The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-04-02
NEW GOVERNMENT
BEGINS TODAY FOR
THE PANAMA ZONE. /.
I szlI8le1
Goethals' Title Chlang-
ed to That of Cow
ernor.
NO cEREM ONES
Civil p,,Ia nr,,l yxy:4L
NO C E R E M o MES
Civil Rule Opened Without
Any Outward Evidence
of the Change.

Panama. The Panama Canal Zone
began business today under per-
| manent fora of government.
| The Isthmian Canal Commission,
which has governed the zone during
the construction Of the waterway,
was dissolved, and a civil admins
tratlon, emi-military in character,
was established.
Colonel George w. Goethals, by APP
pointment of the president of the
United States, became its first COVER
nor. His inauguration was remark
able. There ws.e no ceremonies, no
speeches, no disliay.
In his office on the top of Guile
bra Hill, overlooking the now fam
Gus cut of that name, Col. Goeth-
ais, chairman and chief engineer of
the lsthmian Canal Commission, sim
ply beganahis days work under new
title" Governor anu Chief OF the
Department OF Operations and Main
| Lenance."
In the big ctt. below, while the
Colonel figuratiyely transferred his
power from one hand to another, the
steam dredges were tearing away at
the foot of Curcaraha slide, and To-
comotives We're busy hauling away
more of the daily spoil. Work pro-
gressed as usual along the whole
route of the canal. There were no
extra flags flying, no outward show
of any kind that the government of
| the Zone was undergoing any change.
] These We're changes in name merely,
J so far as most of the canal workers
were Concerned. Ever since Col Goc-
ithals became the guiding spirit OF the
work he has been the benevolent
despot" of the lsthmus, and there are
few new faces in the group of men
who have found place in the per-
manent government
! Actcalf Superseded.
Only small portion of the per-
manent organization became actually
effective today. 1t probably will not
be perfected until all Of the construc-
tion work has been done, which will
require probably another year.
That part of the old organization
| that will feel the new order OF things
first is the old Department of Civil
| Administration over which Richard
l.. Metcalfe presided. As fast as prac-
lticable Col Goethals said, this will
be reorganized and will be placed un-
der the new executive secretary. The
courts, which formerly were consid-
Tered part of this department, al
ready have been separated and con-
solidated under the one federal judge
and his two assistants at either end
| of the canal.
The Sanitary and Health Depart
ments also will soon be on the per-
manent basis. The work practically
has been completed and the new de-
partment of Health, with Col. Mason,
at its head, will in future look after
| the sanitation of the Zone and the;
4 Isthmus of Panama generally.
| The Department Of Operation and
Maintenance will not be fully estab-
lished until the canal has been fully
completed.
Il The Accounting Department of the
i permanent organization will succeed
i to the work formerly done by the Di-
i vision OF Disbursements and the En-
aminer of Accounts. Nothing more
! than a consolidation and slight
lcontraction of working force will be
Ineeded to make them ready for their
! new work.
i All departments will be directly
i responsible to the governor of the
i Panama Canal who, In turn is re-
i sponsible to the president of the
United States through the War De-
4 partment.
Il When in operation it is estimated
! there viii be about 1000 American
4 white employees on the canal, and
Il perhaps a few hundred negro labor
! ers, all residents of the Canal Zone.
Il 4