Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-18
TAFT SAILS.
Delighted al the Progress
on Panama Canal.
President Popular Among Ma
lives and Canal Workers.
Formidable Array Of Figures Tells
Story Of Canals Cost.

Colon Nov. 11.-PTeSident Taft sailed
for Charleston at 8 O'Clock this evening
aboard the armored cruiser Tennessee,
which was conveyed by the Montana. af-
ter four interesting days on the isthmus.
before leaving. the President said:
This is the fifth time l have visited
the isthmus and | have gone over the
whole line and looked into every part of
the improvement. 1t is about - months
since | was last here, and in that time
the progress made has been most salts
factory Indeed it is remarkable.
The first thing that strikes one is the
fact that work is being done apparently
on every foot of the 20 miles of canal,
and done under an organization of men.
plants and materials that operate as eco
nomically and effectively as if it were a
machine with Goethals in control of n
lever which sets and keeps the whole
machine in operation.
when ! was here 90 months ago the
main question was the confirmation of
the judgment of Congress in having
adopted lock type canal instead of
sea level The extent to which Gatun
dam and the locks have been completed
has removed from every impartial oh
server the slightest doubt of the wisdom
Of the decision made and the feasibility
of the plan adopted. This conclusion is
further confirmed and clinched by the
difficulty occasoned by slides in Guile
bra cut. which for canal of an S5-foot
level neceSsitated only an additional ex-
cavation that could readily be taken care
Of Any attempt, however. to sink ca
nal in Culebra to depth of so feet be-
low the present proposed level would
lengthen the time of construction, weary
the patience of the Americans. make the
cost almost prohibitory and leave it an
exceedingly doubtful question whether
with the difficulty presented by the
chagres river such a canal would be
possible at all.
The Gatum dam which has already
raised the lake IL feet and is slowly
rising to n level of 81 feet, which will
constitute the key to the whole plan of
the canal. is so far advanced that taxi
ing with Culobra cut and the locks on
the Pacific side a definite picture is
given of what the canal is to be which
inspires one with cagerness for its
completion.
Tie landslide in Culebra can be cas-
lily removed, the further excavation
and the widening of the slope where
they occur merely adding something to
the amount OF excavation previously
calculated upon. and the cost by the
percentage of both time and cost will
be very small and not enough to in
crease the estimates for tn" completed
canal
''The work is 50 far advanced that
TIE time las come for the discussion
of plans FOR tn" management and
maintenance of the canal for the gov
errn,ent of Panama is peacefully pur-
suing it's course and enjoying PROSPER
ity and political calm in the republic.
The authorities in charge manifest rN-
cry disposition to assist tn" United
states in the construction of tn" canal
and to confcril iu every detail of IN"
OBLIGATIONS imposed bv tn" trcnty.'
on the eve of President Tafts dop2"-
turc 100 boiler makers. dissatisfied. that
after hearing their complaints last eve
ming. the President would give no iin-
mediate answer to their demands. gave
five-dayS notice of quitting their work
and sailing for home Several of the
unions of machinists and blackSmiths
are threatening similar action. 1t is
not proposed to strike but simply to
resign and leave the isthmus Only
hourly employees. constituting - per
cent. of the force. are likely to he at
fected.
The commission is not worried at
til" outlook. The salaricd men are nos
affected. The President told the hourly
mon. who demanded 10 cents an hour
increase and Six weeks instead of two
weeks vacation with pay. that he
thought moro vacation than they We're
receiving was not justified. The canal
workers get all their living supplies
at wholesale cos; from the commisSa
rics and the commission contends that
til" cost at living here is only 30 per
cent. OF the cost in the United States.
President Taft spent the day in in
specting the Pacific division locks and
ho enjoyed Il i-mile outing on the Pa
cifc entrance To the canal in 4 tug.
TI" will make a stop of several hours
at Guantanamo Ia inspect the proposed
naval base