavation which would have 10 be done.
matter what the type shall be.
ut is going to cost probably more than $500
100000" he said. but going to build the
canal, and do it expeditiously."
As to the time he said he believed the engi-
neers had hopes Of an earlier completion than
they had estimated. Il don't count on it's com
pletion in my term of office"
Not in eight years." said voice.
Wei" Mr.. Taft replied with broad smile,
"If l can count continuance of the vigor-
opposition of the Charleston papers l think
l may safely predict that ii will be finished
under a Republican administration"
while l have been playing golf the distin-
guished man who is dischargng the duties of
that office is riding a hundred miles, which
shows that l have nothing but the honor with
out the responsibility of the Office" said Mr.
Taft. during his remarks
After some righteousness on losing the golf
game. Mr.. Taft remarked seriously that
Charleston was in his mind. the finest old city
in the country.
The Panama trip of President-elect Taft and
party will begin at $50 o'clock tomorrow
morning, when Mr. and Mrs. Taft will board the
cruiser North Carolina now in Charleston Har-
bor Tie trip will end at New Orleans on Feb
ruary 13 At South Pass one hundred miles be
low New Orleans. Mr.. Taft's party will be trans
ferred to the scout cruisers Birmingham and
Salem for the trip up the mouth of the Mis-
sissipp River This arrangement has been made
so that the North Carolina and the Montana
NAV escort the Atlantic battleship fleet into
port on its return from the world cruise.
Mr. Tafts Immediate party, which sails on
the North Carolina, includes, besides himself
and Mrs Taft, Assistant Secretary Wendal
Mischler, l.. c. Wheeler. Secret Service opera
tive. and the following eminent civil engineers:
Frederick P. Stearns, Boston: John +. Freeman,
Providence r. l.; James Schuyler Los Angeles;
Ischam Randolph. Chicago; Henry r Allen.
Chicago; A P Davis, Washington, and Allen
Hazen. New York. Monco Lopez. Mr.. Tafts
Filipino valet also goes along. The passenger
Iis+ s,f the Montana includes eight newspaper
correspondents and Richard Jarvis, of the Secret
Service.
Mrs Taft Senator G. p Knox Frank H.
Hitchcock and the engineers reached here this
morning Mr. Taft attended services at the
Unitarian Church this morning and spent the
rest of the day and until after 10 O'Clock to-
night in the country
Mr. Taft had no statement to make tonight
regarding the conferences which he held here
to-day with Senator Knox and Mr. Hitchcock.
both of whom arrived here this morning in
sponse e kilograms from Mr. Taft requesting
them TO meet him in Charleston.
rather unusual incident of the day was the
anpearance before MIR. Taft by appointment of
colonel E j. Watson. Commissioner Of Agri-
culture and Emigration in South Carolina. and
y committee reDresentin- 10000 Democratic
voters They presented resolutions urging the
"a upojnt tment of Secretary OF Agriculture
Ta,ues Wilson. Mr.. Taft thanked them fOr COM
ms but told them that ne would not announce
th,. makeup 81 his cabtnet rntl one or two
,,ays ,etore his inauguration.