Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-02-09

lines. No one attaches more impor-
lance to the undertaking than the man
who hopes to see ii completed under
his administration He is so concerned
that he intends to visit it every year
while the work is under way. If he
agrees with those who believe the dam
will be unable to bear the strain put
upon it he will turn to the sea level
plan While the latter would cost $l07,-
100000 more than the one we are now
working upon, it may be economy to
make the change The lock canal will
cost about $140,OO0,000 Mr. Taft has
seven engineers to aid him in solving
the problem rightly.
-
Americans are truly making the dirt
fly in the work of digging the Panama
canal. During 1908 more than three
fifths Of the total amount of excava-
ton since our government took hold of
the work was done. The monthly aver
age Of excavation during the last year
was substantially the same during the
rainy season as during the dry season,
showing that the heavy rains no longer
are serious obstacle. Another feature
was the reduction of the average cost
per cubic yard for excavation from 81
cents to 48 cents, or about 10 per cent.
Since this government took up the
work, from May A, 1904, to the close
Of 1908, 59,778,179 cubic yards have
been excavated, of which 37,016,693
cubic yards were taken out during
1908. BY the French companies ST.
$4,000 cubic yards were excavated
From the appropriations for canal con-
struction the expenditures from May
4, 1904, to Oct. 1, 1908, were $3.50, 1916
900. OF this amount $51,512,OOo was
expended by The department Of con-
struction and engineering.
-
Government experiments made at
the Pittsburg testing laboratory of
the geological survey seem to have
solved the problem of preventing dust
explosions in coal mines. The method
is to force steam through an exhaust
pipe through the air currents, caused
by the ventilating fan in the mine. A
miniature mine was constructed at the
testing plant and the conditions in
side were made as nearly as possible
like those in a real mine, with an
abundance of dust in 1t. In the pres
ence of mine superintendent, foremen
and engineers steam was turned into
tile dust-laden air. 1t was then found
impossible to cause an explosion Cold,
dry air was next forced into the mine,
and an explosion occurred almost In
stantly.
-
The isthmian canal commission is
asking Congress for the appropriation
of $1,20O,0OO for the continuation of
its sanitation work in Panama and
Colon. Under the treaty between the
United States and Panama, grading
and paving of streets, building of sew
ers and the extension of water mains
must be done by the Americans, and
already $2,400,000 has been expended
such growth of population in the two
cities at the east and west ends of
the canal zone that the persons have
crowded into unimproved districts to
such an exten that it is feared UNI
less further improvements are made
an epidemic will result.
-,
Widows of soldiers and sailors of
the Civil War in instances where the
marriages occurred after June 81,
1890, may be pensioned under a bill
favorably reported to the Senate by
the committee on pensions. Under
existing law widows of soldiers and
sailors of that war are not pension
able unless their marriages took place
prior to the date mentioned. 1t is esti-
mated by the pension bureau that
there are about $1,000 or 10000 wom-
en- who would be benefited by the pas
sage of the new bill. The report OF
the committee says it can not be as
sumed that those widows who mar
ried after June 81, 1890, were infiu-
eDced by mercenary reasons.
80
Children Of normal minds who must
be removed from their homes should
be cared for in families wherever
practicable, but the abnormal child
should be placed in children's insti-
tuition That was the slogan Of nu-
merous delegates at the conference on
the care OF dependent children. Sew
e-al speakers asserted that some boys
were too vicious TO be placed In any
private home and should be cared for
in charitable institutions. The cot
taze plan of institution was favored.
-
If will require S234.000.00o to run
the postal service during the fiscal year
of 1910, according TO the decision
reached by the House Committee on
Postofices and Post Roads. The amount
is an increase Of about 100000.
-
All American fugitives now In Hon
duras VIII have to return to the United
States for trial. as the senate ratified
the new extradition treaty negotiated
by Secretary Root.
-
Postal authorities are drawing a
sharp line on the franklng privilege Of
Congress Since Postmaster Barnes OF
Washington held 4 typewriter sent
from South Carolina to Washington
under a frank, great many items
have also been held. Congressman Rob
erts OF Massachusetts, sent some official
House Of Representatives calendars