The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-03

III eIuclency, due TO It's EXTRAORDINARY
progress in craftsmanship and maneuV-
ering. So far from this increase in ma
val strength representing on our part
either menace of aggression to weak
er nations or a menace OF war TO
stronger nations. it has told most pow
erfully for peace. Everywhere in Eu-
rope the cruise of the battle Heet
around the world was accepted, not
only as an extraordinary navy feat re-
hecting the highest honor upon our
which tended markedly to promote
peaceful stability in international rela-
lions. No nation regarded the cruise
as fraught with any menace OF host1n-.
ty to itself; and yet every nation ac-
cepted it as proof that we were not
only DESTROYS ourselves to keep the
peace, but able to prevent the peace be
ing broken at our expense No cruise in
any way approaching it has ever been
made by any fleet of any other power.
and the best naval opinion abroad had
been that no such feat was possible,
that is, that no such cruise as that we
actually made could be undertaken by
a fleet of such size without innumer-
able breakdowns and accidents. The
success of the cruise, performed as IT
was without a single accident, immeas-
urably raised the prestige, not only OF
our fleet. but of our nation; and was
a distinct help to the cause of inter-
national peace.
The Panama Canal.
As regards the Panama canal,
really think that outside nations have
juster idea than our own people OF
the magnitude and success of the
work. 1 wish our people realized what
is being done on the Isthmus. If
man of intelligence who had never
left this country asked me whether l
would advise him to make a short
trip to Europe, or a trip to the Pana-
V1n aif
ton, advise him to go to the Panama
Canal. He would there see in oper-
alton the completing of one of the
great feats of modern times. Colonel
Goethals and the men working under
him are rendering a service to 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 Amer
lean government took possession of
the ISthmuS. The first two years were
devoted to the sanitation of the 18th
mus, to assembling the plant and the
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 unhealthy re-
gions in the entire world, the Isthmus
has been turned into singularly
healthy place of abode, where the
death rate is small, and where hun
dreds 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 purpose. Active
excavation on a large scale did not
begin until January, 1907. Three
years and a half have gone by since
then and three-fifths of the total ex-
cavation has already been accom-
11i0hnd Tho folxnn ont has
passed anything which previous exper-
fence warranted US in believing to be
possible. In 1908 and 1909 the
monthly average of rock and earth re-
moved was three million cubic yards.
notwithstanding the fact that nine
months of each year constituted
season of very heavy rainfall. There
remains to be excavated only about
sixty million cubic yards. If we could
keep up the past average of excava
ton, this should be done in twenty
months, but it is impossible to main
tain such a ratio as the depth in
creases; for the output necessarily
diminishes as the field of operation
narrows. Still. 1t is certain that such
rate can be maintained as will en-
able the workers to finish the excava-
ton considerably in advance of the
date fixed for the opening of the canal
January 1, 1915. Indeed, I shall be
surprised if the canal cannot be open
ed six months or even a year in adj
vance of the time set.
Complete Before 1915.
The work has two great features:
The Culebra cut, which 1 have been
considering, and the great dam at
Gatun. The later is to imprison the
waters of the Chagres and other
streams into a lake with an area of
164 square miles. This work is ad-
vancing steadily, and just as success
fully as the work on the Culebra cut.
The water which is ultimately to fill
the lock is now flowing through the
concrete spillway in the center of the
dam, the Chagres having been divert
ed from its bed and placed under
complete control The construction of
the dam has advanced sufficiently to
convince the engineers in charge of
the work of its stability and imper-
viousness. The concrete work on the
| lock is advancing so rapidly that the
| first double-set at Gatun will be COM
pleted this coming November, and the
engineer in charge has announced
| that all the concrete in all the locks
| date of final completion and formal
| opening of the Canal to the com,
merce of the world will be determine
! ed by the time consumed in placing
the great steel gates. emergency dams,
and all apliences for operating the
locks. But those in charge of the
| work announce without hesitation
that everything will be finished we'll
in advance of January 1, 1915.
This is a stupendous record of
achievement. AS a people we are rath-
er 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. Among our assets of the past
ten years will be placed the extraordi-
nary ability, integrity and success with
which we have handled all the prob
lens inherited as the result of the
Spanish war: the way we have han
died ourselves in the Philippines. IL
Cuba, in Porto Rico, in San Domingo
and in Panama. The cruise of the
battleship fleet around the world was
a striking proof that we had made
good with the navy; and what we have
done at Panama represents the accom-.
plishment of one of the great feats O.
the ages. 1t is feat which reflect.