El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-02-14
G0ETHiL5 IS
PROTECTING
CANAL CANE
Permits No Useless Staying
of Birds and Beasts
of the Zone.
ONLY $47OOO,OOO
LEFT TO BE SPENT

n ANAMA, Feb. 1.-THE coming Of
II. z. Anthony and George Shiras
as representatives of the Ameri-
can Museum Of Natural history in
New York to hunt game in the Panama
jungle with camera and gun brings
to notice Col Cocktails ambition to
make the canal zone large and safe
zone for beast and fowl as well as a
gateway for commerce. While the bars
will be let down for the present party
and probably for all who, like colonel
Roosevelt, may come as 1aunal nat
uralists" Col GOethals will carry out
strictly as the zones first civil gov
ernOr what he has insisted upon dur
ing his engineering WOrk-that the
canal zone shall be a game preserve
So strict have his orders been fol-
lowed during the past few years that
seldom has q gun been heard on the
isthmus except in certain brief open
seasons and despite the noise and
powder smoke Of the canal blasting
wild fowl and isthmian game OF all
kinds have greatly increased, know
ing well that they are practically safe
from mOlestatiOn. It is probable that
the museum men will find as good II
not better specimens than would have
been possible before the canal dig
gers began work here
Lake ABOunds in Game
Gatun lake, which covers an area
row of more than 30 square miles, IS
the paradise for feathered game OF all
kinds They are coming to the lake
in great numbers and each season
sees the feathsred tribes increase
Most Of these birds are attracted BY
the fish with which the lake is filled.
The shores and floating islands on
the lake abound in blue and white
heron, the latter being the bird from
which is obtained the beautiful al
gret now barred from the United
States by the new tariff act Then
there are blue and white cranes, cor 8
WOrants pelicans and several species
the recent arrival Of a number OF wild
duck. They are beginning to come in
ever increasing numbers
In the jungle there are many deer
spite Of the fact that they still are
being hunted. They are not yet on
the taboo list Tapirs or forest cat
tie as the natives call them, also are
tame. It has been noted within the
last few weeks that the wild cat is
also on the increase Then there are
reported to be many alligatOrs in
Gatun Lake and the Chagre and other
smaller rivers.
Has Only s47.OOO.OOO Left.
Making both ends meet is COL
Cocktails present problem, as it was
when he came to dig the canal. but It
now concerns itself with income and
Outgo instead Of bringing the two
oceans together. There are only s47.-
O00 900 left Of the funds appropriated
for construction of the canal. and
while this may appegr a liberal sum
for the finishing touches. Col. GOeth-
ais believes that only an era Of far
reaching economy viii assure keep
ing within his allowance. He is de-
termined that the $47.000,0oO shall last
until the canal is finally opened for
commercial use Notwithstanding that
many economies have already been put
into practice, including a great re-
dUction Of both the executive and Ia
boring forces, expenditures generally
must be still further cut down to make
the appropriation last
Nearly every ship that leaves the
isthmus for the United States is car
rytng men who have laid down their
shovels. Their work on the canal is
finished. and they must seek other en-
plOyment. In some instances they
hope to return as employees Of the per-
manent operating force, but that or
ganization is in such an embryonic
state that none can know with what
success he will meet
Sanitation Stin a Problem.
Sanitation Of the isthmus is also
again looming up as one OF the prob
lens Of the canal While not so acute
as it was during the early years OF
construction, it is now an important
matter by reason OF the great ex-
tent Of Gatun lake formed by the
closing of the spillway at Gatun dam.
Gatun lake at the S. foot level at
which it IS proposed to maintain this
portion OF the great canal, has covered
an area Of a little more than 40
square miles OF Jungle. AS the waters
rose there was backed up in many out
Of the way places much water that
is more or less stagnant- Some Of this
is already being oiled by the sanitary
division but much Of It is in isolated
places and difficult Of access.
EIeetrifying the Railroad.
Preparations for the Identification
Of the Panama railroad across the
isthmus Of Panama practically win be
early this spring when the
high tension installation is finished
Already there have been erected many
o. the track span bridges which will
carry the power across the fsthmus.
It is planned to manufacture at the
electrical power plant at Gatun about
Z, 600 horse power which will be dis
tributed to all the points along the
isthmus for light and power purposes.
Much of this will be transmitted to
the permanent headquarters town OF
Balboa at the Pacific entrance to the
canal where the large navy and other
repair shops viii be located.