The Washington herald., 1910-01-10
SOUNDS AN ALARM
Langley Scores Lack of Sc
crecy at Panama.
ANY ONE MAY INSPECT WORK
Representative from Kentucky, Just
Back from Isthmus, Questions the
Wisdom OF Allowing Details of
Canal Construction to BE Sketched
or Photographed by Foreigners.

Representative John ". Langley. Of
Kentucky. who returned 10 Washington
last night from a tour Of inspection on
the Canal Zone, expressed his surprise at
! the lack Of secrecy maintained at Pana-
ma and the promiscuous permission given
any one and every one to inspect every
detail or the work
I heard that only recently expert en-
gineers representing the japanese govern
ment have made thorough inspection OF
the plan Of the works. taking copious
notes and photographs" said the Repre-
| sentative.
Il question the wisdom OF thus per-
mitting possible future beligerents 10
obtain such intimate knowledge Of a work
which would be SO Indispensable 20 our
government IN the event Of a war with a
foreign power. or course. these Japa-
nese experts were not seeking information
to aid them iB building a similar canal
Of their own"
Pleased with Progress,
Representative Langley who was ac-
comPanied by his wife, spent some time in
going over the Zone. and expressed his
qualification at the progress made on the
canal since his last visit. IN March. 1907.
He speaks In q complimentary way Of
the work or Col GOethals and the mar
velous systematic organization which he
and his associates have perfected. not
only IN the work Of construction itself
but IN everything auxiliary thereto.
Il see IN New York dispatch. pub
lished in to-day's papers," Mr.. Langley
added. that am quoted as speaking in
a pessim!stic vein regarding the canal
This dispatch omits most everything l
did say, and places a wrong construction
OF what little 10 quotes OF my language.
Il did express the opinion that on ac-
ccNut o. the Unprecedented amount of
rain they are having on the lsthmus.
and the unexpected trouble with slides
they would probably not bs able to get
the canal ready for business by January
I. 1915, and think you viii find that this
Is correct.
I also expressed the opinion that be-
cause OF these conditions and OF the
further fact that ell the estimates thus
far made have proven too low. the
entire cost would exceed the present
estimate. and would amount to at least
s. head for every man. woman. and
child IN the United States, which would
OF course come pretty close to half
billion; and think you will find that
to be true also.
Not TNnocker.
Il do not wish TO be understood as
seeking to knock the canal. IN any sense,
because It is grand piece OF work. and
our country win always be proud OF it.
But when measured by the actual, prac-
ucal benefit that Il viii be TO the masses
Of the people OF the United States, who
are contributing the money to build If.
fear the results will be disappointing.
unless our government expends at least
as much more in improving our internal I
waterways and IN building interstate pub /
Tic highways 20 afford them means Of /
reaching. with their products. the canal. /
and, through It, the enlarged and new
markets 20 which the canal viii open the /
way.
The execution Of this great project /
Will, OF course, Increase our prestige /
throughout the world; but viewing it in I
the light Of the material interests OF the /
people Of our own country, think these .
internal improvements are Indispensable |
to make the canal what II ought TO be to .
US. In other words, I think the expendi-
ture Of half a billion dollars at home IS
fully as important to the people as is the
expenditure Of like amount in the con-
struction OF this canal. however impor-
tant II may be from an international
Inasmuch as we are going
10 exspend nearly half billion away
from home, I am in favor Of making II
A billion, while we are about II, and using
The other half for home improvements"