Arizona republican., 1907-12-04

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 however, that we began it. when we did. We should acquire in the Appa- lachian and White Mountain regions all the forest lands that 1t is possible to acquire for the use of the Nation. These lands. because they form a Ma tional asset, are as emphatically na- tional as the rivers which they feed, and which flow through as many States before they reach the ocean.
 Wood Pulp Free.
 There should be no tariff on any forest product grown in this country: and. In especial. there should be no tariff on wood pulp; due notice of the change being of course given to those engaged in the business SO as to en- able them to adjust themselves to the new conditions. The repeal of the duty on wood pulp should If possible be accompanied by an agreement with Canada that there shall be no export duty on Canadian pulp wood.
 Tn the eastern United States the mineral fuels have already passed into the hands of large private owners. and those of the West are rapidly following. IL is obvious that these fuels should be conserved and not wasted. and it would be well to protect the people against unjust and extortionate prices, so far as that can still be done. What has been accomplished in the great oil fields of the Indian Territory by the action of the Administration. offers a striking example of the good results of such policy. Tn my Judgment the Government should have the right to keep the fee Of the coal. oil. and gas fields in its own possession and to lease the rights tO develop them un- der proper regulations: or else, If the Congress will not adopt this method the coal deposits should be sold under limitations. to conserve them as pub lie utilities. the right to mine coal be- ing separated from the title to the soil The regulations should permit coal lands to be worked in sufficient quan- tity by the several corporations The present limitations have been absurd, excessive, and serve no useful purpose, and often render it necessary that there should be either fraud or else abandonment of the work of getting out the coal
 The Panama Canal.
 Work on the Panama Canal is pro- ceeding in a highly satisfactory man. ner.- In March last. John F. Stevens chairman of the Commission and chief engineer. resigned. and the Commits sion was reOrganized and constituted as follows: Lieut. Col George w. Goethals. Corps of Engineers. U. S. Army. chairman and chief engineer: Maj. D. D. Gaillard. Corps of Engin- eers, U. s. Army: Maj. William L. Sibert. Corps of Engineers, T.. S. Army; Civil Engineer H. H. Rousseau. |. s. Navy; MT. J. c. s. Blackburn: Col. w. c. GOrgas. L. s. Army. and Mir. Jackson Smith. Commissioners. This change of authority and direction went into effect on April l. without causing a perceptible check to the progress of the work. In March the total excavation in the Culebra Cut. where effort was chiefly concentrated. was S15.270 cubic yards. In April this was increased to ST9,527 cubic yards There was a considerable decrease in the output for May and June owing partly to the advent of the rainy sea- son and partly to temporary trouble with the steam shovel men over the question of wages. The trouble was settled satisfactorily to all parties and in July the total excavation advanced materially and in August the grand total from all points in the canal prism by steam shovels and dredges exceeded all previous United States records. reaching 1.274.4O4 cubic yards. In September this record was eclipsed and a total of 1.517,412 cubic yards were from the canal prism and 3s.1O5 cubic yards were from accessory works. These results were achieved in the rainy season with a rainfall in August of 11.s9 inches and in Septem- Der of 11.65 inches. Finally, in Oc- tober' the record was again eclipsed. the total excavation being 1.S6S,729 cubic yards; a truly extraordinary rec ord. especially in view of the heavy rainfall. which was III inches. In fact, experience during the last two rainy seasons demonstrates that the rains are a less serious obstacle to progress than has hitherto been SUD- posed
 Work on the locks and dams at Gatun. which began actively in March last. has advanced. so far that it is thought that masonry work on the locks can be begun within fifteen months. In order to remove all doubt as to the satisfactory character of the foundations for the locks of the Canal. the Secretary of War requested three eminent civil engineers, of special ex- perience in such construction. Alfred Noble, Frederic P. Stearns and John R. Freeman, to visit the Isthmus and make thorough personal investigations of the sites. These gentlemen went to the Isthmus in April and by 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 9 1907. they said: We found that all of the locks, of the dimensions now proposed. will rest upon rock of such character that it will furnish a safe and stable foup- dation.' Subsequent new borings. con- ducted by the present Commission, have fully confirmed this verdict. They show that the locks will rest on rock for their entire length. The cross section of tte dam and method of con- struction will be such as to insure against any slip or sloughing off. Similar .t,.