New-York tribune., 1910-11-27

!
residents Of the bachelor quarters, believ-
ing any costume was appropriate in not
weather, had adopted the custom OF DON
ming their pajamas and sitting thus clad
on their verandas in the evening. After
a moment Of deep thought the colonel saldr
"Pm sorry, madam; very sorry, but you
see I really need men to dig the canal
Then he promised to adminish the Offend
ing bachelors, and the complainant depart
ed satisfied
When Colonel Goethals reached the Canai
Zone he found that much good work had
been done by his predecessors, H. +. Nal
lace and John l. Stevens. And right there
1t was that he first demonstrated his ca
pacity He reorganized the work. reor-
ganized II completely, but he preserved all
that was best In the organization OF MS
predecessors used their men, brought no
personal friends Of his own from tine
States" and so won the confidence ana
respect of his associates in the work from
the first. It Is entirely characteristic OF the
man, too that he should pay hlgh tribute
to his predecessors and to the FTenchmeh
who started the work He has always IN
sisted that their work. baffied as they were
by the dread yellow fever, was the really
great work on the canal.
1.-THE real heroes of the canal work., ne
once said, "are Drs. LaZear and Reid, VINO
fearlessly faced death in order to prove
their theory concerning yellow fever. IL IS
not hard to face death in the open. with
ones comrades and in the excitement OF
battle; but it requires very brave man 10
lie quietly and willingly in a close room
and watch the approach Of the Grim
Reaper. These doctors and some Of the
,fra cd DYOVe
that yellow fever germs are carried by
mosquitoes They were willing to sleep IN
g. close room, heated to ninety degrees and
over. lying down among infected clothing
brought from the yellow fever hospitals
and take their chance of recovery. More
than one life was sacrificed in these ex-
periments but the proof was conclusive
and the Panama Canal became fact-be-
cause OF the conquest of yellow fever"
Colonel Goethais does not exaSgerats
when he says that the canal became a fact
because Of the conquest OF yellow fever,
but he might well have added that the
conquest of yellow fever on the iSthmus
was also due to the loyal support which
Governor Magoon and later he himself gave
to Colonel Gorgas, the officer in charge OF
health and sanitation, and the calm eff1-
cheney with which ne has faced every
panicky representation made 10 him by the
health officers.
Statistics are dry things and perhaps
have little place in such an article as this.
but figures are necessary to realize IN so
far as that IS possible, the magnitude OF
the work Colonel Goethals has accom-
plished. It is easy for most people TO re-
call the joy with which the news that 1,oVo-
600 cubic yards of material had been ex-
cavated In a single month was received
Colonel Goethals has brought the record up
to 4,OOOCOO yards and monthly records of
Z. 600 900 yards have come TO be such an old
story that they no longer find place in
the columns Of the daily press.
When Colonel Goethals first took charge
of the work he was not committed to lock
or sea level plan for the canal Nor
could any one induce him to set a time for
its completion or to give an estimate OF
the cost When he had acquired grasp of
the problem he said: 'I will finish the
canal by January l. 1915. and the maximum
cost will be sS75, 100 CO." Those who knew
him believed him. They recalled that when,
in 1876 George ". Goethals, then q Brook
Iyn boy went to Sunset" Cox and asked
an appointment to West Point. he replied
to question of the member of Congress,
'I will enter If I am appointed" and that
lie did, that he not only entered. but that
he was graduated with honors, high enough
in his class to make the engineer corps.
Those who were disposed to be skeptical
when Colonel Goethals made his predictions
regarding the canal have had reason TO
abandon their skepticism. They know now
that the canal will be finished more than
a year earlier than he promised and that
the cost will not exceed the figure he set.
incidentally, Colonel Goethals has become
convinced that the lock is the only pos
sible type of canal.
Colonel Goethals's eldest son was gradu-
ated from the Military Academy last
spring fourth in his class. so efficiency
seems to run in the blood. His other son
Is a junior at Harvard and IS also showing
-bi1ty In his work. Together thr father
ard two sons are like three big chums
The are all tall. The utmost good fellow
ship prevails among them. but the young
men show a wholesome respect for their
fathers wit, for he has a ready tongue
and none loves better than he to tease.
It is not an easy task to analyze the
character of a man who has done big
things. to say that in this. that or the
other characteristic lies the secret of his
success. but there are some characteristics
WHICH obviously COHuiDute 10 success, and
as regards Colonel Goethals's success they
may be enumerated. He has a large sized
determination, infinite patience, an un-
swerving hrnness whenever needed, a pho
mind and the ability to impress
his personality on those with whom he
comes in contact.
I have referred 10 his daily inspection of
A portion of the big ditch. It Is his custom
to spend each morning tramping through
1t. He usually covers from six TO ten miles
through the mud. and is then met
by his rail motor and rides back to his |
Office. Every man knows him and feels
that he is working under the eye OF the |
boss. Just boss. who will commend as |
quickly as he will condemn, but who knows
everything that is going on. And when he |
takes these trips the smallest details are |
on his mind, often uncon- |
soiousiy. But If the occasion arises he can
recall every scene along the canal, remem- |
Der every stake and every rock The p,ct- |
nre OF what he has seen arises before him
Whthever the occasion demands
80. too. in the landing of renorts and
documents. lie Is not compelled to read |
carefully every word He takes in their ,
|ot'sAtS ~ 7 sla-iGe. anu viii recall them