New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-11-16
PRAISE WORK AT PANAMA.
Mininq Experts Return After Trip
of inspection Along Canal.
TO OPEN 1915 OR BEFORE
Especial Tribute to Results
Obtained by Goethals
and Gorgas.

Exnerts Of the American Institute of Min
,ne returned yesterday on the Hamburg
American liner Prinz August Wilhelm from
their inspection of the Panama Canal. AL
though the entire trip occupied twenty-five
DAYS the engineers. rs strong. spent only
a week going over che isthmus The spe-
ciaIists in each branch of construction took
observations and made fifty individual re-
norts which were compressed In a sum-
mary but in their extended form will form
O. renort TO the institute, supplemented by
photographs
The condensed report, which presents a
most favorable picture of conditions at
Panama and predicts the completion Of the
canal on-time or before, reads in part as
follows:
The present plan of the work is clearly
n-anticabIe and the best in our judgment
that could be devised under the conditions
imposed. It is perhaps question whether
nv the choice of q higher level some OF the
difficulties and uncertainties in the Culebra
cut might not have been mfnimlZed, but a
higher level has its disadvantages also; we
are convinced that g. canal at a lower level.
and especially at sea level, is practically
out of the question; that no man can guar
antee It's cost or even guarantee Its salts
factory completion and maintenance at any
cost We are satisfied that the sea level
canal as proposed, If actually completed
would be inferior 10 the present lock canal
by reason of its liability TO many disturb
ances from which the lock is comparatively
free.
The creation of the great Gatun lake by
means of the Gatun dam seems TO US the
best possible way of dealing with the floods
of the Chagres and other streams The To-
cation of the Gatun dam, spilIway and
locks is singuIarly favorable for such con-
struction, and there is, IN our judgment
no reason for any anxiety as to their sta
bility.
The one serious remaining problem IS
presented by the nature of the ground in
the Culebra cut There have been extern
sive slides on the side of this excavation
and more of them are to be expected, put
they involve nothing more than the cost
and delay Of removing the material which
they will force into the cut
We are unanimous in our praise Of the
manner IN which sanitation, -ransporta-
rapidly, skill and economy a spirit or
loyal emulation, industry and pride seems
to animate employees and officers alike
This spirit, so difficult to arouse among
case 10 two causes: First the inspiring eX-
ample Of Colonel Goethais and his assoc
ates. and, second. the splendid work OF tho
sanitation department under Colonel Cor
gas.
The cities of Panama and Colon, though
politically outside of the Canal Zone, have
shared in the benefits of the sanitary ad-
ministrator and reflect an unWonted
Ieanliness, comfort and safety.
We think the present plan OF the canal
is good, that the work is in thoroughly
capable hands. that it is progressing sat1s-
ia ctorily ard that II will be completed o$
the date set for It, January /, 1915, ana
probably earlier. provided Colonel Goethals
port OF the American people and their rep
reSentatiVeS in Congress.