Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-26

sons, william a. Burr, Benjamin NJ.
Harrod. Carl Ewald Grunsky. Frank
j. Hecker.
This commission held Its first meet
ing In Washington on March %. when
preparations were made for visit to
the isthmus. which 1t reached on
April o. After three weeks Of inves-
tigations It decided that such en-
gineering records as the French left
must be supplemented by fresh ex-
plorations and surveys. that the santa.
ton of the canal zone and the cites OF
Colon and Panama was Of the first Inn
portance and that period Of prepara-
ton generally must precede effective
construction operations. Surgeon Colo
mel W. O. Gorgas accompanied the
commission on this trip and made the
preliminary plans for cleaning up the
isthmus which. when worked out.
were to make him famous. The COM
mission returned to the United States
on April 20. 5 a4l
At a meeting between representa-
tives of the United States and the
French Canal company in Paris on
April 16 the sale Of the c0mpany's
property for s40.000000 was signed
and was ratified by the shareholders
In the company on April %.
President Roosevelt was subjected
to wide criticism for this deal, but OF
all his actions In connection with the
canal 1t was one Of the wisest. With
out regard to who got the money. it In
disputably is true to any one who has
visited the canal that the United
States got dollar In value for every
dollar 1t paid the French company.
AS late as 1911 Colonel Goethals ap-
pointed a committee, headed by j.. B.
Bishop, secretary Of the commission,
to invoice the French purchase, and
II reported the value Of French ex-
cavation useful to the American plan
of canal. the mechanical equipment,
buildings and engineering records to
be S42, 2,799,s26. or nearly $3,OOOOOO
more than was paid. At the same
time It was good sale for the French
company. because the United States
was the only prospective buyer.
The item Of largest value to the
United States as estimated in the re-
port was the excavation Of 29.90S 900
cubic yards. valued at S25.3S9,240.
This mainly was in the Culebra cut
Next in Importance was the Panama
railroad and subsidiary trackage In the
canal zone. and the remainder was for
quarters. hospitals, storehouses, ma
chine shops. canal equipment steam
ships, land, etc. @ 4
Much Of the mechanical equipment
and whole villages Of houses used by
the French employees were covered
with dense growth Of jungle after
years of idleness, but the machinery
had been oiled and painted carefully
before abandonment and so was pre-
served In good condition when the
Americans came. Had not the French
buildings been available and capable
Of being speedily repaired for use the
early American employees would have,
suffered more hardships than they did.
OF these buildings the Americans re-
paired and used 1886. their value be-
Ing estimated at 1870. .203.SO
Construction work was carried on
the first year Of American occupation
largely with old French equipment.
That part of the equipment which
could not be utilized was used as bal
last on the Panama Steamship liners
to the extent Of 27,OO0 tons and sold
as scrap on the New York market, and
in 1911 the Chicago House Wreckng
company bid In the remainder for the
lump sum of $4,000. ,,s Il
In the sale the United States re-
ceived 6S.SSS shares Of the capital
stock of the Panama Railroad compa-
ny and later bought from individuals
LIP shares for S157. 1924, giving the
government complete control.
The value Of the French engineering
records and surveys and especially of
the records kept Of the flow Of the
Cbagres river is incalculable because
they could not be duplicated. 1t was
on French records that the estimate
Of the amount Of water to expect from
the isthmian rivers for use In the Ga
tun lake was based.
Congress on April 2, 1904, appropri-
ated the s1O.OO0OO0 which had been
promised In the treaty to the republic
Of Panama for the canal zone. This.
with the consummation Of the sale by
the French company, cleared the title
to the canal zone. and at 7:30 O'Clock
In the morning of May 4 Lieutenant
Mark Brooke Of the United States
army formally took over the property
and the territory in the name Of his
government.
The day following President Roose-
velt announced the appointment Of
John r. Wallace. general manager Of
the Illinois Central railroad. as chief
engineer of the Panama canal, effec-
tive on June /. He had acknowledged
the national disbelief In governmental
efficiency by going into private indus
trial life for canal builder. Mr.. Wal
lace's salary was to be $4,000 an
nually. and the country recognized the
selection as good one.
Upon its return to the United States
the commission began organizing sur
veying and engineering parties for
pioneer work in the canal zone. The
first ship to arrive with such party
was on May II. the party having at its
head Major General Davis Of the COM
mission and including Colonel w. @.
Gorgas. chief sanitary officer, and
George r. Shanton. who personally
was selected by President Roosevelt
to officiate as head Of police Of the
canal zone.
CHAPTER VII.
The Canal Under Wallace.