Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-01-23
TO INSPECT FORTS
BOARD APPOINTED TO PASS ON
BUILDING OF DEFENSES OF
THE PANAMA CANAL.
NO FAULTS ARE INTlMATED
Wcrk Of Great Magnitude and !n2or-
tancc, However, Has Been In the
Hands OF TWO Young Engineer
Corps L~ieutenants.
ax GEORGE

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington. - The Notifications
which guard the approaches to the
Panama canal both at the Atlantic and
tLe Pacific ends Of the waterway, are
among the greatest. if they are not
the greatest in the world. While it
is perfectly true that they may v
be called into action for the defense
Of the canal, they are considered by
military INT 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 import
to the people of the United States.
A seemingly u~nimportant order OF
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 n Albert II. Acher. Army men
say that it is probably the first time
in the history Of h construction OF
Notifications of such commanding I'M
portance that officers of such tender
years have been given sole charge of
the work.
When the board which Secretary
Garrison has designated makes it's
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 hat it had been
better If the original plan Of putting
a senior officer in charge had been
carried out.
Personnel of 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 fortifica-
lions. The board did it's work and
then Major E. E. Winslow of the en-
gineer corps, one of the acknowledged
ratification experts of the service,
was i%ntrusted with the work of design
| ing tho great defenses.
Youths Superseded WinsIow.
1t was expected, 81 it is said by the
army, hat 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 AXE up the
fort building work OF the islands and
the p~eninsulas 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,
We.
Just what occurred in the Zone
while Major Winslow was there does
leaving was followed by the
ment that First Lieut.. George Fl. Goe-
thals, son Of Col. George w. Cocktails,
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 d%efenses upon the u%pstand-
ing of which nay depend the safety of
the biggest engineering job the world
has know
Uncle Sam May Buy Mail Cars.
Members Of the house committee on
postofices and post roads have voted
an amendment into the postoffice ap-
preparation bill authorizing the pur-
chase Of several steel railway mail
cars as an experiment in Uncle Sam
ownership" Heretofore the govern
ment has been paying about $4,000 a
year rental for Zach car of this kind.
1t is understood b members of the
committee think that by eventually
owning all the railway mail cars the
government can save a lot of money.
VIII Saved the Situation.
cnmedian in q Paris theater re.