Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-02-12
BEGIN FIGHT FOR
SEA LEVEL CANAL
MEMBERS OF SENATE DECLARE
LOCK TYPE SHOULD BE
ABANDONED.
CHANGE Is STILL POSSIBLE
Discussion Grows Out of Report on Bill
Increasing Limit CT Cost to
S5o0,oo0,oO0
KITTREDGE LEADS IN ARGUMENT

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 10
Panama canal troubles worried Con
gress yesterday. Members of the Sen
ate declared the type of canal now be-
ing constructed should be abandoned and
sea level canal dug. The House
wrestled with a bill changing the ad,
ministration in the canal zone
Senator kittredge, chairman of the
committee on interoceanic canals, Sena-
tor Foraker, and Senator Teller all de-
clared that they believed Il grave mis-
take had been made i'll adopting the lock
project.
The discussion grew out of a report by
Mr.. kittredge on the bill increasing the
limit OF cost for the canal to $o0O0OO.-
OOO and authorizing the secretary Of the
treasury to issue bonds to that amount.
He said that his committee had decided
that the measure should be considered
by the finance committee and he report
ed it back with the recommendation.
Nearly 100000 goo Spent.
lii making the report Mr.. Kittredge
said the canal committee disapproved of
the proposed issue of bonds. and lie
read a statement showing that expendi-
lures on account of the canal to date
have been SIT, 1854, 1853.
In his remarks Senator Kittredge said
that while the engineers of the canal
zone originally had placed the cost of
Il lock canal at $139, 100000, and had
now increased their estimates to S4O0.-
100000, whereas it had been estimated
that Il sea level canal could have been
built for $247, 100000.
Mr.. Foraker agreed with Mr. Kit
tredge that the sea level waterway
would have been preferable from an
economic standpoint.
Senator Teller also thought a sea level
canal could be constructed more cheaply
than lock canal and would be far less
dangerous i'll construction.
Sea Level Still Possible.
Mr.. kittredge said that the minority
of the board of consulting engineers had
pledged their professional regulations
that the cost of the lock type of canal
exclusive of sanitation and expenses of
the zone government, would not exceed
$139 100000
Mr.. kittredge said that in his judg-
ment the experience of the American ell
gineerS had demonstrated that the sea
level canal could have been constructed
for $247 100000. The sea level PROPOSE
ton, he said, was a matter of digging.
and III that class of work the greatest
success had been accomplished.
Have we progressed so far, in the
construction of the lock canal that we
cannot now turn to the sea level canalT'
asked Mr.. Foraker.
BY no MEANS" answered Mr.. kit
redge
He insisted that the sea level tvDe
should have been adopted at the bes.n-
ming.
Foraker Sorry for His Vote
Il want to say in this connection, -
said Mr. Foraker. that | was influenced
to change my support from the Nicara-
qua canal to the Panama canal because
| supposed that we could build a sea
level canal at Panama, and that we
thing that has occurred in connection
with that canal since then has caused
me to regret my action"
Mr.. Teller said that he had also sup
posed that when the change was made
from the Nicaragua to the Panama
route nothing less than a sea level wa
terway would be undertaken. He had
always preferred the sea level pian.
\ controversy over the height of tides
at both the Atlantic and Pacific ends OF
the canal, which was raised by Mr.. Cur
It's. brought forth the statement from the
Kansas senator that the reports of the
French engineers could not be accepted
as of value. as they did not know what
they were undertaking.
Knew as Much as Americans.
They did not said Mr. Teller AN
l want to say that they knew as much
about it rs our people-just about"
Il believe today" Mr.. Teller contin
ued that you can build a sea leve
Thor,