Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-01-16
TO INSPECT FORTS
BOARD APPOINTED TO PASS YIN
BUILDING OF DEFENsEs OF
THE PANAMA CANAL
NO FAULTS ARE lNTlMAlEU
Work of Great Magnitude and impor'
tance, However, Has Been IN me
Hands of Two Young Engineer
Corps L~ieutenants.
By GEORGE

6y SCorSC SGt'N ~
Washington. - The f~ortihcatlonS
which guard the approaches 10 lhe
Panama canal 10Th at the Atlantic ana
the Pacific ends of the waterway, are
among the greatest, if they are not
the greatest in the world. Whlle II
is perfectly true that they may never
be called into action for the de1ehse
Of the canal, they are considered ny
military and naval authorities as be-
ing absolutely necessary as a means OF
preparation for a day which, If it shall
come, will be one of deadly mpoT
to the people of the United States.
A seemingly unimportant order Oh
the secretary of war is the cause OF
present great interest in army circles.
Mr.. Garrison has designated a board
of ranking officers of the United states
army to report on the defenses OF the
Panama canal. A board of this KIND
has been in existence for some time,
but it has been strengthened and its
personnel somewhat changed by the
recent official action.
The construction Of the sea and
land defenses of the Panama canal is
in charge Of two young lieutenants OF
the engineer corps, George r. Goe-
thals and Albert H. Acher. Army men
say that it is probably the first time
in the history of the construction OF
Notifications Of such commanding i'm
portance that officers of such tender
years have been given sole charge Of
.she work.
When the board which Secretary
Garrison has designated makes its
final inspection and report it will be
called Upon to say either that the great
defenses upon which SO much depends
were committed wisely to the super
vision of youth, or that it had been
better if the original plan of putting
a senior officer in charge had been
carried out.
Personnel or the Board.
The members of the board just des-
ignated by the secretary Of war to
look after the d]efenses and to see that
things are well done consists Of these
officers: Major Gen. Leonard Wood,
Major Gen. William w. Wotherspoon,
Brig. Gen. Erasmus M. Weaver, Brig.
Gen. William Crozier, Col. George W
Goethals, Col. Edward Burr, Lieut.. Col.
William w. Ham, Major William
Chamberlain of the army, and Capt.
Harry S. Knapp of the United States
navy These officers represent, from
the war departments view, the best
thought Of the different branches of
the service on the subjects which will
come under the consideration of the
members.
When it was determined, or perhaps
even before the day of determination,
that the Panama canal was to be for,
titled a board of general officers was
appointed to select sites for fortified.
tons. The board did it's work and
then Major E. E.. Winslow of the en-
gineer corps, one of the acknowledged
fertilization experts Of the service,
was intrusted with the work of design
ing the great defenses.
Youths Superseded WinsIow.
1t was expected, SO it is said by the
army, that Major Winslow, having
made the plans and having "the con.
ception Of their evolution" well in
mind, would be assigned to the task
of construction. The major did go to
the isthmus, probably with the under.
standing that he was to take-up the
fort building work on the islands and
the peninsulas which command the
approaches to the two ends of the ca
nal. The major, however, did not stay
on the isthmus, but came back to work
in the states and is now at Norfolk
Va.
Just what occurred in the Zone
while Major Winslow was there doe
not appear, but he left for home, and
leaving was followed by the announce
ment that First Lieut.. George H. Goe
thals, son of Col. George w. Goethals
chief engineer of canal construction
and Albert H. Acher, son-in-law Of
Col. H. N. Hodges, assistant chief en-
gineer of canal construction, would
be put in charge Of the building Of
the great defenses upon the upstand
ing of which may depend the safety Of
the biggest engineering job the world
has known.
Uncle Sam May Buy Mail Cars.
Members Of the house committee OF
postofaces and post roads have votet
an amendment into the p%ostofice ap
propriation bill authorizing the pur
chase Of several steel railway mai
cars as an experiment in Uncle San
ownership" Heretofore the govern
ment has beer paying about $4,000
year rental for each car of this kind
1t is understood the members of tn,
committee think that by eventual.
owning all the railway mail cars thu
government can save a lot of money.