The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-19

confirmation of the Judgment in Con-
gress of having a lock type canal in
stead of sea level. The extent to
which the Gatun dam and tho locks
have been completed has removed from
every impartial observer the slight
est doubt Of the wisdom and the
feasibility of the plan adopted.
This conclusion is further confirmed
and cinchcd by the difficulty occa-
stoned by the slides in the Culebra Cut,
which for canal Of 1S5-foot level
, necessitated only an additional eNca-
walton that could readily be taken care
OF. Any attempt. however, to sink a
| canal in Culebra to a depth eighty feet
below the present proposed level would
| 1engthen the time of constructions,
wear the patience OF Americans and
make the cost almost prohibitory, and
! leave 1t an exceedingly doubtful ques-
ton whether, with the difficulty pre-
scented by the Chagres River, such a
canal would be possible at all.
1.-The Gatun Dam lock, with the lake
already eighteen feet and slowly rising
to a level of eighty-fve feet. which
will constitute tho key to tho whole
plan of tho canal, Is so far advanced
that, taken with the Culebra cut and
the locks on the Pacific side definite
picture Is given of what the canal IS
to be, which inspires one with eager
ness for Its completion.
"The 1andslides in Gulebra can be
easily removed, tic further excavation
and the widening OF tho slope where
they occur merely adding something
to tho amount of excavation previously
calculated upon, and to the cost, but
the percentage of both time and cost
will be very small. and not enough to
ha taa Fnr {hot :
pleted canal.
THE work la so far advanced that
the time has come for the discussion
of plans for the management and
maintenance of the canal. for the gov
eminent of Panama Is peacefully pur-
suing It's course and enjoying pros
perity and political calm in the re-
public"
On the eve of President Taft's de-
parture. one hundred boilermak ers.
dissa tisfed, that after hearing their
complaints Wednesday evening tho
President would give no Immediate
five days, notice of quitting their
work and sailing for home. sew
eral OF the unions Of the ma
chtnists and blacksmiths are threat
ening similar action. 1t Is not pro-
posed to strike, but simply to resign
and leave the Isthmus. Only hourly
employees. constituting as per cent. OF
the force. are likely to bs affected.
The canal ofi1cials are indignant at
these employees for trying to force
their demands, which The officials re-
gard as unreasonable.
President Taft promised To consider
the matter fully and cable his answer
from Charleston, but this did not sat
isfy some Of the hot-headed among tho
boilermakers.
The canal commission, in state
ment Issued yesterday says that the
action OF the boilermakers will not In
terfere with the canal construction.
work. and will CAUSE only temporary
ireenvenience until their places ara
Hlled.which Will be within a short
time.
President Taft told the hourly en-
ployes who demanded 10 cents an hour
increase and six weeks instead OF two
weeks vacation with pay that he
Thought more vacation than they We're
receiving was Justified.
President, Taft spent yesterday In In
specting the Pacific division locks. and
he ENJOYED a four lie sail on the Pact
ne entrance to the canalin a tug, He
viii make a. stop OF several hours at
Inspect tho proposed naval base,