The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-07-22
TO VISIT CANAL ZONE
How the President Will Explore
Isthmus of Panama.
BEARCHMG INQUIRY TO BE MADE

fno0es OF ConotfuCt1On WOrk-WuI
Don Rubber Boots and Closely Elk
anime Culebra Cut.
President Roosevelt's decision to
visit the isthmus Of Panama to &C
quaint. himself with the situation in
me canal zone will cause the dirt to
1y, as those charged with the construc-
ton Of the Panama canal will exert
themselves to make great progress in
the work before Mr.. Roosevelt arrives,
says Washington special dispatch to
the New York World.
All the details Of the trip have not
been arranged, but it is known that
President Roosevelt, accompanied by
Secretary Taft, Theodore p. Shonts,
chairman Of the Panama canal COM
mission, and one or two other persons,
Will leave Washington Nov. and will
60 to the isthmus on one of the crack
warships. The vessel has not yet been
selected nor has the personnel Of the
party fully been determined. Secretary
Loeb may accompany the president,
and some Of the executive clerks and
a stenographer or two will be aboard
the ship to enable the president to
transact public business which requires
his attention. The vessel will be equip
ped with wireless teiegraphic appara-
tus, and from the time the president
departs he will be in constant commu-
nication with Washington.
If present plans are carried out the
president will start from the Washing
ton navy yard on board the yacht May
flower and will steam to Fortress Mon
roe, where he will be transferred to
the vessel which will take him to. Co
ion. This vessel wilkbe one Of the best
in the navy, and one will be chosen
that is equipped. with admirars quar-
tiers, which will be occupied by the
president. The meals for the entire
party will be served In the dining room
Of the admiral's quarters. After the
vessel reaches Colon the presidential
party will retain its quarters on board
the ship and will visit the canal zone
from time to time. The president will
be the guest of Governor Magoon at
his official residence on one or two &C.
casions.
Extreme precautions will be taken
to guard the president from yellow fe-
yer. This disease practically has been
wiped out In the canal zone, according
to the latest Official reports. and case
has not made its appearance for some
time. Notwithstanding, the president
will not take any chances Of being bit
ten by mosquitoes which spread yellow
fever, and his quarters will be equip
ped with mosquito netting, so as to
make 1t practically impossible for one
Of these insects to nip him and sub
ject him to the danger Of contracting
the disease.
President Roosevelt desires to see
every phase of the work Of construc-
ton, from the rebuilding Of the Pana-
ma railroad, which Is an important fac
tor in this great undertaking, to the
excavation of the soil with the modern
steam shovels and the disposition of
the material that will be taken from
the canal. He will also look into the
question of handling freight, about
which there has been so much trouble,
and will inquire about the docking ia
cilities, which have been anything but
adequate for the enormous quantities
Of machinery and other freight that
have been shipped to the isthmus pre-
paratory to the real work Of digging
the canal.
, The engineering problems also will
engage much Of his time, and he will
learn from actual experience the exact
conditions that led to the construction
Of lock canal instead Of one Of the
sea level type. and why it required so
many long months to get data to en-
able the engineers to pass on this ques-
ton. The extreme difficulties involved
In the labor question will also be pre-
sented to President Roosevelt, and
he will be given an opportunity to see
for himself the difference between the
labor found in the United States and
that on the isthmus.
One Of the most important features !
Of the construction Of the canal-the
Culebra cut-and the one which pre-
sents the most vexatious problems will
be studied with great interest by the
president The soil In this cut is soft
clay, and the mountain flanking the cut
Is very high. This clay is so PREACHER
Gus that when the engineers least ex-
pect 1t thousands Of tons Of it slide
down into the cut, bury the machinery
with which the laborers are working
and necessitate the removal Of the soil
again. The cut fills up frequently, and
It is feared that the entire mountain
will have to be removed.
President Roosevelt will don rubber
boots reaching to his hips and, clad in
q macintosh and other appropriate
garments, will make a close examina-
ton Of the Culebra cut. In fact, he
will go over every inch Of territory on
the isthmus belonging to the United
States. He will travel to the Pacific
side of the isthmus over the Panama
railroad, which practically has been re-
built and is now a modern railway.
Secretary Taft, Governor Magoon
and Chairman Shonts, each of whom