The Detroit times., 1910-12-06

ciary by providing for the appointmsnt .
OF the municipal Judges IL excellent
ana l recommend that step further
be taken by providing therein for the
appointment or secretaries and mar
shals OF these courts.
believe that the provision In the
bill for a partially elective senate. the
number OF elective members being pro-
excessively Increased II unwise. ana
that the composition OF the senate as
provided Ina tie bill as introduced Ia
the house TAR better meets conditions
existing in Porto Rico. This IL an Inn
por tant measure. and l recommend It's
early consideration and passage.
Rivers and Hnrbsr..
have already expressed my opin-
ion to congress In respect 10 tho char
acter OF the river and harbor bills
which should be enacted into law: and
l have exercised as much power as |
have under the law In directing the
chief OF engineers To make his reports
to congress conform to the needs OF
the committee framing such a bill In
determining which OF the proposed Inn
provements is the more important and
ought 10 be completed first. and
promptly.
Panama Canal.
Al the instance of Colonel Goethals.
the army engineer officer In charge or
the work on the Panama canal | have
just made visit To the Isthmus To
inspec. the work done and To consult
with him on tho ground as TO certain
problems which a:e likely to arise Ia
tie near tuture. The progress OF the
work is most satisfactory. II no IN
expected obstacle presents itself, the
canal Will be completed well within
he time liked by Colonel Cocktails. to
wit. Jan. |. 1915. and within the esti-
mate OF cost. 1876. 100000.
Press reports have reached the United
states from time TO time giving ac-
counts OF slides OF earth OF very large
yardage In the culebra Cut aud else
where along the line. from which Il
might be Inferred that the work has
been much retarded and that the time
OF completion has been necessarily
postponed
The report OF Doctor Hayes. OF the
geological survey. whom | sent within
the last month 10 the Isthmus 10 make
an investigation, shows that this sec
ton OF the Canal Zone Is composed or
sedimentary rocks OF rather weak
structure and subject TO almost imme-
oiate disintegration when exposed to
the air Subsequent to the deposition
OF these sediments. ignsous rocks.
harder and more durable. have been
thrust into them, and being cold at
the time OF their Intrusion united but
indiffersntly with the sedimentary rock
at the contacts. The result OF these
conditions Is that as the cut Is deep
ened. causing unbalanced pressures.
slides from the sides OF the cut have
occurred. These are In part due to ths
flowing Of surface soil and decomposed
sedimentary rocks upon Inclined sur
rock and In part by the crushing or
structurally weak beds under excessive
pressure. These slides occur on one
side or the other OF the cut through a
distance OF I or miles. and now that
their character Is understood. allow
ance has been made In the calculations
or yardage for the amount OF slides
which VIII have TO be removed and the
greater slope that Will have TO be given
TO the bank in many places In order To
prevent their recurrence. such allow
ence does not exceed ten millions OF
yards. Considering that the number of
yards removed from this cut on al
average OF each month through the
year IL 100000 and that the total re-
naming TO be eNcavated Including
slides. ia about s0.000.000 yards. II lis
seen that this addition to the excava-
ton does not offer any great reason
for delay.
While this feature OF the material to
be eNcavated In the cut will not seri-
ously delay obstruct the construc-
ton OF canal OF the lock type. the
increase OF excavation due to sucl'
slides In the cut made IS feet deeper
fOr a sea level canal would certainly
have been SO great as to delay itn
completion To n time beyond the pa
thence OF the American people.
Among questions arising for present
solution is the decision whether the
canal shall be fortified. have ALREADY
stated TO the congress that | strongtN
favor fortincation and : now reiterate
this opinion and ask your consideration
OF the subject In the light Of the report
already before you made by u compc-
tent board
II, In our discretion. we believe mod.
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