The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-01-31
More Money Must Be Arranged
For, Declare Bosses.
Only Rough Guess Can Be Made
At the Present Time.
Unknown Difficulties May Be
Met From Now On.

Washington, Jan. 29.-The wonder is
growing among senators and repre-
estimators fixed the probable cost of
the Panama Canal There is a half
way suspicion that the first estimators
didn't know their business or were
afraid to give out truth that they
thought might be appalling. With the
bluntness of a soldier
Colonel George w. Goethals has said
that he can only guess at the total
cost of the canal, but that he believes
it will not exceed S250,000,000, ex-
Guiding the original purchase price.
AS another has put it, ''the esti-
mated cost of the Panama Canal keeps
pace in the ascending scale with the
cost of living. Every year the price
the United States will have to pay for
the water way is marked up" First
estimates put it as low as $l40,0O0,0O0.
Then came what was called an au-
thentic estimate to the effect that
the country would have to eypend
$lS4, 100000 before the canal could be
completed. Colonel Cocktails guess is
5000, 100000, and he is frank to say
that the limit may have to be raised
again.
Has Appropriated Eighty Millions.
Up to the present about $4,000, 900
has been appropriated by congress for
the canal work July l, 1907, $751;,
100000 of the sum remained unex-
pended. When Colonel Goethals sue
ceeded Mr.. Stevens last March as en-
gineer in charge he found that cir
warranted an increase of
the working force and an enlargement
of the plan of the work. 1t was in
August that the soldier engineer told
the secretary of war that if. the work
was to be pushed at the rate at
which it has been pushed since the
army took charge the appropriation
which had been made for the year
ending June 30. 1908, would be used
up by the first of the calendar year.
This bit of information, which was
cheering to those who hoped for a
speedy completion of the canal work,
was given to President Roosevelt,
who at once ordered Colonel Goethals
not to stay his hand, but to go ahead
at the same labor rate and incur a
deficiency. The colonel, like a good
soldier, obeyed orders, and now the
appropriation made last year, which
supposedly was large enough to pro-
vide for the continuation of the work
until July /, 1908, is exhausted and
an urgent deficiency bill calling for
$ll 100000 is pending in the house.
Greater Economy in Speed.
The secretary of war has told the
senate committee on interOceanic
canals that the work was kept going
at high speed and that the deficiency
was incurred because it was his be-
lief there was greater economy in GO
ing ahead than in tagging, for tagging
meant that the canal organization
could not be kept up to its full eff
cheney and its full capacity.
OF the increased cost of the canal
over the original estimates the Sec
rotary of war has said: "The widen
ing of the locks in accordance with
the request of the navy department
has been approved and it means an
additional cost of about 10 per cent
in the construction of the locks. The
locks themselves as now projected will
cost $52,OOO,OOO, and this means an
addition of $5,OOO,OOO to the price"
In talking to the senators Colonel
Goethals used the word "guess" when
he was telling them about the price
of the completed canal. At first the
senators didn't approve of the word,
but they came to understand that the
actual cost was past the power of
man to estimate accurately, and so
they fell in with the soldiers idea and
feel that it was better to have indef-
mite statements than definite state
ments which might bring in their
wake disappointment.
From all that has been said by the
engineer in charge it may be expected
that the cost of construction will run
up to $400,000,00O, but soon as it
is ascertained that the price is to be
higher than has been believed the
country will be told. 1t seems that
the canal is to be dug, and dug
quickly no matter how much it will
cost, and that is what the people
want.