The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-24
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the case like the Panama canal, but 1t
seems TO be appropriate 10 adopt II with
reference TO other projects. refer TO
those definite projects that have been
agreed in respect TO the improvement of
our inland waterways. | would not begin
the expenditure OF money on any project
the wisdom of which had not been fully
vindicated, but having determined To put
through the Improvement, II ought not
20 be done by fits and starts but 1t ought
TO be done as one job.
This statement has peculiar applica-
tion 10 the river and harbor bill, which
now has passed the house. The Ohio
Improvement. TO cost S63, 900, 900. is en-
tered upon and an appropriation made for
its continuation. The same thing Is true
OF the improvement of the Mississippi,
from ST. Paul TO ST. Louis and the same
Missouri river from Kansas City to st.
Louis These projects seem TO be war
ranted by the traffic in sight
Errors in Estimates.
while am dealing with the Panama
canal. however, l ought 10 refer TO the
discrepancy between estimated cost OF
the enterprise and the actual cost. as we
are now able 10 Tx 1t with considerable
accuracy within four or five years of It's
completion.
and construction of the canal was s139-
700 900. Its actual cost for engineering
and construction will be s297 100000 an
increase OF si67 300. 900. This increase
probation in the cost OF labor and mate
rial by the time when the estimate was
made in 1900 and the time when the work
was done between 1904 and 1909; second
by the fact that the canal has been en-
larged substantially beyond the original
dimensions estimated for.
Changes in Plans
'You know that the great work OF ex-
cavation in the canal is called The Guile
bra cut, This is where the backbone OF
ha lir1n tz 1,.t=z =zt,- ln
cut. and through FIVE miles Of that cut.
which IS, about nine miles long, for pur-
poses Of economy the original plan and
estimate made the bottom of the canal
In the rock 200 feet wide. This would
not enable two Of the largest steamers to
pass each other with safety,
ITO avoid delay, 1t has been thought
wise TO increase the bottom width from
200 to 300 feet in a place and in mate
rial that, OF course. makes the change
most expensive. So too, that the canal
may be adapted TO the largest size OF
steamers. the dimensions of the six locks
have been Increased from 900 feet to 1000
feet usuable length: and Ito feet width
This was done at the instance Of the
navy department. which predicts vessels
Of beam exceeding 100 feet
More Changes Necessary.
at has also been found necessary Ia
change the character of the canal on the
Pacific side from lake with dam and
locks on the shore OF the bay Of Pana-
miles inland. so as 10 remove the locks
four miles inward and beyond the pos
siblc reach Of the guns Of an enemy In
Panama bay; These changes also have
added considerably 10 the cost.
again, IL has been found wise TO en-
large the canal into lake or basin al
the foot OF the Gatun locks, and in what
ever variation in the plans which expert
encc in the construction has demonstrate
ed the necessity for, the more thar
doubling the cost of construction and en-
gineering. has been necessary. In addi.
ton TO this. the cost of sanitation anG
government without which the cana
could not have been built will be about
SI3.o0O.oOo, and will carry the entire cos
OF the canal to s373 900 900.
Expects Good Surplus.
ITO return to the state of finances.
repeat that the surplus for the year end
ing June 30. 1911. and which we are now
making provision for in this congress by
appropriation, will be about s35, 900. 900, {
the estimates made by the department,
and transmitted by the secretary OF tn,
treasury to congress are not exceeded
and III the revenue from the tariff bill
equals that which the secretary OF tb,
treasury has estimated 1t as likely to be
This surplus is also upon the suppositioI
that the S3S 900. 900 necessary annually /,
the construction OF the Panama canal vii
be met by bonds.
''In view OF the threatened shortae.
for the year ending June 30 1911, l di
rccted the beads OF departments in max
quick and TO avail themselves OF ever,
possible economy and reduction Th
result was that the total OF the estima te
forwarded by the secretary OF the treas
ury was s42S1S.000 less than the total @
the appropriations for the previous yea
ending June 80. 1910.
"a river and harbor bill has now bee,
introduced and has passed the house
which appropriates nearly $40, 900 6o1
This is n large increase over the a1noun
estimated by the secretary of the treas
ury. In addition to this. If the buildIn