REPORT OF BOARD OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, PANAMA CANAL.


the navigation officers of the Kentucky, in going through the Suez Canal, told me that they could make better speed in the curves than in the tangents.
 Mr. RIPLEY. The curves are wider than the straight reaches in the Suez?
 Mr. BATES. Yes.
 The CHAIRMAN. On page 135, you speak of sanitation. In the third line of the second paragraph is the expression, The death fee for all ages must be paid to this swamp passage." Now, as the passage will occupy ten hours or less, how much greater is the jeopardy to the passenger of the vessel than to the passenger on the railway train, say about as three hours is related to ten? Is not your statement drawing it strong?
 Mr. BATES. Perhaps a little, but on the other hand 1 think the mosquitoes are a little strong down there too.
 The CHAIRMAN. Did you ever take the trouble to investigate the truth of the statement you refer to about one dead man to each cross-tie during the building of the Panama Railroad?
 Mr. BATES. Yes, sir; and I concluded that legend should be changed to about one man to every railroad rail.
 The CHAIRMAN. There never was a more extravagant exaggeration than that.
 Mr. BATES. Yet it has been published to the world.
 The CHAIRMAN. The health record at Panama, stated in broad terms, has been good as respects the number of men sick constantly out of the employed force.
 Mr. BATES. Did you not think that the percentage of men continuously on the pay roll at Panama would be very much less than on the drainage canal at Chicago-in other words, the force would be more constantly changing?
 The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
 On page 163, New projects; estimates of cost," you give for plan A 145 millions, and other figures for the other plans. I take it to mean that you think that for 145 million dollars a contractor under the Government method of financing could safely take the work at those figures.
 Mr. BATES. Yes, sir.
 The CHAIRMAN. Does that contain a margin for contingencies?
 Mr. BATES. Yes, sir.
 The CHAIRMAN. Administration and sanitation." Does the word administration apply to the carrying on of the government of the Canal Zone or to the canal work?
 Mr. BATES. Such as the work of the administration in the Chicago Drainage Canal, and it does include sanitation. I think the problem of sanitation is very much simplified.
 The Chairman then referred to the title page and a notation there respecting copyright and reservation of professional rights, and asked for an explanation as to its significance and its import to this Board or to the Government.
 Mr. BATES. When I undertook to do this business I stipulated that if I produced something that was of value to the Government, and if it were adopted, I should be compensated for it as professional work, and a promise was made that such compensation would be appraised by such a board as this. If nothing was adopted, I took the risk and merely contributed as much as 1 could to the solution of the problem which would be dealt with. That is the import.
 The CHAIRMAN. Thank you.
 Mr. HUNTER. Would you be prepared to take a contract for this project at your estimate of 145 millions?
 Mr. BATES. I should be very glad to, or I would take it on a mileage basis.
 The CHAIRMAN. Is this 145 millions for a canal 195 feet wide, and more in certain places, on the bottom and 40 feet deep throughout?
 Mr. BATES. Yes, sir.
 The CHAIRMAN. What about a guaranty for a period of years, say ten years after completion?
 Mr. BATES. That would probably be a matter of negotiation.
 Mr. HUNTER. The principal consideration, Mr. Bates, is that of time. Would you undertake to do it in seven years?
 Mr. BATES. I think it can be done in that time.


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