The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-01

constituted one of the most important factors in the success of the enterprise.
 ITO Col. William c. Gorgas there can not be given too large a measure of praise. It is generally agreed that the failure of the French was due primarily to disease and a large death rate which finally demoralized the entire force. This Colonel Gorgas overcame. making the isthmus sanitary and habitable Without this it is doubtful if the canal would ever have been constructed, and certainly not without great loss of life and addi- tional expense. The world recognizes that Colonel Gorgas has made life in the tropics not only possible, but com fortable, for the inhabitants of the tenn perate zones.
 ''The other engineer members of the commission. with the exception of Colo mel Gaillard, under whose supervision the cut was made at Culebra, and whose untimely death has hereinbefore been re- ferred to, were Col W. L. Sibert and Col. H. F. Hodges of the army, and Commander H. H. Rousseau of the navy. The last two named were special assist ants to the chief engineer. Colonel Goe- thals, and. in that capacity, rendered val uable service in conferring with the mem- bers who had special supervision of cer- tain portions of the work, as well as ceAi yih6 Vot tic 6tutldl pidn dtOpttd by the commission. In fact, these men kept at all times in constant touch with each feature of the canal work.
 "Col. William l.. Sibert was especially designated to superintend the construc- ton of the dam across the Chagres river and the three locks connected there with on the Atlantic side. Perhaps the construction of the dam over this river was the most serious part of the entire work. It is a remarkable coincidence that the late Senator John T. Morgan of Ala bama, who may very properly be called the Father of the Isthmian Canal" al- though he did not get the route he pre- ferred, should have given as his prin- cipal objection to the Panama route the fact that the Chagres river could not be successfully damned. As a matter of fact, it was damned under the supervi- sion of this other Alabamian, Colonel Sibert.
 ''rhe second section of the bill au- thorizes that the President by and with the advice of the Senate, in effect, to advance Colonel Goethals and General Gorgas to the rank of major general, the former of the line and the latter of the medical department or hospital corps of the army, and provides that no officer belonging to this branch of the service shall be deprived of or prejudiced in his regular promotion.
 Tt is further provided that upon re- tirement of the othero fficers. Colonels tirement of the other officers, Colonels seau, the President may advance them one grade on the retired list.
 That the construction of the Panama canal was one of the greatest enginer- ing feats in the history of the world, and that it's sanitation is one of the most re- markable achievements in medical his- tory will not be denied. It brings the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts of this great country into much closer com munication by water, and 1t will unques- tionably revolutionize to a large extent, the commerce of the world upon the high seas. It has been the dream of many centuries. Spain, Portugal and Great Britain seriously contemplated it, while France actually undertook it. But
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