Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-03-24

o
the sea level canal at Panama. Colonel
Goethals adds. far outweigh all haz-
ards in the proposed lock canal, pro
vided the latter is built so as to min
imize the chance of accident to the
locks. This is met" he says, by
providing every possible safety de-
vice. by building the locks in dupli-
cate and by the installation of a sys-
tenn by which the vessels will be con-
trolled by powerful electric machin-
cry on the lock walls, thus avoiding
mistakes on the part of the vessels
crew or engine room staff, which once
led to an accident at the Manchester
ship canal"
1t is pointed out that the present
lock designs provide intermediate
gates dividing the locks into lengths
of 600 and 400 feet. About 80 per cent
of all the ships. including The largest
battleships now building, says Colonel
Goethals, can be passed through the
500 foot lengths and The total lock
strength will accommodate the largest
commercial vessels now building,
which are 1000 feet long and IS foot
beam. 1T is true he adds. that
obsolete, but the largest ships now
afioat can not navigate the Suez canal
nor the proposed sea level at Panama.
1t must also be remembered that the
commerce of the world is carried by
the medlum-sized vessels, the length
of only one OF the many ships using
the Suez canal being greater than
600 feet"
On the subject of the estimated
cost of lock and sea level canal,
Colonel Goethals says:
The estimated cost of the present
commission for completing the adopt
ed project, excluding the items let
out by the Board OF Consulting Engin,
GERS. is placed at 1927, 766. 900. If to
this be added the estimated cost of
sanitation and civil government until
the completion of the work, and the
S50,0O0O00 purchase price, the total
cost to the United States of the lock
type of canal viii amount to $S75,2O1,-
600. In the preparation of these es-
Inmates there are no unknown factors.
The estimated cost of the sea-level
canal for construction alone sums up
to $477,601 600, and If to this be added
the cost of sanitation and civil gov
eminent up TO the time of the compile
ton of the canal, which will be at
least six years later than the lock
canal, and the purchase price, the
total cost to the United States will ag-
gregate $500, 100000"
Answering the criticisms regard
ing the increased estimates for com
pleting the canal, Colonel Goethals
says that these have arisen largely
from failure to analyze the two es-
Inmates or to appreciate fully the In
crease in the wage scale, based on an
eight hour day instead OF ten hour
day, as originally. Then he says
subsequent surveys and various
changes increased the quantity OF
work by so per cent. In addition, mu-
nicipal improvements in Panama and
Colon, advances to the Panama rail-
road and moneys received and deposit.
ed to the credit Of miscellaneous re.
ceipts aggregate $15,000,000 which
amount, he says, will eventually and
has in part already been returned to
the Treasury. Finally" he says, nc
such system of housing and caring
for employees was ever contemplated
as has been introduced AMI installed
materially increasing the overhead
charges and administration.
Concerning the probable effect OF
earthquakes on the canal, about which
Col. Goethals says much has been
written, the report states tina the
the last earthquake of any Importance
in Panama occurred in the seven
teenth century and that existing ruins
in Panama demonstrate clearly that nc
shock Of any violence could have o.
CURED during the eighteenth or nine
teenth centuries.
Colonel Goethals. in concluding
pays high tribute to his employees
The organization for the prosecute IN
of the work, he says, approaches the
perfection Of huge machine, and the
manner in which the work is being
done and the spirit OF enthusiasm that
is manifested by all forcibly strikes
everyone who visits the works THE
main object of our being there" he
says, lis the construction of the ca
nal; everything else Is subordinate to
it, and the work of every department
Is directed to the accomplishments Of
that object
After declaring the canal zoEe to be
one of the healthiest communities "
the world, Colonel Goethals concludes
Il assure you that several years
hence, no later than January /, 1915
even the most ardent sea level advo
cate will. in making the voyage
through the canal admit that the abil.
ity to navigate a battleship at high
rate Of speed through the lake and
wide channel from Gatun to Pedro Nj
guel far outweighs the small incon.
veniences of the safe Iockages up "a
and down from the summit level.
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