The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-24
PANAMA CANAL
BOARD REPORTS
Canal to Be Self Sustain
ing and to Repay Big
Loans Made to Build.
To FINISH BY JUNE 1918

Board Recommends That Government
Sell Supplies to Keep Dry Dock for
Repairs and Otherwise Engage in
Operations That Will Not Only Help
Defray Expenses But to Repay Vast
Loans.
Washington, Oct. 18.-Foreshadow-
ing the early completion and opening
Of the Panama Canal the Isthmian
Canal Commission, in it's annual re-
port just made public recon-
mended congressional legislation gov
erning canal tolls, organization for
the operation Of the canal and for
government of the canal zone, utlli-
cation of canal revenue to pay ope-
rating expenses n to repay the
capital invested, and other action.
Expedition was urgently demanded in
order to advise the commercial world
of the use it may make of the great
waterway, or the cost OF sending
ships through it and just when 1t will
be opened.
The commission wished to give at
least eighteen months notice of the
rates to permit the worlds maritime
interests time to readjust their routes
and to build new ships and organize
new transportation companies 1t
was also deemed desirable to put the
canal to use as early as possible, not
only to secur financial returns on the
enormous capital invested, but to
make possible the passage Of the
worlds fleets without confusion or
delay.
The report showed thai the Ensi-
yonrS' PnarH hos olraoIy found tho 4
all the concrete in the great Gatun
locks will be laid by June i, 1912,
and five Month later the locks on
the Pacific side will be finished ex-
cept the gates, which will be ready
June 1. 1913. Meantime by April l,
would be at the fifty-foot elevation
and the entire dan there would be
completed. by the following winter
The excavation through the Culebra
cut, the greatest earth digging enter
prise the world has ever seen, will be
completed July l, 1912. If the sides
are not IN excess OF the estimates. In
that case the exterior channel will
be sufficiently advanced to pass the
shipping that would use the canal.
Though these estimates were made
a year age the commission states
that there is no occasion to make
any considerable changes. Though the
concrete laying in the Gatun locks
will be moved back a few months tc
January l, 1913. his will not delay
the erection of the gates or the com
pletion Of the work as a whole.
Time can be saved by making pub.
lie announcement of the rates to b.
charged and the formulation Of rule.
by which the tonnage of ships is tt
be determined. The commission il
already preparing much informatio
on these points for the guidance o.
Congress in legislating next session.
The commission expressed the be
lief that it can secure the best p
rating force for the canal from anon
the workers o employed on tn,
canal. High wages were paid at tn,
outset when it was difficult to obtaiI
men on account of the bad reputation
Of the country and the temporar,
character Of the employment. Blu
the commission c0ntended hat as tn
death rate on the zone is much lowe,
tina for most parts of the Unites
States, and as the operating work will
be permanent, a much lower wag,
scale can be adopted. The commits
cost Of operation shall be reduced t
a minimum consistent with efticienc,
If reasonable tolls are to be estab
lished.
The total outlay for maintainin,
the canal will be for wages of til,
operative force, engineering work
sanitation and civil administration
The commission was insistent that tn
revenue Of the canal should go to pa,
not only the operating pen blu
to repay the capital invested. Ever
legitimate means for raising revenu
should be adopted. said the repor,
which recommended that the t.,vern
ment should not only supply coaS an,
OIL for its own vessels. but Shout
Sell them to merchant shipping. Tn
existing commissary, manufacturer
plant and laundry. it was urged
should be continued for the benefit O
government forces and government
ownership Of public utilities was pro
posed in a recomm endation that tn
commtssary furnish all these things {