The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-04-28
FIRST THROUGH CANAL
California Say Old Portsmouth
Should Have the Honor.

Washington, April 24.-With the
completion of the Panama canal il
sight, there has been a renewal Of
movements on the part of individuals
and organizations to have the secre
tary of war designate different yes
sells as the first to pass through the
great waterway, the latest reqest
coming from Colonel Goethals, in
charge of the construction of the
canal, who urges that the Fran, the
vessel to be used by Captain Amund
sen on his next Arctic expedition, be
permitted to make the first trip.
In reply to the request of Colonel
Goethals, Secretary Garrison an
nounces that the present schedule
contemplates turning the water into
Culebra cut early in October, when
one flight of locks at either end OF
the canal will be completed He says
that, If possible, the suggestion of
Colonel Goethals will be followed
The following excerpt from the let
ter of Colonel Goethals, Secretary
Garrison quotes in his reply:
The opening of the Panama canal
for the passage of vessels has always
been predicted on the question OF
slides and the completion of the lock
gates. The present schedule contem.
plates admitting the water into Guile
bra cut early in October and the com
pletion of one flight of locks at either
end of the canal by that same date
The passage of boats, then, depends
upon the condition of the slides.
1T is hoped that we will be able to
pass ship before the close of the
year, and, if this can be accomplished
the Fran will have no difficulty in
making the transit of the canal, and
every facility will be offered for its
doing so. No assurances, however
can be given in the matter at this
time"
Another vessel suggested as the
first to make the trip through the
canal is the old sloop of war Ports
mouth.
Because of the historical interests
associated with the old vessel it has
been suggested that she head a pag
cant of modern warships through the
canal on the occasion of the forma
opening of the waterway. The ole
Portsmouth. under the command Of
Commander John B. Montgomery
occupied Yerba Buena, now San Frar
cisco, on July 8, 1886, and hoisted
the stars and stripes and took posses
sion of the west coast for the United
States. II is urged, therefore, that
the Portmouth stands for the brit
of California and should be an attrac
ton at the Panama Pacific exposition
and then should be preserved forever
by California as a memorial of the
past
The Portsmouth is now dismantled
and moored in the Norfolk navy yard
after more than 60 years service
Probably no ship in the navy ever
saw longer service.
Commander Edward Mcclure Pc
tiers of the New Jersey naval reserve
is one of the foremost advocates oil
the scheme to send the Portsmouth
through the canal and then turn hel
over to the State of California.
why should not California have
the old ship herself, and why moi
have her the first ship to go through
the Panama canal when it is open
ed?" asks Commander Peters in a
communication regarding the move
ment. I'VE have in this country sc
few monuments to the events of the
past that it would be a pity to pass
by the case of the Portsmouth. II
has been suggested that the Oregon
be the first ship to go through the
canal, but how much more appropri
ate would it be to make this frs
ship the one that gave the west coas
to this country. the Portsmouth"
Senator Perkins has also interested
himself in the movement and has TAX
en- the matter up with the navy de
partment and the officials of the Pan
anna Pacific exposition.