The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
Report of Work Done Dur ing Past Year Is Sub-
 mitted
COMMITTEE MAKES
 RECOMMENDATIOS
Revenues of Canal Should Go To Pay Operating Expenses-Legisla- ton for Establishment of
 Tolls Wanted

Washington. November S.--tSpecia) That the Panama canal will be ready
 for service by or possibly sooner than
 January 1. 1914, a year earlier tnan
 the originally estimated date is the
 startling announcement made In the annual report of the Isthmian canal commission, submitted to Secretary of
 War Stinson today by Col. George ". Goethals chairman of the commission. and chief engineer.
 Legislation for establishment of tolls
 for use of the canal for government
 of the canal zone, for .orming force
 to operate the canal and for military
 defences should be provided without delay," recommended the committee ne- cause of the expected earlier opening
 of the canal.
 The committee recommended that 70 avoid possibility of accident whien
 might render the canal useless the gov ernment assume charge of all vessels during their transit of the locks, "uii- der such conditions any damage that may result to the vessels should be assumed by the government and legis-
 iation looking to this end is necessary. l "The revenues of the canal" sug-
 gested the committed, should go to
 pay not only the operating expenses,
 but to repay the capital invested Ev-
 cry legitimate means for increasing
 the revenue should therefore be adopt | ed. The government should have coal
 and fuel oil on hand for it's own ves- sells and these commodities should Se l sold to shipping using the canal Ihese 1 should be supplied at, an established ! rate and purchased after advertisement.
 The existing commissary, manufacture | ing plant and laundry should be coh- tinued for the benefit of government
 forces and to furnish supplies and serv- | ice to shipping. A wireless telegraph l station should be established for com
 mercial as well military purposes. IThe canal authorities should be aii- 1 thorized to sell tools and appliances reeded by ships and to make repairs
 as may be necessary while ships are
 in the vicinity of the canal. A dry
 dock should be built with dimensions
 conforming to the locks Both the dry
 dock and machine shops would he
 available for use by the navy If this policy Is to be adopted early legisla-
 tion is needed in order that the con-
 struction necessary to make it effective may be undertaken without delay.
 Ready in 1914
 The estimated date for the compie- ton of the canal" the report says, | was based on the report of the inter national board of engineers submitted l In 1906 and was fixed at January l. 1915. In the meantime the work ad-
 vanced more rapidly than had been
 anticipated and it became apparent
 that it would be possible to pass ves- sels through the canal at least d year
 earlier than this date. Becoming aware 1 of this contingency and realizing tho | l. essity for commerce to adjust itself l to the new conditions the shipping in- terests of the world raised the question of canal tolls in July. 1910. and urged
 an early settlement.
 Attention was called to the fact that at least Is months notice of the rates | should be given in order that steps might be taken in time to change routings that would follow if the canal were used. lr rates are such as to warrant the adop- ton of the new route, commerce VIII adjust itself to it's utilization as soon as possible; if not, the old channels will continue to be followed. Inquiry not only | confirmed this statement. but developed | the fact that the organization of new 1 companies for use of the canal was con | templated provided the established 'ates | should be sufficiently attractive. It was | developed also, that two years advance notice was desired in order to permit | the building of the necessary ships. | .ro | date when the canal would be .eady for 1 use, and to report what steps, if any, | should be taken to expedite the work. 1 board was convened, composed of 1 those charged with the work in progress and contemplated. Based upon the report of this board and nouncement was made that at the con- | crete in the locks at Gatun would be laid by Jne 1, 1912. and in the locks on | the Pacific side by October 1, 1912 that, assuming the gates were completed Ly | June l. 1913, as stipulated by the contract. | the locks would be ready for use on | this date if the operating machinery were l installed; that the work on the spillway
 at Gatun would be completed to the ele- vation of 50 feet by April 1. 1912, and the entire dam would be finished by the close | of the dry season of 19l2-lS; that the ex- l cavation through Cuebra cut would be | completed by July l, 1913, If no more ma l terial due to SllueS ndu 10 pc removed | than was estimated at that time, and that | the exterior channels would be suf..s cently advanced to pass the shipping | that would the canal.
 Legislation for Tolls
 | "It was desirable, therefore, that legls- | lation should be provided without delay | for the establishment of tolls, and should
 bo sufficiently flexible to permit of ready | change should conditions arise to war | rant it. After the enactment of the necessary legislation, and before fixing the rate. data should be prepared show | ing the amount of traffic that might be | expected, upon which to base the rate. 1 and rules for measuring ships should be | formulated so as to determine the charges | to he made for various vessels. l ",rime can be saved in making public i announcement of the rates to be charged | by compiling in advance of legislative
 action, the data of -the amount of traf- | flc that will probably use the canal and the formulation of rules by which rho | tonnage of ships is to be determined. Steps to this end have been taken. | Another matter needing attention ia | the organization for the operation of
 the canal and for the government of tho canal zone These two are intimately | --