The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1912-05-24
THE PANAMA CANAL
IS GROWING WORK
Dream Of All Nations Brought
To Realization By Young
est Of Them.
AMERICAN GENIUS TRIUMPH
WHERE FRENCH HAD FAILED
Legislation For Big Ditch De-
mands Initiative And Positive
Determination Gossip Of
Nations Capital.

|
iall-The consideration AZ the bill t
provide for the administration Of TIL
Panama canal, which was begun il
the house OF representatives. oil
Thursday, opens a new chapter 10 th
history OF an undertaking in whlcl
the United States has succeeded
where all others have failed.
For many generations 1t has beef
the dream Of far. seeing men TO open
new pathway between the two oceans
oy cutting the strip Of land which
connects the continents OF North ant
South America and shortening, bl
weeks, the Time ships must consume
to go from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Tragic failure resulted from the ef-
forts Of The French government tt
build the Panama canal. Few lesson:
could be learned by our engineers and
statesmen from studying French
methods Unknown difficulties had
to be met and new plans devised for
meeting them 1t was done success
fully and the fact that the opening OF
the canal is assured is a tribute to
the genius of America.
WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
The legislation now being consld-
cred must be enacted practically with.
out precedent. Great problems must
be solved, with little but reason and
instinct to guide. Intricate and deli.
cate matters OF diplomacy as we'll as
grave methods of administration must
be decided. Congress has entered a
new field in determining what it shall
decide for The regulation Of the Pana
ma canal. The answer it will make
Is to mark new epoch 10 the United
States history and the history Of the
world. Men OF all nations as well as
citizens II this country are listening
TO hear what determination is reach
ed.
The regulation OF the Panama canal
is nne OF the most important pieces Of
legislation ever presented to the
American congress
CAPITOL IN DARKNESS.
A curious accident occurred in the
apitol recently that is said to be the
tlrst Instance Of its kind. The house
was holding late session and the
halls and chambers were brilliantly
lighted with the usual electric bulbs.
A bout five minutes after the hour of
the machinery that
furnishes the electric current failed
for some reason, and the entire CAPT
toll was plunged into absolute dark
ness.
Members who were on their way
the corridors we're unable to
and several rather violent
collisions occurred. One member was
being carried from floor to floor in
the elevator, and the car stopped
when it was about half way down,
thereby mprisoning the unlucky |
statesman. Pages, guards, policemen
and clerks we're summoned TO find |
guided through tile almost slygian
darkness by the smoky, tlckering |
light from uncertain torches. 1t is
lot known what caused the sudden
iarkness bat the matter is being in.
And that is mob the only darkness
hat ought To be investigated ia this
democratic house." remarked former
speaker Uncle" Joe Cannon who was
me Of the unfortunates that had to
,e rescued.
COOLING THE CHAMBERS.
Congress apparently settled down
0 the conviction that no adjourn
nent can take place earlier than
august first. Plans for cooling the
hambers OF the senate and the house
re therefore heing made, in order to
roLect as much as possible from the
igors Of the heated period, the states
len who must remain in Washington |
/ time when ordinarily they would
e seeking cool mountain resorts and
he national fairgrounds by the sea. I
Great exhaust fans are being in
Jailed which will exhaust The heated
lr from the cham hers, it Is said, ,
very seven minutes, replacing IL by
Ir from the outside that has been
)nducted through vaults stored With
ms OF ice. The plan is supposed to +
lrnish fresh cool air TO the laboring '
representatives. aud senators OF the
,ople. Such measures are necessary,
r the reason that both the house
I'd senate chambers are entirely shut
10y outside rooms from any immed
tie access to the outdoor air.
as they are by glass
flights on which the sun beats with
its power, these rooms would be
ibearable il some such means were
It resoTted TO 10 make them more
The merchant who fails Ia adver
&c is hiding his light under bushel.