The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-02-17

y
made hereafter on the lock type of the
Panama canal. according to the opin
ion expressed by President Roosevelt
in a message transmitting to congress
today, the report made by the engl
neers who recently visited the canal
zone with President-Elect Taft, is in
reality merely an attack upon the pol
icy of building any canal at all" The
report. in Mr.. Roosevelty opinion
shows. In clearest fashion that the
congress was wise in the position 1t
took. and that II would be inexcusable
folly TO change from the proposed Jock
canal to a sea level canal.
II commend to you." he says to con-
gross "the most careful consideration
OF the report They show that the
only criticism, that can be made OF
the work on the isthmus. is that there
has sometimes been almost excess of
caution in providing against possible
trouble. AS to the Gatun dam itself,
they show that not only Is the dam
safe but that on the whole the plan
already adopted would make 1t un-
necessarily high and strong, and ac-
height be reduced by twenty feet,
which changed plans l have accord
lngly directed
President Roosevelt says that the
engineers who made the report, ARE
all the mon In their profession with
In or without the United States, the
men who are on the whole. best quail
lfied 10 pass upon these very questions
which they examined"
The engineers report that, as the
Gatun earth dam was the central point
of discussion, they gave 1t under in
structions from Mr.. Taft, first consid-
eration In the light of all new eyi-
\ dcnce," and they add that the type
Of dam now under consideration is ono
which meets with our unanimous ap-
proval"
They say they are satisfied that
there Will be no dangerous or obJec-
tionable se7Dage through the mater
ials under the base OF the dam, nor
are they so soft as TO be liable to be
pushed aside by the weight Of the
proposed dam so as 10 cause danger.
ous settlement. We are also satisfied
that the material available, and which
1t is proposed to use, is suitable and
can readily be placed TO form tight,
uteble and permanent dam
Dams and locks, lock gates. and all
other engineering structures inYolv-
od In the lock canal project. are ''feas-
ible and safe" according to the engi-
heers. and they can be depended up.
on TO perform with certainty their re.
tpeciye functions
They report that they do not find
any occasion for changing the type
OF the canal that has been adoDted. A
cnange to sea level plan at the present
nme would add greatly TO the cost
and time OF construction. without COM
pensating advantages, either In capac-
lty OF the canal or safety OF nayiga,
ton, and hence would be a public mis-.
fortune.
We do find" they say. I'm the de-
talief designs that have been adopt,
CO. or that are reconsideration, some
matters where other arrangements,
,nan those now considered. are wor-
tny OF study AS these proposed con.
oltions are of tentative nature and
90 not In any case affect the main
questions herein discussed they are
not taken up In this report"
They declare that the most pran-
ucel question in the construction Of
sne da,nn dam is the possible slipping
dnu sliding of the materials under.
peath and IN the body OF the DAM
IN regard to this question, they
nave reached the conclusion ''the de-
sign upon which the work is now being
prosecuted abundontly fulfills the re.
qu'red degree Of stability and goes far
beyond the limits Of what would be
regarded as sufficient and safe in any
iess important structure"
In regerdto the slips which have
occurred at several times, thew assert
mat they are "of no serious conse.
auence. either In the practical execu.
eon OF the work, or in the ultimate
STABILITY OF the structures.
having considered the proper height
loi inc crest OF the Gatun dam. they
conclude that ut could be safely ro-
auoed twenty feet from that originally
proposed, namely. 10 an elevation OF
lio ieet above sea level, or thirty feet
above the normal level OF the water
against the dam"
This change. they say will facili-
'ate the work OF construction and Will
reduce somewhat the cost of the pro.
posed work"
AS 10 the change OF the lower locks
on inc Pacific end OF the canal from
La boca, on the shore OF Panama bar
70 Miraflores, about four miles inland.
.ney report that the settlements which
occurred as a result OF the change
cause no reason to doubt the stabil-
NY Oh the proposed dam"
inis change having been made be,
'"use objection might be made from
= ,n'ltary point OF view TO placing
nchs on the shore Of tho bay. expos.
e9 10 guns of hostile ships. the board
VI engineers estimate that II will in.
crease the cost by about $4,000 900.
oal mat 1t will greatly lessen the cost
OF Publications
another change, that Of increasing
.ne minimum width OF the bottom OF
'Ae canal for sbout AZ miles in the