Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-09
OPENING OF CANAL
Col. GoethaIs Fixes the Date
as January |, 1914.
YEAR AHEAD OF ESTIMATE
No Apprehension on Isthmus as to
Ultimate Success.
MANY PROBLEMS INVOLVED
EARLY Legislation for Their Solution
Is Urged on Congress-Tolls
Should Be Fixed.
YEAR AHEAD OF ESTIMATE
MANY PROBLEMS INVOLVED


by the isthmian canal commission for
the completion Of the Panama canal, be-
ing year earlier than the date original
~ estimated. That statement is made by
Col. Goethals, the army engineer at the
head of the commission, in his annual re-
port to the Secretary of War. 1t is
stated that the appropriations already
made by Congress for the canal, aggre-
eating 1925, ISL ,4s6. leave $S1 .639, 531 Of the
estimated cost to date yet to be appro-
priated.
The record of the achievements in the
gigantic task during the past year shows
the completion of about three-quarters
OF the excavation in the Culebra cut, the
safeguarding of the waterway against
big landsIides and the completion Of plans
for fortifying and lighting the canal and
for locks, dry docks, coaling stations
storehouses and general terminal facili-
ties.
Goes into Details.
The report treats the physical aspects
OF the waterway with minute detail.
Questions of tolls. form Of government
and character and extent of population
to be permitted in the Canal Zone have
report already made public.
The locks have been a great problem.
Designs for the approach walls at all
locks. except one. have been prepared.
Building of the great lock gates. each
leaf of which is 81 feet inches high, was
fender chains attached to powerful
springs will be installed to prevent ships
from battering down the locks.
floating caisson gate is being installed
for use I'm closing lock, SO as to enable
workmen to repair the permanent locks
and the bottom sluices
Canal illumination will be provided by
range lights for establishing the direction
of vessels on the longer tangents, and by
side lights mile apart marking each
side of the channel Buoys and lighted
beacons, built of reinforced concrete, will
abound.
The famous Culebra cut is ten miles
long and deep enough to receive the
United States Capitol, dome and all. From
this cut, despite the enormous excavation
during the year. on July last there re-
manned 23o29,1 cubic yards to be re-
moved. Estimates of excavation neces-
sary in this cut have been largely in
creased to allow for the great earth
slides.
These slides Nave occurred where the
material excayated was left on slope
be, and the trouble is expected to cease
when the natural slope of the canal banks
is restored.
with both slides and breaks" the COM
mission says, 1.-The question Is one of ulti-
mate amount of excavation. and what
ever the feeling elsewhere. there is no
apprehension on the isthmus as to the
final outcome among those acquainted
with the facts.
The commission thus answers predic-
tons that the canal would be over
whelmed by gigantic landslides. prevent
ing the execution of the project.
the total estimated cost of the Culebra
cut. The Cucaracha slide covered AL
acres and the Culebra slide 46.6 acres.
Supplies for Canal.
A special board has recommended and
planned facilities for the storage and fur
nishing Of coal and other fuel for use
both afioat and ashore. the furnishing of
fresh water to shipping. the furnishing of
adequate and convenient facilities for the
repair of all vessels. as we'll as OF all
rolling stock. equipment and machinery
ashore and Of storehouses for materials
and supplies other than fuel. after the
completion Of the. canal.
The terminal docks will be SO arranged
as to admit of easy enlargement to meet
To begin with. the dry docks will con-
form to the dimensions Of the canal and
the wharves will be LOCO feet long.
1t is believed that lower wage scale
can be put into effect for operating the
canal. and that the necessary forces can
be secured from the men who will remain
in the service during the next year or
two This is an important consideration,
since It is essential that the cost OF opera
ton shall be reduced to a minimum con-
sistent with efficiency. With the operat-
ing organization provided for. steps can
be taken to adopt a salary and wage
Lscale, after which there can be created
from the construction force one for opera
ton, without delay or confusion
Fixing Of Tolls Urged.
Legislation for the establishment Of
tolls for use of the canal. for the gov
eminent of the Canal Zone. for forming a
force to operate the canal and for mill
tary defenses should be provided with
out delay" says Col. Goethals. because