The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-16

1 are often delayed. This condition is be- I ing remedied by the construction of a concrete wharf about 7o0 feet long, which will afford two additional berths. This 1 eeing made by the Panama railroad with its own funds, but 1t has been so located that if Congress should authorize the con struetion we have outlined It will fit into it and become part thereof. Our plans are such that additional wharves can be constructed from time to time as needed '
 Making the Canal Pay The conversation here turned again to the repair shops proposed, and Admiral Rousseau said:
 There Is one thing that I think should be clearly stated, and this Is that we hope to put the docks. wharves and re- pair facilities on a strictly commercial basis. We want them to be self support ing and 10 make the charges sufficient to cover the first cost and also their mainte- nance and operation. In addition we hope that they will bring in something to aug ment the revenues of the canal. We want the best terminal facilities for the yes ses which use the canal, but we also want to make them sources of revenue to the canal. They will in no appreciable de- gree, compete with repair and similar supplying agencies of the states and 1t i must be remembered also that they will be available to the government in times 1 of military necessity. They will be of value to the navy and will give the same advantages that the government would have from the establishment of naval 1 base here"
 But have you room for these shops on i the Pacific side of the isthmus?"
 "Yes. By the spoil from the Cuiebra cut we have built up about $50 acres, some of which has been redeemed from the sea, and we have other ground on the mainland. We shall reserve an area af about 45 acres for shop yards and Tor the storage of material and supplies, and we shall have ample room for all our necessities.''
 1 here asked Admiral Rousseau to give 1 me some Idea Of what one would sec in making a trip through the canal when completed. He replied:
 We shall start in from the Atlantic. Let us suppose that the traveller is stand l ing on the deck of the steamer from New York or New Orleans as 1t ap- breaches the ooast.. Nearing the canal l entrance he sees the low wooden build ings of Colon on the left. the houses of 1 Cristohal among their cocoanut trees and the tall white lighthouse of Toro point away at the right. He passes by Colon and its harbor and, going In by the break water jutting out from Cristobal point, l enters the canal. He steams on up 
 a distance of about seven miles, As he comes in he can see the old French canal, and he crosses 1t near Mindi, about half way to Gatun. The channel here Is about l 50) feet wide and the country is flat on the left, while on the right in the dis tance may be seen grassy hills. 1 Coming to Gatun the man sees the 1 great green grass sod dam at the right. | It Is now ragged and rocky. but it will be filled in with earth and sodded, and 1t will end in green hills with the white concrete spillway showing out at the center.
 At his left as he moves up the channel he will see the mighty white locks of Gatun. The lowermost one will probably be open. and it's water will be on the level of the sea. Ills ship will steam into It. and will there be harnessed to the four towing locomotives which will aid in nov ing and steadying 1t as 1t goes onward from gate to gate
 As soon as the vessel Is in, the gates behind will be closed and the water rushing through many holes from the mighty conduit, so big that a Pullman raise the steamer to the level of the lock above. A moment later the front gates of the lock will open. and the steamer will pass into the second level or lock and thence in the same way rise to the third and finally sal out through the channel iato Gatun lake at S5 feet above the level from which 1t steamed into lock number one"