Imperial Valley press., 1913-09-30
Lay Final Plans
For Big Canal

ernor to prepare for the transfer of
the completed canal to the civil au-
thorities will be announced shortly
by President Wilson.
The necessity for this action was
pointed out months ago by Colonel
George W. Goethals, to whom more
than to any other one man, the sue
cessful construction of the big ditch
is due. For political reasons, how
ever, Colonel Goethals' recommended
tion was not adopted. Now, with much
of the work done and economy press
ing for the reduction of the force
which has been at work, the admins
tration finds it will have to act with
out delay.
The president had expected con
gress to adjourn in September, with
the tariff and the currency laws on
the statute books, and he intended to
take advantage of the vacation TO
visit the canal. Congress, however,
promises to remain continuously III
session. Mr. Wilson has decided,
therefore, to stay on the job in Wash
ington and to send Secretary Garri-
son to Panama. Upon the latter'5
return the reorganization of the canal
commission and the appointment
probably of Colonel Goethals as gov
ernor, will be announced
The excavation up to date by the
Goethals force, according to official
reports, amounts to 209,218,050 cubic
yards of dirt. The French had ex-
cavated 78,148,OOO cubic yards, Of
which the Americans could use a cut
represented only by 29,2O8,OOO cubic
yards. The total excavation, there
fore, available for the canal, amounts
to 239,126,050 cubic yards. There re
mains to be removed before the canal
can be thrown open to the sommerce
of the world, 23,134,970 cubic
yards.
The Culebra section of the canal
required the greatest attention of the
eXcavating force. From this section
was removed 97,O49,6O1 cubic yards.
1t is estimated that 100000 cubic
yards of material remain to be taken
cut, exclusive of slides, and this will
be done by dredges.
Next to the Culebra cut the most
important work done was in the
construction of the locks and dams at
Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Mirafioras.
In building them the engineers used
25,881,315 cubic yards Of fill and
2,901,83 cubic yards of concrete.
The largest amount of this material
was required for the Gatun dams and
locks
The cost of the canal to date, ac-
cording to Colonel Cocktails figures,
is $295, ,587,538. This sum has been
spent as follows:
Construction and engineering.
$183, ,387, 1886.
Sanitation, $16,132,O58.
Civil administration, $6,37O,866.
Fortifcations, $2,965,939
General items, $87,687,O71.
Department Of law, $43,717.
The aspect Of the financial end Of
the work which will appeal to every
American is that there has been alb
solutely no scandal in connection with
the money disbursements. Colonel
Goethals has watched this with ab.
sorbed attention and has insisted that
the government obtain a dolla-c's
worth of work for every dollar
spent. Never in the history of the
world, it is declared, has such a tre-
mendouS work been done with such
freedom from charges of peculation.
If the guard against extravaganza
Is to be maintained it is of the ut
most Importance that the canal COM
mission should be reorganized. AS
tar as he can under present condi
tions, Colonel Goethals is reducing
MS force. The Culebra cut is prac-
tlcaily finished and the Gatun dam is
done. There is consequently no
longer need for the men who have
been engaged on these works or for
their high salaried officers and engi-
1eers. The services of the latter
cannot be dispensed with, however,
except upon an order of the president.
But economy is not the only reason
for the reorganization of the COM
mission. The item has come when
steps must be taken in preparation
for the opening of the canal to COM
merce. This means the creation of
trained force for the operation Of
the canal, the formulation of rules
and regulations for their guidance and
The perfection of thousand and one
1etalis in order to make a success of