The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-02-25
Commencement Season NOw on Among
Classes in Practical Canal Building

those who took part In IL aud by a
man who was as intimately associat.
ed with u as was Mr.. Bishop The
secretary win probably remain here
until the official opening OF the wat
crway. set for January. 1915.
Among the division engineers who
have lately been relieved OF their du-
ties Is LieutcnaHt-Coione william l..
Sibert. tho concrete man." He was
In charge OF the construction OF all
concrete work on the Gatun locks.
dam and splllway. Where he will go
when the Isthmian Canal commission
ceases ia exist on April LIST Is anoth-
er open question. but In some quar-
tiers Il Is believed that the construc-
ton Of the projected Alaskan rail-
way may furnish a suitable field for
his activities. IA II viii for many who
have finished their work here,
Everyone believes that Colonel W.
G. Gorgas. the sanitary expert who
rid the isthmus OF yellow fever pests,
and who is now engaged In a great
sanitary work In South Africa. will
be the next surgeon-general OF the
amy.
". ~. Rousseau. the naval engineer
who has alwaya bee regarded as
Colonel Cocktails right-hand man.
wiil probably remain ON the isthmus
until the finishing touches have been
given all the docks and shops at
both ends Of the canal. AZ Balboa
this work, in his charge, has only
Just begun and Notwithstanding the
a H..4.n..r saae l.. EgtU. s.ul. IutIr %
"a apparent that Il will be at least
another year before the building
which will serve MS the future head
quarters OF the canal force and the
naval shops and dry dock will he
ready to turn oyer 90 other hands
Even with this done Il is believed
that Colonel Goethals will find furth-
OF need Of his right hand nan In
connection with the canal operation.
Lieutenant Colonel II. r. Hodges,
United States corps Of engineers, Is
another of the constructors OF tho
great waterway whose services will
be required until NJ least the end Of
the present year. Ills work has been
IN looking after the important elec-
tricai installation 81 the three great
locks and In providing for the aids
Co navigation through the canal. II
H. expected that this work viii he
completed before the end of the pres
snt year. Then tho canal viii be
said To be really In condition for the
safe passage Of ocean going vessels
end not before.
Some anxiety r. manifested by
Walter f. Boyer, assistant engineer
a. charge Of aids To navigation In
che canal Itself. over the appearance
at large quantities Of water cabbage
and water hyaclnth that are growing
rapidiy and spreading over the sur
ace 81 the canal. These plants are
forming In large and small floating
islands and II is feared VIII prove a
hlndrancc To navigation.
within a brief period after tho
closing of the gates of Gatun Spill
way the waite cabbage began grow
Ing along the banks ~ the lake that
was formed. Now they have spread
all over the surface OF the lake and
floating about In great Islands that
are becoming very dense. These
plants have very long roots and In
shallow water become anchored fast
10 The bottom. Recently the water
hyacinth made IT, appearance and
like the cabbage h. floating about In
large islands.
The growth of the latter h much
faster than the cabbage ms form Ia
masses Of great density. II is feared
that ships viii have considerable dit
ficuhy in piercing these MASSES. Al
ready means are being considered
for The destruction of the plants ur
NJ least for their control so they viii
not ohstruct the channel.
The danger from the plants II said
% he greatest where the canal Is mar
rowest because they will there find
anchorage and gradually oversprcad
the entire waterway. The danger Is
regarded AZ not 81 great in Gatun
Lake because they have "a tendency
10 Famnlu near the ehurp