New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-01
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
CANAL Plans AG4IN.
The Logic of the Situation Said to
Require Sea LeUel Canal.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

Sir: The remarks made by Ar. Taft on the eve q
sailing for the isthmus. quoted in The tribune
Of January 25. show thar the canal problem nov
appears its light Mr.. Taft apparently real
ICES that the level plan has n its favor the
elements OF time and cost. and appreciates the fact
that the Gatun dam is but one OF the many quss-
tons whose satisfactory answer IS found only IN a
sea level canal He also realizes that the actual
results attained by Cocktails sbert SIifer and their
able allies and faithful suoalterns OF more than
three times the estimated million yards per month
make the sea level canal the canal without danger
question OF risk. the logical type
DO not intend 70 quote t.e long list OF horrors
destruction OF property ard loss OF life that have
resulted from dam failures from the tine q n,
bursting OF the Johnstown dam sp 10 date nor "a
ask space for the long list OF wrecked dams that
the best engineering talent fudzed to have an zps
facto~ OF safety. but may at least remind you Of
two items of news which appeared single DAY.
last Saturday One. from Merida. Tueatan told N
that series OF earthquake shocks have started
assures foundation OF the supply rs.sr-
vors OF several large towns. and the towns are
threatened with serious suffering result OF ths
loss Of their water supply. The other from Johs--
resburg South Africa, reported that BY the burst
ing of a dam the Witwatersrand gold nine IN TIA
southwestern part OF the TransvaaI. VAS nooded
and ten white men and hundred and afty IA
tives were drowned The water from this dam also
flooded the lower section OF the town OF ElsouK
where a number OF houses were swept away ana
thirteen persons persisted
Although the majority OF the frsc hoard OF Con-
suIting engineers Panama favored q sea Level
canal. the board which accompanies NJ Tar
nominated at the suggestion OF CT the lock
members OF the old board Two others are nlsz Of
national fame experrs in dam construction. Ths
other two are in the service OF the government
and can be expected make mathematical dem
oastraton 10 favor OF the lock system that VIII b
convincing 70 any who NAY, through lack oS con-
sderation. already favor the lock type To be %
value the report Of the engineers Who accompany
Mr.. Taft must cover The following points,
L srrYa4 at --Sa -
excavation IS soo0o50 yards month. whereas
the original estimate was 1,o1D.eoo:
Is It true that this rate OF excavation Is Ess-
ceptible OF increase IN the daytime. ana aIss
that night work is perfectly practicable. thereby
doubling the and having the time q o5mpis-
tions
Is = true that the present rate Of excavation
,-o,Id cornplete q sea level canal OF minimum
width Of 20 feet as originally planned n far less
time than that now estimated for = look canal?
Is II true that The present rate Of excs-
Walton a sea level canal Of minimum botso1z
width Of 80 feet can BE opsned IN ;1s sans tins
as now estimated for z lock ca1ale
5 Is it true that impact rock shattsrins ns5hots
( have been shown in the London conferences to ez-
cavats submarine rock for less than one-n1tn tas
/ estimated cost az Panama.
: Is = true that a sea level cana = 81 fest
minimum can Re nzvigstsd mere quickly than
lock canaIe
Is il true that - would - impossible 70 block
traffic IN such level canal for over sSo weeks
I that only ~ Efn EllB sCSs-+-
Is IL true that the foundations q tne proposed
CstUn dam are not al that could be desiredE
Il j. true that IN dry weather ths duration ot
ne water under pressure n ire proposed Sa1ua
Lake might possibly exceed TIE inFoV
"a Is Il true that n extreme d7outH tas 0a-s1se
~ = single vessel through the ioczs Would con
suune four hours flow Of al the streams mo US
lake2
II. Is It true that in dry weather trAtao 'hF0ssa
: lock canal would have 20 Re susPendea.
-r-7a that e II Al SdFL1o41As
IL Is il, true that from -sl 70 isS there vsT.
~ Pz-s-71 rreulors ard light SHOCKS. some O
sr1 severity that people -a1 OF c: t-si- houses
:. Il IL 1rue that sight quake might cause =
+ssre taat would result = TIE out-tns or q rs
entire Iakd o. The ruiz % TIE locks. -
: IA s. --le thar experience o. TIE Na7cHssleF
rs3si and the so demonstrates re 1aatA=ila'i-
-, L.. q accidents 20 the locks proposed a.
= T. re tsat an accident 70 the locks Voula
,-,sab7x 4,san re draining Of re lake % srsa
an extent as would require soo-- e.
- ,e,r s-5ua-ins and serial uavisa-
ion has -kaohs5 such a Stage tAat a Aos'-s l'1's
~--rs sasrEor the loss. despite 1o-tlaczt-o--
: = II tue that tropical winds sn1 ioss 800
BE more SERIOUS fer Navigation II . -1oA
Il ,-,s rat TIE cals1 engineer and aiso
- r-lf,ss = IRE Manchester cana a-e oa Fs.-
= So IL ses lsvs! canal a. Panama fo- "a
sons n rlts- eNreT-sI,-e- -
=, = Il ----a -rar IRE Masters ard POS ~
,-5.,t,-7 A-s the Shipping Interests ara a l--' "
favor Of SEA Isvsl A. Panama
I = = 4 --,,A thst Insurance. raves No2a -
,;-Hs- tH+o-Eh q lock canal -,
= - II re that cost q operating sea -@'s4
,7 vro-l5 be e..t = fraction @ I1at G eps7A'As
2 lock cztalc -. -
- Il II tr,e that with u-IlIc-s @ Peg V
49, ra-f4- Coast dependent On ire rrr1-i- 'Hl1s
- -~,-s1 4,- their livelihood serious suslS-s'
E vvsaa=--ezE S-Er-erll-s -
financial Disaster
- Is ID true that ne ceciSo-' u - --s-gs
-s-of vas made in good fsith. and tHat q -
= -. - now il, view 81 the splendid ac-ie.s-
s5S = ~ I--,ited states army engineers -l'sT'
esrsurs 10 10 oSec -,-s
=. Is il tree that Ne a. $ l17.-l" - - -vos-
n have any canal 81 Panama H--- --7
si5le Jype toc continuous 7FSl,i'-- f,s-s %
= he study % the present advisor 80 -,
+-- -,,---s these uoircS thsi- recl 11--e1-
--rs- hs for sea levsl canal - fsi.---1 -,
- however wide their reputation. t-e> -,
nv demonstrate an adherence - t1sir 1-'''' -.
s--,.--5or Irrespective q TIE -s-sc-reI17-'S =
zs+,,s-sar srS render report rsat Ni-l o
,r4,e,~s so- ths indlSpuJshls Icsic O '-7 =.
- rs,,.i-ss that the Panama Caila p
level Hf-->E>h - -. ,-,-.-syrs
Member American Institute q Minins z--'e
View York Jan. ~ lSa