The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-01-11
CANAL NEARING
ITS COMPLETION
OPENING CEREMONY TO COM
MEMoRATE DISCOVERY OF
PACIFIC BY BALBOA.
1sT SHIP THROUGH OCT. s
President Reports That 90 Per Cent 10
Already Compieted-Ex-
eavating Completed rs
June I.

Washington, Jan. S.--Union Of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans by means
of the Panama canal Is to be the su-
preme American achievement OF 1918.
The "big ditch" is almost ready.
President Taft is preparing to an
hounce the program for acceptance of
engineering's latest gift. as a result Of
his trip to the isthmian canal zone
last month.
"Ninety.three per cent. completed"
was the report made to the president
regarding the progress Of the giant
eIuiceway by Colonel George w.
Goethals, the engineering wizard of the
tropics.
Excavatlne About Done.
Completion Of all excavation neces-
nary to open the canal by Juno / 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 1
without celebration. During July,
August and September, it is estimated
sufficient water will flow into the lake
reservoirs at the Gatun and Miref1ores
locks to enable passage Of the first yes
sel- a Panama railroad ship-through
the entire canal on Oct S, 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
were stated by Colonel Goethals while
the presidential party were 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
lake had risen to a height Of fifty,
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 100000
cubic yards Of material We're removed
from the keystone Of the canal-Cule-
bra. OF this, 100000 yards We're due
ito slides in Culebra cut. But slides
will cease when the canal is completed
and dynamite blasting discontinued.
"There remains to be excavated
about 24,500,000 cubic yards. Only
5000, 600 however, need be excavated
before the canal can be opened. 1t is
hoped that the last steam shovel can
be removed from the cut by July L.
Then the dixie at Bas Obispo, which
holds the water Of Gatun lake out of
the cut can be removed and the water
will flow. Remaining excavation nee
eesary 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 be 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
60, any number can
Honor salboa's Memory.
FISbluenL ldIL mas MADE, IT. nla1n
that sentiment attached to Balboa s
discovery of the Pacific, 400 years ago,
is to figure in the opening of the
canal. During his visit to the zone
last month the president unequivocally
indicated that he favors IGNORING Bal.
boa's memory by having the first shin
sail from ocean to ocean on Oct g.
exactly 400 years after the Spaniard
sighted the Pacific from what is now
the terminus Of the canal. The presi-
dent plans to issue proclamation be-
fore March 4, fixing this date for the
event.
Establishment of civil government
in the zone, to replace the military
regime 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
was strkingly impressed upon the
president and his party during their in
spection last month. Every foot of
the canal was looked over. A special
train hurried from ocean to ocean for
three days.
Another Boat Wrecked.
Vonconver r n Iop M !.