The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-06-18

Uncle Sans best paying enterprises.
Through it commercial business II has
already arned several million dollars
above its net expenses and this might
be used for dock construction. AS
i, is, the present facilities do not &C
commodate the traffic, This is 50 as
to our own steamers mean those
belonging to the Ianam railroad
| and it is so also as to the steamers Of
the United Fruit Company and OF
other lines which are now sending
their vessels to Colon. but which
would gladly change TO the more
sheltered and better anchorage that
We could provide. When our docks
are completed our ships will land IN
United States territory, and the other
vessels berthed there Will be on the
same territory.'
Warehouses and Repair Shops.
How about your warehouses and
coaling arrangements?'
Eve are now planning a type Of
warehouse to be built here, and are
considering all sorts Of dock struc-
lures and Notwithstanding appll-
ances. The engineers think that
these things should be settled at as
early a date as possible, and the mat
ter will soon cOme before Congress-.
one reason for this is that the gov
eminent is using a vast amount of
machinery in the building of the
canal which can be applied to various
things in connection with the term-
nails. We shalll have to build dry
ocks IN repair shops, and there is no
reason why the government Mould
nOthaNe establishments here which
would repair any kind Of shipping
employed in the canal traffic. The
machinery is already here, and it will
have to be disposed Of when the canal
is completed. There will be shops at
both ends of the waterway, although
the repair shops at Balboa viii prob
ably be the larger. We have now a
small repair shop at Cristobal and an
old dry dock there built by the
French, which we nave been using
for our work on that side of the 18TH
mus"
Great Coaling Facilities.
What are you plans as to coaling
facilities?"
I'VE will have to have docks and
storage capacity for at least 200, 600
tons of coal, and we shall also need
storage at Zach terminal for some
thing like $4,000 barrels of fuel oil.
Many of the steamers of the Pacific
are now burning oil, and we have
to provide also space for any oddi-
tional storage that may be required in
the future. The coal dock on the At
ldnllC Will Dc SuCIl tlldL IIldHy Slcd1l-
ers can coal at one time. It will be
at least 1000 feet long. The Grief
depots for coal will be on the Atlantic
end, the present plans providing for
200, 900 tons Of coal there, and about
10000 tons or he Pacific side.
The Cities of the Canal.
us it your idea, Mr.. Rousseau. that
great cities will grow up at the two
ends of the canal?'
No; and 50 far the commissioners
have not thought it advisable to en-
courage that plan. The present opin-
ion OS that the population of the canal
Zone should be reduced to the mini
num-, and, as far as we now see, we
believe that there will be ample rOOn
in Cristobal for all the Americans al
Panama. Col Goethals does not be-
lieve that the zone should be poulated
for the ease hat such a popula-
ton might complicate matters in case
the canal should need to be defended
in time of war.
LAS to the cities of the termini,'
continued Mr.. Rousseau, I'VE have
ample room both at CriStobal and a
Balboa to build them if it should be
deemed advisable, but it seems now a:
though Colon and Panama could fur
nish all commercial facilities. /
our present plans are adhered to W.
shall have a canal headquarters OF
Sosa Hill, adjoining Balboa. Thest
5 will consist of an administration build
Z ing and the necessary houses for EN-
ployes. The administration office,
will be large enough to accommodate
the heads Of the departments ant
cvlerks, and the houses will be 70
t them and the employees, engaged II
: the shops and in the various dock
and wharveS."
But suppose Uncle Sam SHOULD
E want to establish a great free port a
Panama, where goods from all part
I of the world might be exchanged
such facilities have had much to d
with building up Hamburg and som
j others Of the great seaports Of Eu
rope"
Il doubt whether that would b
: advisable, but, il SO, it is a Questio
for the future"
The Docks at Balboa.
) Can you not give me some ide
" Of what we should have at the termi
z ~ m tho D. 80 -, o~lo@