New-York tribune., 1907-12-19
READY TO WIDEN CANAL
Goethals Says Panama Commission
WW Leare 1t to NaUy.

Washington. Dec fs-CoToneI George y. Gee
thals. engineer In chief Of the Panama Canal and
J. c. s Blackburn 4 member OF the Isthratan
Canal Commission. arrived in Washington to-day
and called upon the President and Robert Shaw
Oliver. Acting Secretary OF War. Thei- calls az
forded opportunity 70 discuss at length any o.
the problems connected with the construction o,
the canal though briefly they reported that every
thing progressing satisfactorily the isthmus
Colonel GoethaIs shows the effect Of the strain
that has been imposed upon his nervous system I.
will be necessary for him To spend time IN
conference with tho Congressional committees
charged with legislation FOR the canal but as soon
as this is over he will give himself Up TO absolute
rest for two months.
Ex-senator Blackburn. after spending sgh.
months on ths isthmus returned 20 Washington
loud in praise OF the climatic conditions there He
declared he had not eight mosquitoes n IS
many months: that the temperature had not been
excessive; that Es had suffered illness. and,
in short. asserted that the isthmus was almost an
ideal place to live
The enSineers OF the Panama Canal Commission
are perfectly willing that the locks should os
widened to any extent that the navy thinks necss-
sary- We shall in measure leave 1t 70 the navy
to settle the question. thereby making 1t uattsr
of naval expediency 20 how wide the locks shall
be"
This will be the attitude which the commission
will take on the proposition which has been re-
ferred the members for the widening ot the
locks OF the canal to 10 or Id feet may seem
best. according 10 the statement made by Colonel
GoethaIs.
Colonel GoethaIs says that so far as is known st
present width of leo feet for the locks viii ac-
commodate mercantile shipping for years TO coma
and that Ic0 feet is ample for all naval corstruc-
tion existing. building or proposed \ naval
vessel that Is sS feet beam allows feet more than
the latest battIeship proposed. and could set
through a 1CC-foot lock without trouble. The less
Ieeway boat has IN the lock. Colonel Goethals
thinks the safer il is both the boat and to the
lock during iockases, because the eEaptyins and
filing cause swirls which II too great may result
in damage
The question of increasing the width OF the locks
is that more properly belongs to the navy to
determine. it is suggested by him. and If the Ell
cheney of battleship that the lcefOos lock
Is materially less than requiring 10 feet width
there is qUesti that the I10-foot lock should
be adopted II is pointed that the questions
involved in any widening of the locks are Increased
cost and the longer time required for Cling
thereby decreasing the capacity os the canal and
the effect on the water supply for it,
1t is declared that the commission is ready TO DO
whatever the President and his naval advisers
think best, the work at present IS IN such shape
that the increase in width can be made without
any detriment 20 the work undoins any which
has thus far been done. The completion OF the
Gatun dam viii determine the time for completing
the entire canal Work the dam has been De-
gun, but Investigations stI in progress 90 de-
ternine the localities from which suitable materfa
can be obtained for its construction
The time for completing tho Culebra cut and
locks can be accurately figured out. the only un-
known factor being the time for completing the
Gatun dam- II is the purpose 10 reduce the ex-
cayatIon in the Cuiebra cut TO limited amount
monthly SO IS to bring about the completion OF al
parts of the canal Approximately at the sams un'e'