REPORT OF BOARD OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, PANAMA CANAL..


 Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Wallace in his article did not give us any detail or statement, I think--I may be mistaken in this-as to the treatment of the Chagres River during the construction of the canal from Bohio up to Obispo, as to how the water is to be taken care of during construction. I would be obliged if you would enlighten us on that point, Mr. Wallace.
 Mr. WALLACE. The solution of that question I consider would be simplified by the imediate construction of the Gamboa dam, which would leave only the regulated flow of the Chagres to contend with, instead of the flood waters.
 Mr. STEARNS. And what provision would be made for the regulated flow?
 Mr. WALLACE. The diversion channels. I mean on the sea-level plan. Of course the diversion channels should be constructed immediately and they would take care of the regulated flow.
 Mr. RANDOLPH. How long did you figure it would take to build that dam?
 Mr. WALLACE. Of course that depends on the time at which the dam is authorized. If the engineers on the ground could know by, say, the 1st of next April or even the 1st of July that that dam would be constructed, it should be completed in two dry seasons afterwards. That is, if they are able to get the necessary material on the ground for use during the first dry season at the commencement of that dry season, and have the organization and everything all ready for it, then I should judge it would take about two dry seasons from that time to complete it. It might take three.
 Mr. RANDOLPH. That is the dam that goes to elevation 200, is it?
 Mr. WALLACE. Yes. Of course the bulk of that dam is inside of what might be called the center of gravity of haul from the Culebra cut; and one of the methods I had in view was the construction of a railroad from Culebra to that dam in order to deliver the material there. While it would probably cost something more per cubic yard to deliver the material at that point over and above what it would cost to waste it in the cheapest way, still it would make the filling comparatively inexpensive.
 Mr. STEARNS. Could the diversion channels be built in the same time, sufficient to take the regulated flow?
 Mr. WALLACE. Yes.
 Mr. STEARNS. And also the diversion channels on the other side of the canal, to take the small streams that come in?
 Mr. WALLACE. I do not see why they could not be.
 Mr. STEARNS. Have you made figures as to the number of cubic yards to be removed for those diversion channels?
 Mr. WALLACE. No, sir. The reason that was not done was this: During ny administration there as chief engineer the work was taking up all the time, and all the men we had were occupied in doing work that was absolutely essential. The question of whether we needed diversion channels or not, or when and how they would be located, could not be determined until it was ascertained whether the canal would be at sea level or with multilocks or intermediate lakes, and I did not think it was advisable to neglect work that was pressing to make comparative estimates of that nature then, as the amount was small and the matter a minor consideration at that time as a whole.
 Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Chairman, has Mr. Wallace seen the plans we brought back from Panama in which those diversions were shown in detail?
 The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Wallace saw that map when it was on the Isthmus; I think I have talked with him about it; but this plan, Mr. Wallace, shows the line of the canal on a scale of about I in 5,000, and on its margins are shown various diversions. You recollect that?
 Mr. WALLACE. Yes.
 Mr. STEARNS. I would like to ask Mr. Wallace if he has ever looked at those channels to ascertain whether they appeared to hare sufficient capacity to take the regulated flow?
 Mr. WALLACE. No; except in this general way: It may be unscientific to say it, but those of us who have been engaged in active practice for years, after a while, when we look at matters generally and go over territory in the field and look at plans, can form a very close idea of whether a general scheme is.practicable or not without going into detailed calculations.


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