Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-04
the much criticized Gatun dam.
GaiIlard,


GaiIlsrd.
Colonel y. y. Gaillard. the Chief of
The Central Division, Is native Of
South Carolina. and was a classmate
of Colonel Sibert at West Point, and
like HIM was engaged in number
Of important engineering problems
before he became a member of the
Commission. Some of Colonel Gail
lard's best known work was done in
Cuba. He is also the author of n
book on wave action in relation to
engineering structures. Colonel Gail
lard has been a member Of the Canal
Com mission since 1907.
Williamson.
The Pacific Division had as its
Chief Il civilian-Sidney h. William
son. distinguished American Civil
Engineer who was called to Panama
by Colonel Goethals shortly after the
present Commission took charge. Mr..
Williamson entered the employ of the
United States Government in 1882 and
was in charge Of the engineering and
construction work connected with the
navigation of the Tennessee River,
where he remained until 1900. with
the exception Of a few months in the
army during tho Spanish merican
War in 1898. In 1900 he was trans
ferred to Newport, Rhode Island. as
Assistant Engineer in charge Of the
fertilization work in that district.
During four years of his service on
! the Tennessee River and three years
at Newport he was associated with
Colonel Goethals In 1904 he repre-
scented n civilian engineering com
pany, and later opened an office in
Baltimore as consulting engineer. Mr..
Williamson resigned his position in
/ Panama in May, 1912, and entered
the service Of one of the largest en-
gineering and contracting firms in the
| world and was at once placed in
charge OF their London office. He was
one of the most popular men on the
Canal, especially with the workmen.
He was exceptionally modest over his
achievements and II was only after
The greatest difficulty that he could
be persuaded to talk about himself.
II am not building the Canal was
invariably his answer. Il am mere
ly worker" and while this was true
no one individual was more impor-
tant factor in its building than this
plain, quiet man who for many years
labored so strenuously on the prob
lens encountered in the construction
Of the Pacific Division.
Hodges.
Colonel II. +. Hodges. the Assist
ant Chief Engineer. halls from Bos-
ton. and was graduated from West
Point in 1881. After holding various
positions Of army engineering where
special efficiency was required, he be
came the Chief Engineer of the De-
partment of Cuba in 1901, where he
remained for about two years. In
1907 he was made a member Of the
Canal Commission and became Assist
ant Chief Engineer in 1905.
Gocthals.
So much has been written in ref
. erence to Colonel George w. Goethals
the Chief Engineer and Chairman Of
, the Canal Commission, that little
more can he said in reference to the
work of this remarkable man who's
executive ability seems to be quite a.
: marvellous as his knowledge of engi.
neering \ virtual despot over g
Kingdom Of fifty thousand workers
ne shows the decision, resourceful
ness anu NbSt tndt marx q great eN
= ecutive. He is Arm in his decisions
| but that frmness is tempered with
kindness which few men can resist. II
the old days when p Canal workman
= complained he was told that If he die
| not like the treatment he received h,
, could leave as there was boa
r north every five DAYS" All this wa
I changed when Colonel Goethals cam,
- upon the scene. Every Sunday morn
! ing he holds Court az Culehra Il
= hear the complaints or petitions o
} workers under him. There is no la
: horer who cannot get an audienc,
with this car, and no complaint Sc
| trivial that it cannot find IN him
patient listener The Court has prOyeC