The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-09-17
CHAPTER tx.
The canaI Under aosthals.

L.
educated to the point where
the canal could be put exclusive
ly In the hands of the government en-
gineers. The personnel Of the third
commission he appointed ON April /.
1907. was as follows:
Lieutenant Colonel George W. Goe-
thals. chairman and chief engineer;
Major D. D. Gaillard. U. S. A.; Major
William L. sibert, o. S. A.; Il. a.
Rousseau, U. S. N; Colonel w. c. Cor
gas, o., s. A., medical corps: j. y. s.
Blackburn, Jackson Smith. Joseph
Bucklin Bishop, secretary.
The president also took advantage of
the reorganization of the commission
to further consolidate power in the
chairman. Not only was Colonel Goe-
thals made chairman Of the isthmian
canal commission and chief engineer
Of the Panama canal, but the execu-
tive power In the canal zone. formerly
exercised by the governor, was vested
in him, as well as the presidency of
the Panama Railroad company. thus
making every official and employee
and the members OF the commission
subordinate to him.
Colonel Goethals appreciated the
feelings the employees had over the
prospect of army engineers for direc-
tors of the enterprise and in his first
speech in the canal zone dispeled the
idea Of milltarism in the caual man
agement. He promised a fair hear
ing to every man with grievance,
the manner III which he carried out
this promise being one Of the distinc-
lively great qualities he later revealed
us an administrator. Few persons in
the canal zone had heard Of Colonel
Goethals before his appointment as
chief engineer. Yet his previous ex.
perience had qualified him Ideally for
the important work now in hand He
had been building locks aud dams. had
been chief of engineers In the Spanish
American war, was a graduate OF and
had taught in West Point and had
teen other construction experience that
made him at home in any kind of work
the canal should require.
Contrast for moment the situation
as faced by Colonel Goethnls with that
faced by Mr.. Stevens in 1905. In 1907
FIRE was under the boiler and steam
was up When Mr.. Stevens relinquish.
ed the throttle the army Of workers
had begun to come close to the mil.
lion mark in monthly excavations in
The Culebra cut There were sixty
three steam shorels ut work on the Gu.
1al. The Panama rdilrond had been
douhle tracked throughout aud the
mileage in the CuleDra cut and else.
where brought up to 1o6.7s miles; the
machine shops at Gorgona and Empire
were equipped for any kind Of repair
work or original construction.
There were approximately 10000 EN-.
pioyees, and the recruiting agencies In
Europe, the West Indies and the Unit
ed States constantly were sending nd,
ditions. Quarters for employees. office
buildings and all other structures con.
sisted. of 1000 buildings Of American
design and 1886 remodeled French
buildings. The commissary for supply.
Ing food, clothing and general mer-
chandise to employees was organized
and had branches In seven canal zone
towns. There were fifteen hotels in
operation for bachelor employees. and
four recreation clubhouses had been
constructed, besides church and lodge
buildings. Twenty-four public schools
afforded educational facilities to the
canal zone children. The police sys-
TEN, the courts. postoftices and fire de
partments We're thoroughly organized.
In short, the preparatory stage of the
canal had passed and the constructive
stage had begun.
ITO be continued.)