The Washington herald., 1907-03-12
COCKTAILS JOB HARD
Stevens Reports Tend to En-
barrass New Chief.
PANAMA DIGGING ESTIMATES
Figures Predict Excavation of Mill
lion Yards from CuIebrR Cut in
June-FOrmer Statistics Estimated
from Carloads and Not Actual
Measurements, say Army Engineers

In assuming charge of the Panama
Canal, Lieut.. Col. George W, Goethals
has not only taken over a difficult Job.
from the viewpoint of an engineer and
builder. but he has already encountered
other difficulties which Will tend to make
his work harder and 10 embarrass him as
long as he remains in Panama. There
has already appeared among civil engi-
neers a decided animosity against the
army men to whom the entire work OF
constructing the great waterway has
been given.
It is not at all unlikely, in the opin-
ion of officials here, that other civil en-
! gineers on the isthmus will follow the
example Of Chief Engineer Stevens,
whose resignation will take effect as soon
as Col Goethals. wlo w;il arrive in Pan
ANA within day or two, familiarizes
| himself with the work
Even Mr.. Stevens. in whom the admin
istrauon has great confidence. has in his
reports placed obstacles In the way of
/ tie progress Of Col Goethals. For the last
three months Mr.. Stevens has cabled the
War Department glowing reports Of the
amount Of excavation in the Culebra cut.
His figures have increased from m0nth
to month by the 10000 cubic yards. In one
report he predicted mat 100000 cubic
yards would be taken cut during the
month OF June. In these reports, the
army engineers see efforts 10 make their
work more difficult The monthly reports
have come TO Washington promptly al the
end Of each month.
Much Dirt Taken Out.
For instance. at the end Of February
Mr.. Stevens telegraphed that in twenty
three working days 6s.sf4 cubic yards had
been taken from the big cut. This was
pleasing and satisfactory. except for the
fact that Il was car measurement and not
an accurate statement OF the actual eX-
cavation from the cut. It is well known
that If the amount Of earth eXcavated is
measured by the number OF cars used ~
carrying It away, the total cubic yards
will rapidly multiply. but this measure
ment is OF loose dirt in partially filled
cars. and does not represent the actual
amount of solid earth and rock taken
from the cut
Contractors and engineers say that it
takes two weeks 10 determine exactly
how n.uch has been removed from an ex-
cavation. This rs because the excavation
must be surveyed and laid out with great
care and labor Mr.. Stevens reports,
however. have been coming IN almost be-
fore the end OF a month, so it was i'm
possible for him 10 take his measure
meuts in tho cut
Cannot Carry Ont Programme.
Mr.. Stevens. i'm confidently predicting
that 10000 cubic Yards should be re-
moved during June, has outlined a pro
grsmme. it il stated which the army
engineers cannot carry out. II there are
still 100000 cubic yards 20 be removed
from Culebrs cut. and the present system
OF measurement by cars is followed. that
figure viii be reached some time, and
there will stu be from 100000 TO 90
600 600 cubic yards in the cut. Col. Goe-
thals intends 70 make his measurements
in the cut itself and not on the cars.
His figures will probably fall very far be
low those of Alr. Stevens, and the en-
gineers expect that their colleagues in
civil life. who object 10 the presence Of
the army men on the isthmus. viii point
to the difference in the amount aC-
complished under stevens and under
Goethsis.