Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-18
DECLARE CANAL
GREAT SUCCESS
Continued from Page One,

Continued from Page One,
nal is not as likely to be blocked as j
narrower one"
They approve the change in the pro-
posed location of the breakwater at
the Atlantic end of the canal.
THE estimate of the complete cost
of the canal is $3.50, 900, OOO'
They say it is incorrect to state that
the original estimate of cost was
$14O,OOO,000. as this does not include
sanitation and zone government"
One Item of Expense
They estimate the expense of santa
tion and zone government at $27, 900, 900,
while payments to the republic of
Panama and to the new Panama canal
company amounted to $4,000, 900,
which would make the difference be-
tween the present estimate and the
previous estimate, with cost of sani-
tation and zone government and pay
ments added, only $143, 100000.
"Of this amount" they say, nearly
one-half can be accounted for by the
changes in the canal and appurtenant
works already referred to, and the re-
mainder is to be attributed mainly to
the higher unit cost of the different
items of the work"
COmmendatiOn is expressed at the
present condition of the work, and the
other great construction work has so
much been done for employees in the
way of furnishing necessities. COM
forts and luXuTies 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"
In their opinion, "the work is we'll
organized and is being conducted en-
ergetically and Well"
They commend the medical and SAN
itary department for it's success in
discriminating yellow fever and con-
trolling malaria"
May Be Finished in 1914
1--WE see no reason" they add. "why
the canal should not be completed, as
estimated by the chief engineer by
January 1, 1915; in fact, it seems that
a somewhat earlier completion is prob
able, if all goes WE'LL
Considering the cost and time of
construction of a sea level canal as
compared with the lock type, they hold
that most of the factors which have
operated to increase the cost of the
! lock canal would operate with similar
| effect to Increase the cost of the sea
| level canal, and at the present time
there are additional factors of even
greater Importance to be considered
as affecting the time of completion and
COSI Oh Il sea leNei canal
One of these, they find. is the Gam
boa dam. work on which is to be start
ed as soon as possible. They declare it
| could not be completed until after the
| time required for the completion of the
! lock canal"
Further than this, they say a change
in the type would result in abandoning
work which represents large expendi-
lures.
Thew cIo;,,, +bo+ -, a.. -, T.,
river Chagres and the rivers on the
isthmus tributary thereto, "instead Of
being allies, would be enemies of the
canal and floods in them would greatly
interfere with the work"
Quakes Not Harmful
Replying to the criticism "that the
canal region is liable to earthuualxe
shocks and that a sea level canal would
be less subject to injury by earthquake
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 if they could regard earth
Quakes as a source of serious damage
to any type of canal on the isthmus,
their effect upon the dams locks an
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: cit is so much greater than
any need that can be reasonably an
ticipated that the best method of Sc
curing more water when the time of
need arrives does not require to be
considered now"
They report that they can find no
reason to apprehend important loss of
water by seepage through the ridges
e,,,v
judgment" they add, "the bed of the
lake will be practically impervious to
water"
The engineers who compose the
board are Frederick Steers, James G.
Schuyler. Arthur P. Davis, Isham Ran
dolph Henry D. Allen. John D. Free.
man and Allen Hazen.