The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-06
ABOUT THE CANAL.

4AOtO AeS 6AW1Sos 6"N Raleigh Evening Times. "been talk to the effect that . mistake was made in the selection of the route for the Panama Canal. Before the selection was made both routes proposed had ardent defenders. And since actual work began there have been many complaints, and attacks on the plan. the route and the character of the work done. The incoming President. in order to fully inform himself as to conditions on the isthmus, will go to Pauama next month and make an investigation on his own account. He will be accompanied by number of competent engineers, who win study the conditions and inspect the work that has been done. It would be a cause for gratineation # the report from these engineers could be accepted as final and the work then allowed to proceed along the lines de- cided upon without further adverse criticism from anybody. It would seem that by this time in the stage of the work that what is best to be done could be decided upon. that com potent men could be found to do it and the work allowed to proceed in peace"
 We sincerely hope. with The Times. that Taft's associates, represented to be we'll informed and competent en- gineers. will be able to make q, report that will be final and conclusive as to the work to be done and the way 1t shall be done. There has already been enough, and more than enough of backing and filling. alterations and amendments and changing of plans. and 1t Is high time something defi- mite were being decided on and car ried out. The men who insisted on substituting the Panama for the Mica raugus route could not of course fore see all the difficulties in the way. Most of them were practically as ig- norant on the subject as the average farper is, for they were not engi- neers nor experts. and consequently could not have real knowledge of what was required and must be ac- compiished. As to that matter, the best of the engineers were naturally unable to see and anticipate the ob . stacles t -A would present themselves as the work progressed.
 The consequence of this uncertainty and want of foreknowIedge has natur- ally been that the progress of the work has not been at all satisfactory and in some phases the results have been discourasiAg. We have had many glowing and optimistic reports and statements about the work, on the one hand, and on the other there have been predictions of final and complete failure. and there have been many who professed to understand what they were saying who have de. clared in the most positive language that the canal will never be finished and operated at all.
 It is fair, we think. to assume that each class of comments is partially wrong. The work has not progressed as rapidly and completely as was hoped and predicted. and it is not as far advanced as some have declared, nor is it probable that the obstacles in the way are inEurmountable It should have been expected that the work osfbuilding a lock canal at Pan. anna would contain problems of vast importance, and some that could not possibly be foreseen. It was equally to be expected that as the work pro- gressed dificulties would be encount- cred which no human wisdom could foresee and provide against. The work of building a lock- and dam es-