The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-01-17
CANAL ABOUT DONE
OPENING CEREMONY TO COM.
MEMORATE DISCOVERY or
PACIFIC BY BALBOA.
1ST SHIP THROUGH OCT. 5
President Reports That go Per Cent Is
Already Completed-Ex-
cavating Completed
June I.

Washington. Jan. 10.-UDion of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans by means
/ of the Panama canal is to be the SUI
preme American achievement Of 1913.
/ The big ditch is almost ready.
President Taft is preparing to an
nou1ce the program for acceptance of
/ engincerings latest aift, as a result of
/ his trip To the isthman canal zone
last month
"Ninety-throe per cent completed
was the report made to the president
regarding the progress of the giant
sluiceway by Colonel George W.
GOethals, the engineering wizard of the
tropics
Excavating About Done.
Completion of all excavation neces-
sary TO open the canal by June i is
the estimate in the hands of the
president Flooding of Culebra cut,
the most stupendous task of the canal
construction, is planned on July |
withou, celebration. During July,
August and September. it is estimated
sufficient water will flow into the lake
reservoirs at the Gatuu and Mirehores
locks to enable passage of the first YES
sell a Panama railroad ship-through
the entire canal on Oct 3. the four
hundredth anniversary Of the discov-
cry of the Pacific by Balboa. The
canal will not be thrown open to the
commerce of the world until after the
dedication on Jan !. 1915.
President is Told.
The accomplishments of 1912 on the
isthmus and his hopes for the future
We're stated by Colonel Goethals while
the presidential party We're at Guile
bra on Christmas day:
During the year of 1912 the Gatun
dam was virtually completed and at
the close of the rainy season Gatun
seven feet, or within thirty feet of the
maximum which it will be allowed to
attain The dam held back this vol
ume of water without leakage.
During the year about 10000. 900
cubic yards of material were removed
bra. OF this, 100000 yards We're due
to slides in Culebra cut But slides
will cease when the canal is completed
and dynamite blasting discontinued.
There remains to be eXcavated
about 24,5O000 cubic yards. Only
100000 however, need be eXcavated
before the canal can be opened 1t is
hoped that the last steam shower can
be removed from the cut by July /.
Then the dixie at Bas Obspo, which
holds the water of Gatun lake out of
the cut, can be removed and the water
will flow Remaining excavation nee
essary can be accomplished by steam
dredges.
Less than per cent Of the total
excavation and concrete work is unfin-
ished. At the present rate both will
be finished and all gates and machin.
cry for one set of locks will he in
stalled by September Then. if the
water in Gatun lake is high enough.
the first ship can be put through one
complete set of locks. If one ship can
go. any number can"
President Taft has made it plain
that sentiment attached to Balboas
discovery Of the Pacific, 400 years ago,
Is TO figure in the opening of the
canal. During his visit to the zone
asst month the president unequivocally |
Indicated that he fayors honoring Bal |
Doa's memory by having the first ship |
sail from ocean To ocean on Oct. o
exactly 400 years after the Spaniard
sighted the Pacific from what is now
he terminus Of the canal The presi-
lent plans to issue proclamation be-
ore March 4, fixing this date for the
event
Establishment Of a civil government
n the zone, to replace the military
'egime incident to actual construction
work by the army and navy engineers, !
Will precede the formal and informal
opening ceremonies.
How near the canal is to actual use
vas strikingly impressed upon the
president and his party during their in
spection last month Every foot of
he canal was looked over. A special
rain hurried from ocean to ocean for
.hree days.
MeM Archibald Evidapra