The American Type of Isthmian Canal / Speech by Hon. John Fairfield Dryden in the Senate of the United States, June 14, 1906

HON. JOHN FAIRFIELD DRYDEN
THE JOHN F. DRYDEN STATUE
The above is a picture of the bronze statue of the late United States Senator John F. Dryden, Founder of The Prudential and Pioneer of Industrial insurance in America, erected by the John F. Dryden Memorial Association, with this inscription: A tribute of esteem and affection from the field and office force. The statue is located at the Home Office of The Prudential, Newark, N.J., and is unique, being the gift of a staff of over 16,000 employees. It cost $15,000. The sculptor was Karl Bitter.
No. 8 PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION MEMORIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
SPEECH BY HON. JOHN FAIRFIELD DRYDEN IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JUNE 14, 1906
1915 PRUDENTIAL PRESS, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
The ancient Dream of Navigators has at last been realized in the completion and successful operation of the PANAMA CANAL, fittingly commemorated by the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Among the men who contributed in a measurable degree to the attainment of this national ideal was the late United States Senator , John F. Dryden, President of THE PRUDENTIAL. As a member of the Senate Committee on Interoceanic Canals, Mr. Dryden, after mature and extended consideration, gave the weight of his influence and vote in favor of the lock-level principle of canal construction. The lock-level type was finally decided upon, although the majority of Mr. Dryden's conferees and the International Board of Consulting Engineers at first strongly favored the sea-level type. By his determined support of the one and his well-reasoned opposition to the other, Mr. Dryden was able to secure the enactment of legislation in accordance with his views and to bring about the completion of this tremendous undertaking within our time, thus leaving a permanent imprint upon the country's history.
It was on June 14, 1906, when the Canal subject was up for final consideration, that Mr. Dryden addressed the Senate. The official records show that S. 6191, to provide for the construction of a sea-level canal connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and the method of construction, was before Congress, and it was in opposition to this measure that Mr. Dryden patriotically pledged his devotion to American enterprise and American ability by declaring for the lock-level type of canal, built by American engineers and under American supervision, concluding with the following words, which deserve to be recalled on this memorable occasion as a tribute to the native genius and enterprise of the American people: