The San Francisco call., 1910-07-31
What United States Has Done

In 1902 the canal was offered for sale
to the United States. but it was noe
purchased until March 5. 1903. At that
time the estimate OF the cost of the
canal. exclusive OF the interest during
construction. sanitation and expense OF
zone government and the s50,000.00o
paid Panama and the French company,
was s13s.7O5.2OO. But later 1t was
found that the lock type canal would
eventually cost about s375.O0O,OO0. The
increase arose principally from the fact
that the yardage or excavation to be
made was so per cent underestimated
This was due, first. to insufficient sur
veys, and, second. to changes OF plan.
With the excavation work progress
ing so favorabIy. there is no question
that the next four and a half
years will be ample for the United
States to complete the other important
features by January 1. 1915-nearly S.
years after the first shovelful Of dirt
was taken out by the French company.
And what a terrible series OF trage-
dies followed the French projectors
and promoters who paved the way for
the triumphaI achievement Of tho
United States. The Empress Eugenis.
now past the four score mark. alone
remains to serve as a connecting link
between the two great events-ths
opening of the Suez canal and the
completion Of the Panama canal Her
lot has certainly not been an enviabls
Sbo had TO
bear up under the national calamities
that overlook France; the exile and
death of her beloved husband; the
pathetic ending of her cousin, De Les
seps. whose mind was clouded during
his last years; the disgrace of eminent
French officials and prominent citizens
and last. but not least. the sufferings
and privations of the countless stock
holders who had risked their savings
expecting to reap a rich return from
the colossal undertaking
What a hollow mOckery it would
prove to the aged Eugene to be present
at the opening Of the Panama canalI
And yet who deserves a warmer invi-
tation? 1t was principally her encOur-
agement and influence that enabled Dc
Lesseps to overcome apparently un-
surmountable obstacles in completing
tho Suez canal. which opened the way
for the Panama canal. 1t was his
ruinous failure which permitted the
United States to secure the right to
finish the canal and acquire S32 square
miles Of land on either side of the great
waterway, 2.150 buildings OF various
kinds. millions Of dollars worth OF ma
chinery and large amount OF difficult
work already done. all for mere song,
a paltry s5O.OOO.O 900.
That the completion OF this herculean
task could not have fallen into better
hands, however. is demonstrated by the
gigantic strides already made by the
United States in the few years that
have elapsed since the stupendous job
was undertaken. OF course there have
been obstacles and detractors, too. as in
case Of the Suez canal But already. as
President Taft predicted. the news
paper and magazine writers who criti-
cised the preliminary work most Sc
verely are beginning to wish the au-
thorship Of the many bugaboO articles
they penned might be forgotten.
The feasibility. safety and usefulness
of the lock type canal authorized by
congress Is now admitted, and when the
opening ceremonies take place these
same scribes will be on hand to de-
scribe in glowing colors not only the
impressive incidents and leading par
ticipants in one Of the greatest specta-
cles ever staged. but also the wonders
OF the rehabiIitated San Francisco and
q truly great International exposition
msmorats htly an epoch making evenu