Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-07

method: the coal deposits should be sold
under limitations, to conserve them as
public utilities. the right to mine coal
being separated from the title to the
lands to be worked in sufficient quantity
by the several corporations. The pre-
sent. limitations have been absurd, ex-
cessive, and serve no useful purpose, and
often render it necessary that there
should be either fraud or else abandon
ment of the work of getting out the coal.
WORK ON THE PANAMA CANAL
Engineers of the Army Are Doing Ex-
cellent Work for the Nation
Work on the Panama canal is proceed
ing in highly satisfactory manner. In
March last John F. Stevens. chairman
Of the commission and chief engineer,
ganfzed and constituted as follows
Lieut.. Colonel Geodge W. Goethals, corps
Of engineers, United States army, chair
States army; Major William l.. sibert,
corps of engineers, United States army:
ss En nsTs Il j. EacR5 ntsd
army, and s:r Jackson Smith, COM
missionsrz a,roo This change OF author,
April !, without causing a perceptible
check TO the progress of the work. In
March the total excavation in the Cueb-
ra cut where effort was chiefly concen-
trated, was S15,270 cubic yards. In April
this was increased to s79,527 cubic yards.
There was considerable decrease in the
to the advent OF the rainy season and
partly to temporary trouble with the
steam shovel men over the question OF
factorily to all parties and In July the
total excavation advanced materially and
in August the grand total from, all points
ddredges exceeded an pre,yiouss United
yards In September this '- record was
s sa9s was snS eSta Of Of this sp1e
4sl. 3O7 cubic yards were from the canal
prism and S6,1G5 cubic yards were from
accessory works. These results were
fail n August s rs 81 sssG nch M in
September Of 11.s5 inches. Finally. in
October, the record was again eclipsed.
yards; truly extraordinary record
especially in view of the heavy rainfall.
which was Ill inches: In fact, expert
ence during the last two rainy seasons
demonstrates that the rains are a less
serious obstacle to progress than has
hitherto been supposed
! WORK ON THE LOCKS
Work on the locks and dams at Gatun
advanced so far that it is thought that
masonry work on the locks can, be begun
within fifteen months. In order to re-
move all doubt as to the satisfactory
locks of the canal, the secretary Of war
requested three eminent civil engineers.
of special experience in such construc-
ton, Alfred Noble. Frederic P. .Stearns
and John r. Freeman, to visit the 18TH
mus and make thorough personal inves-
legations of the sites. These gentlemen
means of test pits which had been dug
/ for the purpose. they inspected the pro-
posed foundations. and also examined the
borings that had been made. In their
report TO the secretary of war. under
date of May 2 1907, they said: We
found that ell OF the locks. Of the dim
ensions now proposed, viii rest upon
rock Of such character that it will fur
nish safe and stable foundation" Sub
sequent new borings; conducted by the
present commission have fully confirm
locks will rest on rock for their entire
length. The cross section of the dam
i and method of construction will be sucn
as to insure against any, slip or slough
ing off Similar examination OF the
foundations OF the locks and dams on
the Pacific side are in progress. / be,
| lieve that the locks should be made OF
a width of 12O feet.
GOVERNMENT WILL DO THE WORK
Last winter bids were requested and
received for doing the work Of canal
construction by contract None of
h nd Ta we're found to IS he
animous opinion of the present commits
sion that the work can be done better.
more cheaply. and more quickly by the
government than by private contractors.
! Fully so per cent of the entire plant
needed for construction has been pur-
chased or contracted for; machine shops
have been erected and equipped for max
ing all needed repairs to the plant; many
thousands of employees have been Sc
cured: an effective organization has been
perfected: a recruiting system Is in OPP
Grafton which Is capable Of furnishing
more labor than can be used advantage
ously: employees are we'll sheltered and
well fed; salaries paid are satisfactory.
and the work Is not only going forward
/ smoothly, but it Is producing results far
in advance Of the most sanguine antici-
pations Under these favorable condi-
tons a change in the method Of pro-
scouting the work would be unwise and
uniustifiable. for it would inevitably dis
organize existing conditions. check pro-
gress, and increase the cost and length
en- the time of completing the canal.
The chief engineer and all his profes.
sional associates are firmly convinced
that the IS feet level lock canal which
they are constructing Is the best that
could be desired. Some Of them had
doubts on this point when they went to
the isthmus. AS the plans have develop
ed under their direction their doubts
eide upon changes In detail as construc.
ton advances they are In hearty accord
in approving the general plan. They be;
lieve that it provides canal not only
/ adequate to all demands that will be
made upon it but superior In every way
to a sea level canal ] concur In this
belief. r