The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-12-02
FIRST SHIP TO co
THROUGH CANAL
Government Vessel Probably
viii Get Honor.
READY FOR TRAFFIC FEB. l.

The Fran, Anundsen's Antarctic Ship,.
Now In Harbor Of Colon, Will Be
Granted an Early Passage, but VIII
Not Be First to Pass From Atlantic.
to Pacific.
The first deep draft vessel to pass
through the Panama canal from ocean
to ocean will be one OF the Panama
railroad steamers, now plying regular
ly between New York and Colon, II
the plan which Secretary Garrison has
b contemplation is adopted finally,
2he secretary's idea is to allow Colo
pel GOethals all the time he requires
TO complete the canal and experiment.
with it before this initial trip is made.
Then, on the deck of one of the liners
belonging to the war department,
President Wilson, with some of the
members Of his cabinet: the congress
siOnal committees having Jurisdiction
over the canal and few newspaper
men will pass through the waterway
from Cristobal, on the Atlantic side, to
Balboa. at the Pacific entrance.
Secretary Garrison said in Wash.
ington recently that while no positive.
date could be fixed for this ceremony
he thought that Colonel Goethals would
succeed in clearing the way through
the Cucaracha slide (meaning In Span
ish "Cockroach" slide) by Feb. /, and
certainly 1t would be possible to pass
deep draft vessels through by next
spring.
Early Passage For Fran.
The Fran, Captain Amundsen's.
famous antarctic ship, was lying In
the habor of Colon when Secretary
Garrison sailed from the isthmus. 1t
had been promised that the Fran
would be among the first vessels to be
passed through the canal on her way
to Bering sea conveying another arc
tic exploring expedition. But she
would not be the first vessel through.
said Secretary Garrison.
Leaving for future decision the ques-
ton as to whether the permanent gov
ernment of the canal zone shall be by
one man or in the hands Of commis-
sion. Secretary Garrison as well as
Colonel Goethals gave some attention
TO the plans for the creation of force
of employees to operate the canal.
Colonel Goethals is naturally desirous
of retaining in the permanent establish
ment as many as possible of the EN-
ployees who have made good records
during their years of service in the
construction of the canal. At one time
these employees numbered $4,000. but
that total has been reduced from time
to time owing to the progress of the
work to about $4,000 at present.
Reductions are being made at the
rate of about 5000 per month.
Large Force Needed.
Colonel Goethals estimates that about
10 per cent of the maximum number
of employees will be required to op-
crate the canal-about 1,500 gold men,
meaning the high grade employees
from the United States. and $500 sill
yer men, which describes the manual
labor, largely drawn from the West In
dies and Europe.
That Il large force will be required
not only to manipulate the locks, the
dam mechanism. the complicated cleo
trical mechanism. the pi!otage of yes
sells. the manning Of tugs and light
houses and signal stations and other
things directly connected with the op-
Grafton of the canal, but also to handle
the great volume of clerical work, to-
run the machine shops and drydocks
| and handle the coal and oil supplies
and even to take care of the provision
ing of the vessels using the canal goes :.
without saying. incidentally it will
be necessary in Washington and per-
haps in New York to maintain supply
depOts for the canal, involving the en-
ployment of many persons.
Secretary Garrison said that natural
ly Colonel G0ethals. like any admins
trative officer desires that the organ
ization of this numerous permanent
force be undertaken as soon as pOssi-
BILE, but he has shown no disposition to-
become angry over the delay in EN-
barkment of that work, nor has he Civ
en- any sign of dissatisfaction or inten-
tion to resign on that or any other ac-
count, frankly expressing his desire to.
remain in charge long enough to get
the canal in thorough working condi-.
ton.