New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-06
CRITICISM
AND BOOK REVIEWS
The Entire Story of the Panama Gateway
Labor in Conflict with the Church-An
Irish Thrums- Diverse Volumes.

moving story of the heroism OF the
men who, acting solely in the interest
Of humanity, risked their lives for their
fellow men, and of the martyrdom OIL
DIR. LaZear. He rakes the chorus Oh
Misrepresentation and defamation, IN
spired in great part Icy professional
iealousies and party prejudices. wnicn
accompanied the progress of the canal
construction. Concerning Gatun DAM
than which "no part of the canal prof.
ect was more furiously or more lGno-
rantly assailed and none has been more
mdicrously misunderstood, he says,
NO part Of the project is an improve
inent more in harmony with Nature S
work
II is not only AS solid as the everlast-
ing hills. but more scientifically construct
cd than they are. more pains II one may
say so without irreverence. having peeh
taken in its making.
The fight of man against Nature IN
the spectacular showpiece of the canal
the Culebra Cut. was the most power
full factor i'm the creation and deNel-
opment of the remarkable spirit of zeal
and enthusiasm which characterized
the force at work. Visitors from all
parts of the world especially If they
we're engineers. were astonished at the
magnitude of the task here, and UNI
stinted in expressions of admiration
for the manner in which it was being
accomplished Mr.. Bishop says he did
not see one during his six years con-
nectioh with the work who did not de-
clare it TO be the finest exhibition OF
engineering organization and execution
that he had ever witnessed.
Surely. if any form Of government
or control" the author says, was ever
justified by results. that in force IN
the Canal Zone for the past 1--WE years
has been" He presents the evolution
of this unique form of government,
which has been so much discussed, and
which he describes as benevolent des-
potism,' and gives it as the unanimous
and enthusiastic verdict of the great
body of Colonel Goethals's subjects
that their despot has not abused his
great powers, but has used them with
Justice and wisdom. 1T is an inter
esting and suggestive fact he men
lions. that the man who has won VIC
tory for his country in the greatest
campaign ever conducted in the inter-
est Of worldwide peace and progress
should have been trained by the gov
eminent to serve his country as sol
der in time Of war Mr.. Bishop de-
scribes in detail the provisions for
comfort and contentment OF the force
on the isthmus, clubhouses and other
agencies the inducements employed TO
enter the canal service, which have
been considered by some critics as UNI
necessarily generous treatment; the
novel court of justice in operation; lie
in the canal colony, its attractions, pc
culiarities, and special charm, and the
completed canal, mot a canal through
the isthmus, but bridge Of water over
it," He discusses the locks and gates,
their method Of operation, the electric
control Of lock machinery, the lighting
system, permanent canal buildings,
terminal facilities and Notifications.
His information regarding the defences
Of the canal he derives from the pub
lished writings and utterances Of va
rious army authorities.
The volume contains an abundance
Of figures, statistics, tables and cita-
lions from various pertinent sources.
The illustrations cover wide range,
which includes plans OF the City of
Panama in 1858, and scenes of the re-
mains of Old Panama, pictures Of
French machinery in the jungle, por-
trait groups Of the founders of the
Panama Republic, of the different COM
missions for canal construction, photo
graphs OF the builders of the canal, and
Of various aspects of the spectacle Of
construction. Altogether the volume is
a valuable chronicle in a popular style,
and a permanent and reliable record of
the realization Of the Idea Of the
Panama gateway.