The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-02-14

canal, but it\now concerns itself with
income and butgo instead of bringing
the two oceans together There are
only $47,0OO,O0O left of the funds APP
propriated for construction of the ca
nal, and while this may appear lib
eral sum for the finishing touches,
Col. Goethals believes that only an
era of far-reaching economy will as
sure keeping within his allowance.
He is determined that the $47, 100000
shall last until the canal is finally
opened for commercial use. Notwith-
standing that many economies have
already been put into practice, includ.
ing great reduction of both the
executive and laboring forces, expen-
ditures generally must be still further
cut down to make the appropriation
last.
Nearly every ship that leaves the
isthmus for the United States is carry
ing big men and great who have laid
down their shovels. Their work on
the canal is finished, and they must
seek other employment. In some In.
stances they hope to return as en-
ployees of the permanent operating
force, but that organization is in such
an embryonic state that none can
know with what success he will meet.
1t is probable that many will seek
later to transfer the scene of their
operations from the tropics to the
frozen north If the government goes
ahead with the Alaskan railway
project.
Sanitation Of the Isthmus is also
again looming up as one of the prob
lens Of the canal. While not so acute
as 1t was during the early years of
construction, II is now an important
matter by reason Of the great extent
Of Gatun Lake formed by the closing
of the spillway at Gatun Dam.
Gatun Lake at the IS foot level at
which it is proposed to maintain this
portion of the great canal has covered
an area Of little more than 100
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.
The oiling squads will have to be
kept at work indefinitely and this
will make sanitation one of the impor-
tant functions of the permanent gov
eminent of the Canal Zone. To aid
in the work it is hoped to acquire
five mile strip around that portion of
Gatun Lake not within the borders of
the Zone.
Preparations for the electrifcation
of the Panama railroad across the
lsthmus of Panama practically will
be completed early this spring when
the high tension installation is fin
ished. Already there have been erect
ed many Of the track span bridges
which will carry the power across the
Isthmus.
1t is planned to manufacture at the
electrical power plant at Gatun about
1000 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 will be located.
1t is not the intention of the govern.
ment to Immediately undertake the |
complete electrification of the rail. |
road for the reason that at present
there Is no knowing the amount of |
traffic the road will carry across the
lsthmus after the opening of the ca
nal. Should this prove to be suffi- |
GENTLY large to warrant the expense
of making the change the railway will
altogether cease to be a steam road.
In anticipation of this possibility !
the track span bridges are being erect.
ed and are wide enough to permit the
construction of two track road from
Panama to Colon.