The Washington herald., 1909-02-18

Evidently fearing that Congress would
decide TO change the Panama Canal from
the proposed lock type 10 a sea-level
system, President Roosevelt yesterday. IN
Il special message. termed such eontem-
plated action ''inexeusable folly"
The real purpOrt OF the message was a
report prepared by the seven engineers
who accompanied Judge Taft to the
isthmus- These experts say the lock
canal completed. win cost S365. 90 and
that It viii be finished January 1. 1915.
In the language Of the Chief Executive
the engineers investigation determines
definitely the type Of canal. but makes
IL evident that hereafter attack on the
lock type Is in reality merely an attack
upon the policy Of building any canal
al all"
Gatun Dam Safe.
In the estimation OF the seven experts
the Gatun Dam is not only safe. but the
plan adopted in its construction makes
It needlessIy high and strong
They recommend that the height OF The
dam be lessened BY twenty feet, so that
the top viii be 30 instead Of 80 feet above
the water line. They said. a full study
/ OF the materials al hand and OF the plans
/ proposed with TIE above notifications
leaves no doubt IN our minds as 70 the
safe. tight. and durable character OF the
I Gatun Dam.
The engineers gave particular attention
also 20 changes that have been made n
the plans OF the minority % the board
/ Of consulting engineers Of 1875 since the
adoption Of the project. the purpose be
/ ing apparently 20 explain the large In
/! crease in the estimated cost Of the canal
The change in position OF the Paci5c
I locks. they say. viii result in an increase
/ in cost Of $1,000 900. although Il win late-
effect a saving on the f0rtiflcarOns. The
I widening OF four and a half miles OF Gull
ebra cut from 90 TO so feet means an
increase OF $120o0610. Changes IN the
| sizes Of the locks, IN TIE breakEaters
and IN the relocation OF the Panama
/ Railroad have resulted in further IN
/ c-eases rot contemplated fl the original
/ estimate
The engineers say there Is a false i'm
/ preston that the estimate OF 1873 was
Sl40.GOG010 That did not include TIE cost
+ OF sanitation and Of the Zone government
I or the payments TO TIE Panama and the
/ French company.
Adding TO the present estimate OF So
7 00,G0 for sanitation and the Zone gov
/ eminent. and S50.o'00o0 paid 10 Panama
and The new Panama Canal Company. the
+ engineers bring the 1875 estimate Up 70
/ SCI, 0'a,aaa That makes The present canal
4 estimate exceed the one Of 1865 by SIf,-
0e0O0
Lock Type Feasible.
/ The engineers co not regard the danger
or earthquake shocks as q menace to the
canal The report commends highly The
/ present organization and administration
on the isthmus. In conclusion. Il SAYS:
your board Is satisfied tna1 the dams
/ and locks. the lock gate. and all other
! engineering structures involved in the
/ lock canal project are feasible and safe.
F. and that they can be depended upon %
7 perform WITH certainty their respective
1 functions
we dc not find any occasion for chang
I ing the type Of canal that has been
7 adopted. a change 10 a sea-levei plan al
the present time would add greatly % the
cost and tine OF construction. without
compensating advantages. either IN ca
/ pacity OF canal or safety OF navigation
/ and hence would he a public misfortune.