The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-05
|New and Astonishing Facts About
the Big Wate,way---Guns That Can
fire an Automobile Half Across the
lsthnaus; Giant Geysers in the Locks--.
|Col. Goethols's Message on the True
Significance of the Continent Diuider
BY Colonel George w. Cocktails,
Buttder Of The Panama Canal On an Inferpieml

V HE Panama Canal is now open and Government
ships are constantly passing through. The
Canal VIII be opened TO the ships of the world
s soon as the slides eliminated we are satisfied
Plat 1t will be perfectly safe From present Indications
"e expect that will be about July OF this year NV
'Fginal estimate was that the Canal would be opened
pot later than January l. 1915
tenceorth Panama must be the great highway OF
commerce on the globe. The mighty stream OF trade
8 and travel between East and West between Europa
and Asia. must flow by way OF America rather than
1astcrn Europe. America occupies the same pos,
ION with regard 10 world trade and world movements
nat ancient Rome once did, All Americans OF to-day
houid feel proud and thrilled 10 know that this achieva
&fnent has been accomplished In their generation and
mediterranean that has required the devoted labor OF
$4,000 men and the sacrifice OF many brave American
hives.
Your picture OF the 16nch gun that Is 10 be mounted
e tortfcations OF the Canal gives some idea OF the
a''n reception that Wi" await any foreign power that
res 20 interfere with the Canal 1t is contrary to the
#eeulat!ohs Tor an army officer discuss numbers a..
eu"S % any details concerning fortifcations but you
can ascertain from the congressional report on Canal
notifications how strong they are 10 he you ,u
pTooao!y be safe In saving that NO hostile ship can live
"'e"h htteen miles OF the OF the Canal 60
o'er"hein'ing VIII be the FIFE OF these l6nch guns
7aamea WITH mathematical accuracy from secret en-
placements and dropping their shells with plunglug
s. nre on the decks OF approaching vessels
SupposinE that enemy had effected q landnE on
NE territory adjacent the Canal Zone the attack
9"ouio De equally difficult The locks are placed SO
that they protected by the hills and topogranhv from
ar'iierY IRE. and the invader would be exposed 70
&oes'rucuon before he could do any damage | have
on'ed out in an official statement that the hundreds
oi p'cS OF FEVER haunted swamp and wilderness ed;a
cent 20 the In which there IS no subsistence for
8Canal ~ ~ 'eise 10 Ule
great protection agains, any accidental or malicious
StS h OF the Canal consists In It's generous width
"nch varies from LOCO 10 500 feet through ia tosi
&ength OF fifty mics Exper. nee shows that rsks -
ips IN mario" waterways material and important
such channel rs the original Suez Canal the delays
8h, ses 70 commerce we're great, the danger to
8pe cohslderahle Although the benefit OF the widen
s % me Suez Canal is striking. is true even now
Inc Cahe may not double the efficiency of our nav
guy c - Germany Increases It enormously.
H1'islesH mas 50 lar appropriated S349 5o5223 for
locations "on' LOT 10TH
Your Inc photograph OF the opening OF the ;och 8,
niraloTes viii show your better than cam bo
the. devices arc operated Every possible safety de-
sce mas been provided The locks have been buiI, in
2ouphcate and system has been installed by which The
IN inc iochs "iil be controlled by powerful cleo