Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-02
Goethals Has Be-
come Governor
And Chief
No Ceremonies or Display al
His Inauguration


Ger permanent form of government
The Isthmian Canal Commission,
which has governed the zone during
the construction Of the waterway, was
dissolved, and a civil administration,
semi-military in character, was es-
tablished.
Colonel George w. Goethals, by APP
pointment of the President of the
United States, became its first gov
ernor. His inauguration was remark
able. There We're no ceremonies, no
speeches. no display.
In his Office on the top of Culebra
Hill, overlooking the now famous cut
of that name, Col. Goethals, chair
man and chief engineer of the 18TH
milan Canal Commission, simply be-
gan his days work under a new title
-"Governor and Chief of the Depart
ment of Operation and Maintenance"
In the big cut, below, while the
colonel fguratively transferred his
power from one hand to another. the
steam dredges were tearing away at
the foot of Curcaracha slide, and To-
comotives were busy hauling away
more of the daily spoil Work pro-
crossed 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 changes. These
were changes in name merely, so far
as most of the canal workers were
concerned. Ever since Col. Goethals
became the guiding spirit of the work
he has been the benevolent despot'
of the Isthmus, and there are few
new faces in the group of men who
have found a place in the permanent
government.
The list has been announced as
follows.
Engineer of Maintenance-Col. Har-
ry f.. Hodges, of the army engineers
Superintendent of Transportation
Captain Hugh Rodman. U. S. n.
Electrical Engineer-Captain w. H.
Rose. of the army engineers.
Captains for the Terminal Ports
Commander D. E. Dismukes and Lieu
tenant Commander Henry V. Butler.
u. S. n.
doclSs-Naval Constructor d. C. Nut
ting.
General Purchasing Officer-Mator F.
Chief Quarterrhaster-Cap r. E.
Wood. United States Cavalry (tem-
porarily. pending, reorganization of
the supply Department..
Auditor-H. A. A. Smith; assistant,
b. F. Harrah
Chief Health Officer-Lieutenant Col
onel Charles F. Mason, Medical Corps,
u. s. A
Chief officer of the Quarantine Div
ision-Passed Assistant Surgeon Mar
shall c. Guthrie, U. S. Bureau of Pub
lie Health.
Executive Secretary-C. A. Nell
ivaine.
Only small portion of the perma-
nent organization became actually eff
fective today. 1t probably will not be
perfected until ali the construction
work has been done. which will re-
Quire 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
4. Metcalfe presided. AS fast as prac-
ticable. Col. Goethals said this will be
reorganized and will be placed under
the new executive secretary. The
courts. which formerly were consid-
cred 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,
the sanitation of the Zone and the
1sthmus of Panama generally.
, The Departments of Operation and
Maintenance will not be fully estab-
lished until the canal has been fully
completed.
The Accounting Department of the
permanent organization will succeed
to the work formerly done by the Div
ision of Disbursements and the Fx-
aminer of Accounts. Nothing more
than consolidation and a slight con-
traction OF working force will be
needed to make them ready for their
new work.
All departments will be directly re-
sponsible to the governor of the Pan
anna Canal who, in turn, is response
BILE to the President of the United
States through the War Department.
When in operation it is estimated
there will be about 1000 American
white employees on the canal, and per-
haps a few hundred negro laborers,
all residents Of the Canal Zone.