Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-03-04
Brilliant ASsembIage Gathers
10 Honor Army Engineer
Who Has Altered Geography
Of World
PRESIDENT PRESENTS
COLONEL WITH MEDAL
Also Makes Notable Speech,
Saying Canal viii Make
New Friendships and Change
Tendency of Trade,
~ aopmso IoOTpA, SPECIAL LrASEO wIarl

10y uoRmso JOURNAL SPECIAL LEABED wisEl
Washington. March Washington
paid tribute tonight to Col, George
Washington Goethals. builder Of tho
Tanama canal The occasion was the
annual banquet of the National Geo-
liaphic society, with Colonel Gocthals
present as the guest Of honor and TO
receive from President Wilson d spe-
cial gold medal awarded him by the
society in recognition Of his achieve
ment
Secretary bryan was tosatmaster
and gathered about the banquet ta-
bile with the distinguished scientists
of the society were President Wilson
ana his cabinet. Justices Of the SUI
rreme court, members of the diplo-
matte corps, high officers Of the army
aud navy, leaders in both houses of
congress ami other notable figures in
the life of the national capital
During the evening Jules j. Jussc
rand, the French ambassador and
dean OF the diplomatic corps, was for
maHy notified of his election TO hon
daly membership in the society
The banquet hall presented a strik-
ing scene. Al one end raised high
above the table the words Atlantic
Goethals- Pacific" hlazed in brilliant
electric letters as all other lights were
cxungulshed.
Ice cream was served the diners
.frcm nriHlatNre lredges carried by
walters dressed in the uniform Of the
United states engineer corps, and fol-
lowed b. sailors bearing tiny bat
tleship. Individual dishes Of cream
appeared moulded in the shape of
the Panama canal dump ear.
The medal awarded Colonel Goe-
thals was OF heavy Roman gold. IL
was given as an expression of the APP
probation of the society and the ma
ton OF the army engineers distin-
guished service. Its presentation was
the final act of President Wilson's
first year as chief executive of the
emitted states. Inscribed on the medal
were the words
This medal of the National Geo
graphic society is awarded to George
Washington Goethals, to whose ability
ana patriotism the world owes the
construction of the Panama canal
March 9. 1914
Presenting the medal President
Wilson said
Il am here to do what / suppose
is an unusual thing for society Of
this sort. 1t generally confers il hon
ors upon those who have disclosed
geography rather than those who have
altered il. II is a sort Of advertiser
and custodian of the globe but it is
now about TO honor q gentleman who
has had the audacity to change the
globe
THE engineering profession is one
OF the few creative professions. Those
Of us who have attempted to be lite
rary men conceive that we have ere
ated conceptions Of the mind but we
never chm produce them in court
They are never visibly upon exhibit
ton But the magic of the engineer Is
that he can change the face of ma
ture and show the work Of his hands
and in that It is In some deep sense
creative ia character. The life Of
mankind on the globe is altered for
example by the cutting and the use
OF the Panama canal
III fills the Imagination to think
Of what this work win accomplish. u
will make new neighbors. 1t will gen
crate new friendships 1t will make
new atmosphere 81 rivalry and 90
generous association. The whole ten
-. cy Of the routes of trade will be
4 nged, and the routes Of trade are
he -rcutes Of enlightenment. Only
When neighbors touch one another
do they cease 20 be provincial and look
out Upon the great tasks Of humanity
instead Of confirming themselves to
he selfish tasks Of their own domestic
development, and ii is only as we ex-
port and import ideas that civilization
becomes thoroughly established.
We have. therefore. TO honor to.
night lhe greatest living representative
~ this extraordinary profession. 1.
seems to me 10 be natural, if / may
Siy 70, with apologies to some Of our
friends present that the greatest en-
iheer should come from the United
'a'es' The United States has made
'e world very uncomfortable, but Il
ids al last done SO by the exercise Of
extraordinary dynamic qualities II e.
ot one Of the statistical nations OF
sue world N is enc of the nations
fnlen has disturbed equilibrium.
men has egt nee paths for the
srouknt and action of mankind. And
s~ 'here is 10 be elevated, and KEEP.
49,, a.a on high this new name upon
men are 10 enter the roads Of