New-York tribune., 1908-01-23
CANAL LOCKS SAFE.
Colonel Goefhdls Declares Damage
ba Spies Can Be Prevented.

Washington Jan. s2-at tire hearings OF the SEN
ate Committee On Interoceanic Canals. which CON CON
tsnued to-day. Colonel Goethals gave assuiahe -
that the Panama Canal when completed "ouiu ue w
reasonably safe from mi itary INVASION anu saiu
that the chances of the Gripping OF the CANA "
epies armed with dynamite viii be very srla, p'
.scing armed guards are maintained at 'ne N"
flores and Gatun locks. The locks 'heneeH -
Colonel Goethals explained are sulicIeil's cl
from either coast render them sale iIoiii ha "
e+tscks The G .tun lock is seven miles from the
Atlantic and the Mirafiores lock eight hiles Ioli
tie Pacific Shells fired blindly over TINS ois''iO
su the opinion Of the commission cnaiililai -
no very little harm. He also remarked that SHIPS
- -, -ra-.a ammunition when far from their pase
oe s,,onlies In discussing the possioie INJURY oi
.be locks by spies Colonel Goethals sao IL "as o.
possible for two men 10 carry
dynamite 10 do much harm
F5e said that perhaps tie most vital point aIoiie
,he cs,ai will Re the Gatun lock- where an INJURY
TO the sluice gates would cause the water 10 pe re-
out of the lake. This point coulo DC ~ eds'
guarded however The change OF plans coHCein
.nr the locks on the Pacific side resulting III tlie
removal TO a considerable distance from 'he Cuas'
,u-ss annroved by Colonel Goethals as military
necessity. ,,.sa,ae
7, resnonse 70 questions by Senator Branoesee'
.roloreI C5oethals said that ships Wouiu Pt"s
=. stIe 70 pass through the canal IN sess 'ii'i =
-. ro,,-x pJe said there would be plenty o.
-oorn for ships to pass. except possiois Al -, !
.,Yt and also that more ihan one -
,seu,v q lock at the same time. Inc 80
,--,,a5 States feet said he, can pe aOcoiiio =,
-. e.. 81 C-atun Lake when completed
r-,Io,sl r-oetbsls gave Il as his opinion ,aa' Ile
,,-evs,ence Of slides" and pinches al ol Sn.,,.
,,osnss On the route Of the canal woulu no. - :
,,s,der the canal construction. ana iis TJ
,hs engineers were gradually oTercofiiiils
- o.a = rad little apprehension about edi'h-
.y.s IN view Of the fact that there had peeh
,zo serious seismic disturbances al ai'h''' 'N
Che seventeenth century.
-lo-el r,oeftals said that the records concerhins
tsa cs,a, left by the French company had peei.
- -, ,-ale in the construction Of those paris Vi
o.. French route followed by the American ensi
,,ears Several employees VINO wofheu NNu =
French are at present in the american -.
.-,o,e them being chief craftsman. =.
,be French equipment turned over 10 liie -
e.o+es ,,se has been found for leo locomotives
rs+v,een 600 and 800 cars and four credges'
N discussing the fnancial needs Of the cahai
commission during the next hscai year NOioao' III
f;oethals said that Il wes necessary 20 h">e ~ -
zne s an increase of more than SSes9e'o over 'ile
-o,-5e,ion of last wear. The enlargement il
mainly due TO increase Of work ,
At the afternoon session OF the collii.
former Senator Blackburn. who Is at the H0AN -
She civ{ administration in the canal zone gaze
O., account Of the civil government unuer DIo
Americans on the isthmus. Concerning me "oih
Sf The customs bureau. Mr.. Blackburn said fe" IL
enx customs fees were collected The head OF INC
Sureau devotes most of his time To the coIeou0'
rf internal revenue There are Entity -'O- -
,oo1s on the isthn1us, each paying license u
g. 290 9 year: also one OF two oistiLeries-
The establishment Of money order othces IN 'le
r,os-al service of the canal zone has resulted IN
fine utilization OF that service 10 remar kaoie
extent by employees sending their savings nome
From June 1895. until November. 1881, the Va4ue
of nancy orders purchased rose from &3J'oo 10
s2sl 7s1 IF the postal service continues 10 lh-
crease its revenues at the rate 1t has peen Al
t-essing them said Mr.. Blackburn 1t viii result
On the service becoming seIfsupportinG within the
next two years"