The Washington herald., 1909-02-13
Ii VIII Be q Lock Csnal


tied in Mr.. Tafts mind According 20
his announcement at New Orleans the
work Is to go on at the isthmus just
as it has been proceeding. and there are
20 be 70 changes in the fundamentals Of
the plan. The engineers agree that the
lock canal and the Gatun dam are prac-I
ucable and safe. though they VIII recon-
mend some important changes in detail
Mr. Tsft's hope that. the canal may be
completed during the next four years in
dicates a belief that the work may be
expedited. At all events, his faith that
the canal may be finished by 1915. as Col
Goethals has frequently predicted. ap-
pears mistaken. Whatever carping critics
may say. Mr. Taft's CHEEKY optimism
concerning the ultimate success Of this
vast enterprise accords better with the
American spirit than the gloomy prog
nosucsuons We have been treated 70 OF
late.
n the nature OF the case. the people
and. in lesser degree. their representa-
tives in Congress must rely upon ad-
miuistrative officers and engineer ad-
visers for correct judgment as 10 the type
OF canal and for the actual carrying out
OF the project. The best engineering
talent IN the country has been eoncentrst-
ed on the canal problem. II has been
thoroughly studied from every side. and
Mr. Taft himself. 10 say nothing OF The
army officers now in direct charge OF
construction. are familiar with every
phase Of IL. These men are risking their
personal regulations and their future
fame on the successful execution OF the
project II they cannot be trusted. II
their judgment and professional skill can
not be relied on. It IS impossible to say
on whose judgment and skill we can rely
Certainly. there are few members OF
Congress who have given the problem
sufficient study 10 he able 10 pronounce
a valuable Judgment upon II. Most OF
them doubtless feel that their own
opinions must be guided largely by those
Of the people directly responsible for the
completion OF the work. They are bound
10 accept expert advice. provided it seems
reasonable and judicious Taking this
point Of view. Congress authorized the
lock canal. and It IS not called upon 20
revise its judgment unless very weighty
reasons are brought forward for so do
ing From present appearances such req
sons VIII not be forthcoming.
It is interesting to recall. in view Of
the obvious purpose OF canal critics to
diseredit the decision Of the Roosevelt
administration favorable 20 a lock canal.
that both the President and Mr. Taft
were predispOsed TO the sea-leveI project
prior 10 the examination into the ques-
ton Of canal type by the board OF en-
gineers appointed in 1876. which reached
a divided opinion. IN an address TO that
board. Mr. Roosevelt said he felt the sea
level canal 20 be the best in the end. If
feasible. and Mr. Taft. in transmitting
the report Of the board 10 the President.
confessed that he had originally thought
the sea-level canal would be much more
certain to satisfy the demands Of the
worlds commerce, but that he had been
converted TO the contrary view by the
report Of the minority. Mr. Roossvelts
judgment. as stated in his message TO
Congress. was affected by the conclusions
of Chief Engineer John F. Stevens. who
thus summarized the advantages OF the
lock as compared with the sea-leveI canal:
1t VIII provide as safe and quicker passage for
ships, and therefore VIII BE- q greater csTscty.
1T win provide beyond question the beSt solution
q the vital problem Of how safely 10 care for the
food waters q the ChsgTes and other streams
Provision Is made for charging Us capacity 70
almost any eEteut at very much less expense q
tine and money thar can he provided for by any
ssa-leveI Plan.
Its cost y operation. maintenance and fixed
charges wiz he very much less than any sea-levei
canal
The tine and cost Of is construction VII be not
more than one-baH that Of canal q the sez-le7ei
typs.
FIVE American engineers constituting the
minority Of the board Of consulting en-
gineers. we're accepted by all but one of
the then members OF the Isthn1ian Canal
Commission. BY Mr. Taft, and by the
President. and were finally accepted by
/ Congress. None OF them has been sue
( eessfuIly challenged, unless Senator Kit
redge was correct in his assertion the
other day-that sea-Ievel canal would
De cheaper than the existing project,
which IS improbable. Il the basis Of the
original judgment has been proved to be
sound as the verdict OF the engineers
with Mr.. Taft would seem to show. il is
not surprising that the decision Of the
President-eleet should be to 20 ahead on
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