The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-04
Receives Special Gold
Medal for Wonderful
Achievement.
WILSON DELIVERS
GIFT TO ENGINEER
Presentation Is Final Act of
Presidents First Year as Chief
Executive of United States,
and Made on Behalf of
National Geogra-
phic Society.

tonight paid tribute to Colonel George
Washing ton Gocthals. builder OF the
Panama Canal The occasion was the
annual banquet of the National Geo
graphic Society, with Colonel Goethals
present AS the guest of honor, and to
receive from the hand OF President VIII
son, special gold medal awarded
him hy the society In recognition of
his wonderful achievement.
Secretary Bryan was toastma stcr
Gathered about the banquet ablc with
distinguished scientists o; the society
Were President Wilson and his Cabinet
justices OF the Supreme Court, mem
bcrs of the diplomatic corps. hiSn
officers oi the army and navy, leaders
in both houses Of Congress and other
notable figures In the life of the ma
tionsl capital.
During ,ne evening Jules ]. Jus
scrand. the French ambassador and
dean OF the diplomats corps. was for
maily notified Of his election TO hon
orary membership IN the society.
Striking Scene.
The banquet hall presented a strik
ing scene. Al ono end, raised higi,
above the table. the p;o-ds: Atlantic
Go,thals- Pacinc" b!azed on the electric
letters, az other lights were cxtin-
guisiIed.
Tc" cream was served tho dincrg from
miniature dredgcs. carried by walters
dressed in the uniform OF the United
states Engineer Corps, and followed by
sailors bearing Il tiny battleship. In
dividual dishes OF cream appeared
molued in the shape of the Panama
Canal dump-car
The medal awarded Colonel Gocthals
was given as an expression ot the
appreciation of the society and the
nation Of the army engineers distin-
guisiied service. Its presentation was
the nna1 net of President Wilson'S first
year aa chief executive of the United
States.
Inscribed on tho medal were the
words:
This medal CT the National Geo.
graphic Society is awarded to George
Washington Gocthals, 10 whose anil
itv and patriotism the world owes
the construction of the Panama Canal
March 2. 1913"
Au.incity to Change the Globe.
Presenting the medal President Will
son said.
II am here t. do what suppose is IN
unusual thing for a society OF this
sort Ii generally confcrs its houors
upon those who have disclosed geog
raphy, rather than upon those VINO
have altered It. 1t is a sort Of adver-
tiscr ana custodian OF tho globe bu,
IL il now about 10 honor 4 gentleman
who has had the audacity 10 change
the globe. The engineering profession
Is one or the few creative professions
Those of us who have attempted to be
literary men conceive that we have
created conceptions Of the mind. but
We never cen produce them in court
fney are never visibly upon cNaibi
tion. But tho magic Of the engineer Is
that he can change the face Of nature
and show the work OF his hands, ana
Lnat Ii is In some deep SENSE creative
IN character. The life of mankind on
the globe is altered. for example, by
the cutting and the use OF the Pana ma
Canal.
1T fllls the imagination to think OF
what this work will accomplish. II
viii create new neighbors. il Will gen
crate new friendships. II will make a
new atmosphere Of rivalry and OF
generous association. The whole ten
uenc: of the routes Of trade viii he
changed. and the routes of trade arc
the routes OF enlightenment. Only when
neighbois touch one another do they
cease To be provincial, and look out
upon the great tasks of humanity in
stead OF coniining themselves to the
relatively selfish tasks Of their own
domestic development. ana il is only
az we export and import ideas that
civilization becomes thoroughly cstab-
iishcd
Greatest Living Representatives
we have, therefore, To honor to-
fhSht the greatest living rcpresenta-
i've OF this extraordinary profession.
lt seems TO me to be natural. III say
so with apologies to some OF our
friends present, that the greatest en-.
siheer should come from the United
states. The United States is no1 one
OF the statical nations of the world.
IL is one of the nations which has dis
turbed equilibrium, which has cut new
paths for the thought and action of
mankind. And, now there is to be
elevated. and kept always on high, this
new name upon which men are to enter
the roads of new experience, a name
which viii not he biotted out until. and
unless, the whole civilization Of the
world should change-thc name OF COL
onel Goethals. The government OF the
United States lent him to the world.
and he has done this thing for the
world. For 1T is our proud boast that
we have cut this highway for all the
sea going ships of the world
Il take II for granted that we do
not tonight forget that distinguished
group OF men who have been associated
with Colonel Goethals-that gallant
ana devoted soldier who gavo his very
lie to see that the great work was
done at Culebra Cut: that man who
made so much of this work possible.
Surgeon General Gorgas, by knowing
how to hold disease off at arms length
while these men We're given leave to
work: Colonel Sibert, who built the
walls of Gatun Dam. and created Ga
tun Lake. making it look to the eyes of
the beholder as IL nature had done the
work over which he himself presided.
and Colonel Hodges. who made tho
locks and the machinery by which these
great things aro administered
Nothing Selfish in Emincnce.
"But we are merely acknowledging
tho presiding character and genius