The Washington herald., 1910-09-03


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Col Goethals and the men working I'M
der him are rendering a service 10 this
country which can only be paralleled in
our past history by some Of the services
rendered in certain wars.
six years ago last spring the Ameri-
can government took possession OF The
sthmus The first two years were de-
voted TO the sanitation Of the isthmus
to assembling the plant and working
force. and providing quarters, food, and
water supplies.
In all these points the success was
extraordinary From one Of the plague
spots of the globe. one Of the most IN
healthy regions in the entire world. the
Isthmus has been turned into a singular
~ healthy place of abode. where the
death rate IS small. and where hundreds
OF children are now being raised under
as favorable conditions as in most parts
Of the United States. The quarters. food.
and water supply are excellent, and the
plant the best ever gathered for such a
pun pose Active excavation on a large
scale did not begin until January, 1907.
Excavation Rapid.
Three years and half have gone by
since then, and three-ffths Of the total
excavation has already been accomplish
ed The amount taken ont has passed
anything which previous experience war
ranted us in believing TO be possible.
In 1908 and 1903 the monthly average OF
rock and earth removed was 100000
cubic yards, notwithstanding the fact
that nine months OF each year constitut-
ed a season OF very heavy rainfall There
remains TO be excavated only about 500
Oo0 cubic yards. II we could keep up the
past average Of excavation. this should
be done IN twenty months; but it is
impossible 10 maintain such a ratio
as the depth increases, for the out
put necessarily diminishes as the field
OF operation narrows. Still. il is certain
that such a rate-can be maintained as
will enable the workers to finish the ex-
cavation considerably in advance Of the
date fixed for opening the canal. Janu-
airy l. 1915 Indeed, I shall be surprised
IL the canal cannot he opened six months
or even a year in advance OF the time
set.
Big Dam mt Gatun.
THE work has two great features, the
Culebra cut. which have been consic-
ering. and the great dam at Gatun The
latter is 10 imprison the waters OF the
Chagres and other streams into a lake
with an area Of l64 square miles. This
work Is advancing steadily and Just as
successfully as the work on the CuIebra
cut. The water which IS ultimately to
All the lock is now flowing through the
concrete spillway in the center Of the
dam. the Chagres having been diverted
from its bed and placed under complete
control. The construction Of the dam has
advanced sufficiently to convince the en-
glneers in charge OF the work Of its ab-
solute stability ana imperviousness. The
concrete work on the lock is advancing
so rapidly that the first double set at
Gatun will be completed this coming No
vember and the engineer in charge has
announced that all the concrete In all the
locks will be in place two years hence.
The date OF final completion and formal
opening Of the canal to the commerce
OF the world will be determined by the
time consumed in placing the great steel
gates, emergency dams and all appliances
for operating the docks. But those in
charge Of the work announce without
hesitation that everything Will be finished
well in advance Of January l. 1913.
This Is a stupendous record OF achieve
ment As a people We are rather fond
OF criticising ourselves. and sometimes
with very great justice; but even the most
pessimistic critic should sometimes think
Of what is to our credit
Tribute to America.
Among our assets Of the last ten years
will be placed the extraordinary ability,
integrity. and success with which we
have handled all the problems inherited
as the result of the Spanish war; the
way We have handled ourselves in the
Philippines, in Cuba, in Porto Rico in
Santo Domingo, and in Panama.
THE cruise OF the battle neet around the
world was a striking proof that we have
made good with the navy; and what we
have done at Panama represents the ac-
complishment of one Of the great feats
OF the ages. II is a feat which reflects
y
our gratitude is due to every man who
has taken an honorable part in any ca
paclty in bringing about its performance
Public Duty.
1--WE now have a further duty to per
form in connection with it. and that Is
TO fortify It. We are in honor bound
to fortify It ourselves, and only by so
doing can we effectively guarantee It's
neutrality. and. moreover, effectively
guarantee that It shall not be used
against US.
THE chief material advantage-certainIy
one of the chief material advantages
which we shall gain by its construction
is the way in which It will. for de-
fensive purposes, double the power Of the
United States navy. To refuse to fortify
it, and, above all. to consider FOR a
moment such an act of utter weakness
and folly as 10 invite other nations to
step in and guarantee the neutrality OF
this purely American work (and thereby
really to make it certain that in the
event of war we should find the canal
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