The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1912-08-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Il
l17.-The spirit of Americanism
was exemplified to aremarkable
degree during the debates in
theSenate on the Panama Canal
bill and on the final vote on
those sections of the measure
which excited the liveliest pos
sible controversy. The Upper
branch went ahead and perfect
ed the bill in many important
particulars, especially with
reference to railroad-owned
vessels using the Canal, free
tolls for American vessels en-
gagged in the coast-wise and
foreign trade and permitting
vessels, whose stock is owned
principally in this country, to
fly the American flag and be
given American register. OF
course some of these features
may be modified in conference,
but 80 pronounced was the vote
in both Senate and House of the
main features of the bill that
the conferees would be flying
III the face of sharp critism
should they endeavor to write
out of the bill it's distinguishing
characteristic, the Canal pri-
marily for America, and Amer
leans for the Canal.
The magnitude and intricacy
o f the engineering problems
connected with the building of
the Panama Canal are not the
only obstacles with which the
engineers on the Zone have
to contend One of the great
est difficulties that has stood in
the way of completion of the
Culebra cut is tho tremendous
slides of rock and earth that
still interfere with the work
To aid the army experts now
engaged in the operations, the
Isthmian Canal Commission
has employed Prof. James r
Kemp, head of the Department
of Geology ut Columbia Uni
versity, To go to Panama to
lend his assistance. He will
advise not only how to avoid
the slides, if possible, but also
will give attention TO the out
bursts of gases along the Canal
cut. They We're first reported
to be of volcanic origin and this
caused great uneasiness. Re
Gently other causes have been
assigned The canal officials
have always denied that the
landslides or the gaseous out
bursts'indicated any permanent
obstacles, but this employment
Of n man whose life has been
devoted to a study of such
questions indicates that the
difficulties are more serious
than they are willing to ad-
init.
"rhe United States govern
ment does not offer, and never
has offered, and so far as known
never will offer, n reward or
bonus for the discovero of n
workable tin mine inthe United
States"
Announcement to this effect
has been sent road c s t
throughout the United States
by the Geological Survey, to
stop n steady flood of letters
making inquiry about such a
reward. Someone started n
rumor that a government had
offered n reward for the discov-
cry of source of tin supply in
the United States. This rumor
will not down, but seems to eX-
pand and reach greater proper
tons each day. Officials of the
Geological Survey have been
greatly harrassed, and as these
communications must be an
swered, clerical work is being
done to get rid of the pile.
Where or how this rumor
started or how ii attained such
widespread proportions w ill
perhaps always remain mys-
terry. There are many thous-
ands ready to take up a "Will
IO-The-Wi search, however
if the Geological Survey viii
put them on the right scent.