The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-01-23
DISCUSS CONDITIONS


washington, Jan, 22--At the hearing
of Senate Committee on luteroceanie
| Canals which continued today, Colonel
| Goethals gave assurance that the Pana-
ma canal when completed would be
reasonably safe from military invasion
and said that the chances OF the Grip
ping of the canal by spies armed with
| dynamite will be very small provid-
| ing armed guards are maintained At
the MirafIores and Gatun locks.
The locks themselves, Colonel Goe-
thals explained. are located sufficient
| ly far from either coast to render them
safe from all attacks. Colonel Goe-
thals said that perhaps the most vital
point along the canal win be the Gatun
where an injury to the sluice gates
would cause the water to be let out OF
| the lake. This point could be easily
| guarded. however. The change OF
plans concerning the locks on the
Pacific side resulting in their removal
| to a considerable distance from the
coast was approved by Colonel Goe-
thals as military necessity.
In response to questions by Senator
| Brandegee, Colonel Goethals said that
average ships would probably be able
to pass through the canal in less than
eight hours. He said there would be
plenty of room for ships to pass except
possibly in Culebra curt. ana also that
more than one vessel could occupy a
lock at the same time. THE entire
United states fleet" said he "can be
Accommodated at one time in Gatun lake.
when completed" Colonel Goethals
gave it as his opinion that the preva-
lence of slides" ana 'pinches," at diff
fernt points on the route Of the canal
would not greatly hinder the canal con-
struction and, he added that the en-
gineers were gradually overcoming
them. He also said he had little ap-
prehension about earthquakes in view
OF the fact that there had been no
serious seismic disturbances at Panama
since the, seventeenth century. OF the
French equipment turned over to the
United States, use had been found for
one hundred locomotives. between zoe
and 800 cars and four dredges.
In discussing financial needs Of the
canal commission during the next fis-
cal year. Col. Goethals said that 1t was
necessary to have $S2.403,76S, an In
crease of more than $4,000, 900 over the
appropriation of last year. The en-
Iargement is mainly due to increase of
work.
At the afternoon session of the COM
mittee, former Senator Blackburn, who
is at the head of the sivil administra-
ton in the canal zone gave an account
of the civil government under the
Americans on the Isthmus. The vari-
Gus branches under the department, he
said consisted of the Judiciary, Police
and fire departments, customs service,
postal service, public works depart
ment and public schools. Concerning
the work OF the custom, bureau. Mr..
Blackburn said few If any customs fees
were collected. The head of the bureau
devotes most of his time to the coll
lection of internal revenue. There are
thirty four saloons on the Isthmus pay
ing a license of $1,000 per year; a
boone or two distillers. The establish
ment of money order offices in the pos
tai service of the canal zone has real
ICED in the utilization of that service
to a remarkable extent by the en-
pIoyes in sending their savings home.
From June 1906 until November 1907,
the value of money orders purchased
rose from $50.066 to $3S1.561.