Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1905 — ENGINEER WALLACE RESIGNS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ENGINEER WALLACE RESIGNS.

Chief of the Panama Canal Construction Force Quits His Job. John F. Wallace, chief engineer of the Panama canal and member of the commission, has resigned both of these po-

sitions to accept a $60,000 office with a New York corporation. Mr. Wallace, it is said, objected to the squad of minor officials appointed to pass on routine matters, demanded a freer hand and finally was angered by an order of the Secretary of War prohibiting him from

departing freqp the isthmus unless he obtained the permission of the War Department. While the administration claims to have a grievance against Mr. VVallace, he, on the other hand, is prepared, it is said, to make out a bill of complaint against the Washington officials, the chief feature of which will be that the canal will never be built jvithin the present century if politics and departmental interference are allowed to hamper the work of those on the ground. It is said that previous estimates of $250,000,000 cost and ten years’ time for the completion of the canal wilFhave to be more than trebled if the actual results of the past month are taken as a criterion. The astonishing statement is made by one well informed on Panama affairs that at the rate of excavation accomplished in the month of May the completion of the canal would require more than 100 years. The cost of the excavation at the same time has increased three or four times the unit figure used in estimating the total cost of the water way. Mr. Wallace is to become the head of the Metropolitan Railway Company’s new subway system in New York, a great undertaking, destined to yield enormous profits. Paul Morton had virtually accepted the place when he was selected as the head of the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Mr. Wallace’s salary on the canal has been $25,000 a year, and report has it that he will begin in New York City at $60,000 a year. One official graphically expressed Mr. Wallace’s decision to resign by the statement that he had got “cold feet.” There no longer is any question that the yellow fever situation on the isthmus is far worse than generally warffielieveffl Returns which have been received in Washington show that there is more sickness during the present year than has prevailed during the last twelve years, nine of which were under French administration. The result is that employes are leaving the zone by every steamer, and the commission finds difficulty in getting men to accept positions. The President is doing everything he can to bring about the immediate improvement. He has authorized Gov. Mar goon and Major Gorgas, medical officer in charge of sanitation, to adopt any measures they may consider advisable to eradicate yellow fever from the isthmus.

J. F. WALLACE.