The point which remains unsettled is the question of type, whether the canal shall be one of several locks above sea level, or at sea level with a single tide lock.  On this point I hope to lay before the Congress at an early day the findings of the Advisory Board of American and European Engineers, that at my invitation have been considering the subject, together with the report of the Commission thereon, and such comments thereon or recommendations in reference thereto as may seem necessary.

The American people is pledged to the speediest possible construction of a canal adequate to meet the demands which the commerce of the world will make upon it, and I appeal most earnestly to the Congress to aid in the fulfillment of the pledge.  Gratifying progress has been made during the past year, and especially during the past four months.  The greater part of the necessary preliminary work has been done.  Actual work of excavation could be begun only on a limited scale till the Canal Zone was made a healthful place to live in and to work in.  The Isthmus had to be sanitated first.  This task has been so thoroughly accomplished that yellow fever has been virtually extirpated from the Isthmus and general health conditions vastly improved.  The same methods which converted the island of Cuba from a pest hole, which menaced the health of the world, into a healthful place of abode, have been applied on the Isthmus with satisfactory results.  There is no reason to doubt that when the plans for water supply, paving, and sewerage of Panama and Colon and the large labor camps have been fully carried out, the Isthmus will be, for the tropics, an unusually healthy place of abode.  The work is so far advanced now that the health of all those employed in canal work is as well guarded as it is on similar work in this country and elsewhere.

In addition to sanitating the Isthmus, satisfactory quarters are being provided for employes and an adequate system of supplying them with wholesome food at reasonable prices has been created.  Hospitals have been established and equipped that are without their superiors of their kind anywhere.  The country has thus been made fit to work in, and provision has been made for the welfare and comfort of those who are to do the work.  During the past year a large portion of the plant with which the work is to be done has been ordered.  It is confidently believed that by the middle of the approaching year a sufficient proportion of this plant will have been installed to enable us to resume the work of excavation on a large scale.

What is needed now and without delay is an appropriation by the Congress to meet the current and accruing expenses of the commission.  The first appropriation of $10,000,000, out of the $135,000,000 authorized by the Spooner act, was made three years ago.  It is nearly exhausted.  There is barely enough of it remaining to carry the commission to the end of the year.  Unless the Congress shall appropriate