The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-25
PANAMA GRADUATES"
ATTACHED TO WORK
Many of Them Are Hoping That They
Will Be Assigned to Places in That
Zone Once More-Specula-
ton Over Appointments.

Panama, Feb. 25,-It is, in many re-
spects. very much like college COM
mencement season on the isthmus just
now. From the thousands of men who
have been taking long courses in prac-
tical canal building classes are being
graduated almost daily, commencement
season which viii probably continue for
many months.
Men who have put in the full course
might be believed to welcome release
from the tropics, but on every hand there
is a sort of alma mater sentiment ex-
pressed by many in the hope that they
will return to the scene OF their EN-.
gineering triumphs for further service OF
the same sort. A majority OF the mei
who are laying down their books ana
shovels are going away with no other
diploma than pride in having participat-
ed in monumental work. That Is
enough to bind many men together and
il may be no surprise that some such
organization as the Canal Diggers' Alum
nj association is an outgrowth OF this
common pride.
There is general satisfaction expressed
that the chief engineer will stay until
the last, and overlap for time at least
as the civil governor of the canal zone
But this appointment Of Colonel George
w. Goethals as governor is practically
the only definite answer which the bigger
men OF the canal work have been given
f,,f.
With Colonel Cocktails appointment
Richard L. Metcalfe, who had been in
charge OF the civil administration, and
Joseph Buckhn Bishop, secretary OF the
canal commission, are winding up THEN
work. Mr.. Metcalfe will probably return
soon TO the United States but he de.
clares that reports that he intends q
enter the race for the governorship Of
Nebraska are erroneous. He asserts that
it is not his present intention to do so
leaving his future an open question,
Ii il generally understood in the zone
that Secretary Bishop will be appointed
by President Wilson in the capacity OF
official historian of the canal. II is init
mated that this is the wish OF Colone
Goethals. who believes that the ofhcia
history OF the canal should be compiled
while the undertaking is fresh IN tht
minds OF those who took part in il ant
bv a man who was as intimately as
sociated with il as was Mr.. Bishop. The
secretary will probably remain here IN
til the official opening OF the waterway
set for January. 1915.
Among the division engineers who have
lately been relieved OF their duties =
! Lieutenant Colonel William l.. Sibert, tn,
concrete man." He was in charge o.
the construction OF all concrete work OF
the Gatum locks, dam and spillway
| Where he will go when the isthmiai
canal commission ceases to exist on Apri
| | is another open question, but in som'
touarters il is believed that the eonstrue
| ton of the projected Alaskan railwa,
may furnish suitable field for his &C
| Invites. as it will for many who hav,
finished their work here.
Everyone believes that Colonel w. c
Gorgas. the sanitary expert who rid thu
| isthmus of yellow fever pests, and wh'
is now engaged in great sanitary worl
in South Africa. will be the next sur
geon general of the army.
n. H. Rosseau, the naval engineer wht
has always been regarded as Colone
Cocktails right hand man, will probabl,
remain on the isthmus until the finish
ing touches have been given all the dock
and shops at both ends of the canal. Al
Balboa this work. in his charge, has onl,
Just begun and Notwithstanding thu
Roadway that is being made daily it il
apparent that it will be at least anothe
year before the building which will serve
as the future headquarters of the cana
force and the naval shops and dry docl
will be ready to turn over to other hands
Even with this done it is believed tina
Col. Goethals will find further need o
his ''right hand" man in connection witt
the canal operation.
! Lieutenant Colonel III. F. Hodges
United States corps of engineers, is an
other of the constructors of the grea
waterway whose services will be requires
until at least the end of the present
year. His work has been in looking aftei
the important electrical installation al
the three great locks and in providing
for the aids to navigation through th'
canal. 1t is expected that this work vii
be completed before the end of the pres
ent year. Then the canal viii be sale
to be really in condition for the safe pas
sage of ocean going vessels and not be
1 fore.
Some anxiety is manifested by Wal