The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-10-24
Work on the fortiacations was begun

Work on the Notifications was begun
in 1911 on Flamenco island, three miles
out in the bay at the Pacific entrance,
and ON Toro point. at the Atlantic en-
trance. The estimate for their cost, as
fixed by the officers appointed to de-
sign them. is $12.475.32S. The latest
and largest disappearing rifles will be
installed after the concrete work Is
finished. The locks at the Pacific end
are nearly ten miles from the fortifica-
lions, which inSures them against bonn
bardment by an enemy's ships, and
the Atlantic locks are seven miles from
the Notifications. Some form of de-
Tense from airships must be worked
out.
When the canal is completed the
beautiful towns along the route will
be abandoned, GOrgona, Bas Obispo
Las Cascadas. Empire. Culebra and
Paraiso will be RACED. A permanent
camp for the army will be located on
the east side of the canal, across the
cut from the town of Cuebra. Ma
rines have been in the canal zone since
1904, aud in 1911 the Tenth infantry
was added TO the permanent garrison,
which will lie further augmented by
several regiments The soldiers Will
police the canal zone after construc'
ton work is finished Balboa and
Cristobal will be the principal cities,
though at Gatun and Pedro Miguel
forces to operate the locks will be
housed.
President Tart signed on Aug. "a,
1912, Ii bill for the permanent govern
ment and operation of the canal.
Colonel GOethalS' IDEAS were followed
almost to the letter in drawing this
bill. The president is authorized as
soon as the canal is sufficiently near
completion TO abolish the present com
mission and to appoint governor for
a term of four years at II salary of $lO,-
600 per annum. In time of war the
president may substitute an army Of
ficer for this governor Salaries and
wages are not to be more than 20 per
cent greater than in the United States.
and many Of the perquisites now en-
joyed by the employees are to be el1ml-
mated The canal zone will be open to
only such persons rs the governor may
admit, American coaStWiSe ships are
exempted from paying tolls for pas
sage, foreign built ships owned by
Americans may register under the
American flag, ships owned by rail
roads cannot pass through the canal.
the interstate commerce commission Is
given power to determine questions OF
competition. and the present judiciary
system is continued with right OF ap-
peal to the federal courts in the United
States. In addition, the government
may sell ships supplies and coal and
provide facilities for repairing vessels
at the canal terminals.
At the close of the fiscal year ended
June 80 1913, Colonel G0ethas could
look forward to one year more or the
arluous labor and heavy responsibility
he has borne before the big job would
at that date, we find that the great
Gatun dam was completed; the con-
crete work in the locks and SpillWay
was about 80 per cent completed; the
Culebra cut was approximately 96 per
cent Completed the relocated Panama
railroad was finished, and the work OF
establishing permanent shipping tacll-
tiles at Balboa and CristODal was I'M
der way.
Owing to fresh slides in the Culebra
cut and to changes III plans i'll the Pa
cific division new estimate of the to-
tai excavation for the completed canal
and accessory plant became necessary
at the beginning of the last complete
year of canal construction. Jan. l, 1912,
to Dec. 80, 1913 The revised estimate
then placed the excavation at 21S, 49,
900 cubic yards, Of WHICH amount 202,-