Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-15
COCKTAILS FORECAST SAFE
Tremendous Task of Building the
Panama Canal Well Advanced.
WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1918
Visitsrs to the Isthmus Find n Spec
tRcle of Activity and Accomplish .
ment that Reflects glory ON
the Army Ensineers,

ment that Reflects glory ON
the Army Ensineers.
COLON, Panama, Oct 14-Magnificent
is the word which might fittingly de-
scribe the progress made on the eonstruc-
ton of the Panama canal The state
ment OF Colonel George w. Goethals,
chief engineer of the canal, that the great
work will be finished in September. 1918,
or over one year before the date pre-
viously announced for its inauguration,
was at first received with some hesitation.
Now. however, an examination OF the
colossal work that is being rushed to
completion at Miraflores, Pedro Miguel
and Gatun, and the surprising way the
Culebra cut is advanced has convinced
the most incredulous that Colonel Goe-
thal's estimate of completion in 1918 will
be borne out
The point which seems to offer the
greatest difficulties throughout the whole
canal is the cut in the Culebra hills and
this not on account of engineering prob
lens. but because of the many slides &C.
curing from the loose earth. These slides
confuse estimates as to the number OF
The engineers in charge Of the work are
confident that these difficulties are by
no means insuperable and will in no way
retard the date set for opening the canal
Great Activity at Colon.
Even before disembarking. the stranger
to the isthmus on arriving at Colon, the
Atlantic terminus of the canal, will be
struck by the unusual activity visible
in every direction in the harbor. His at.
tention will first be directed to the Ions
trestle already stretching Stewards for
over one and half mile in a northeast
direction from Toro Lighthouse point
across the harbor. All along this trestlt
rock and stones are being dumped tc
form breakwater whose ultimate length
from shore will be about two miles, The
estimated cost OF this breakwater Is
IS. 500, 600 1t is being built TO reduce to a
minimum the silt that may be washed
into the channel Of the canal, and also
to protect the inner basin of the harbor
which leads to the entrance of the canal
from the northerly gales which usually op
tain here from October to January and
which not infrequently do much damage
to the shipping and coastline.
| ne eye IOllONllB Nilt COdSl ilHt Will
soon be attracted towards the massive
piers, which. begun about three months
ago and ultimately to cost several million
dollars. already stretch out for nearly
half a mile into the harbof from Girls
tobal Point.
Room for Many Ocean Liners.
| These piers win be roomy enough t.
permit several large liners to dock stimuli
taneously. Powerful tugs, each towns
large barges laden with sand and rocl
for the locks from Porto Bello (som,
twenty miles from Colon along the east
ern coast and now a fairly large Amer
lean settlemenD, may possibly be il
sight on their way through the canal I,
Gatun, seven miles distant from Colon
II the above bespeaks activity around
Colon harbor, the activity win be seer
to be greater when Gatun is reached. /
is here the canal ceases to be sea leve
and reaches the three giant locks which
will lift ali ships eighty-five feet anC
enable them TO pass into the Gatun lake
artificially formed by monster dan
which impounds the water OF the Rive
Chagres and it's tributaries.
The steam shovels, Of which there ar,
several types and sizes, are eating ava!
the dirt from the mountain slopes or dig
| giug deep down into the earth with
| regularity that suggests the swing OF
pendulum or the beat OF a pulse. Large
buckets filled with concrete are passing
noiselessly overhead along the steel cables
and depositing their contents at the de-
sired spot. The whole scene is one well
calculated to inspire admiration for the
manner in which the work is being per-
formed.
What applies to Gatun applies also to
the other various sections along the
canal all tending 10 convince the OBJ
server that the possibility of opening the
canal before the date officially fixed is
no empty boast ......
Sanitation and Housing a Marvel
What the sanitary department OF the
canal commission has accomplished In
cleansing the canal zone of yellow fever
and other diseases Is we'll known. The
progressive wonders that have been at
tained in housing, feeding and providing
amusement and instruction to the army
OF 1900 workmen Is less we'll known
The pestiferous Jungle and swamp have
been transformed into clean, smart-loek.
ing, healthful towns and villages 10 be
seen throughout the canal zone, all full
OF hustling activity and today the pleas
ant rendezvous OF an ever-inereaslns
number OF American aud other tourists
This Transformation has cost millions
but they have been we'll speHt and tbs
uninterrupted and successful digging Of