Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-05
NetO and Astonishing Facts About
i. the Big WateuUay---G Guns That Can
Fire Gn Automobile Half Across the
IstEemus; Giant Gey8ers in the Locks---
Col. GoethaEs's Message on the True
Significance of The Continent Divider
By Colonel George w. Goethals,
Builder Of The Panan1a Canal (Ln an Inter0ielvl.

oT-T HE Panama Canal is now open, and Government
ships are constantly passing through The
, Canal will he opened to the ships Of the world
as soon as the slides eliminated are satisfied
that will BE perfectly safe From present Indications
We expect thai viii be about July Of this year. My
original estimate that the Canal would be opened
not later than January J. 1915.
Heuceforth Panama must be the great highway q
commerce on the globe. The mighty stream OF trade
and travel between East and West. between Europe
and Asia must how by way of America, rather than
Eastern Europe America occupies the same posi-
ton with regard to world trade and world movements
tsst ancient Rome did. All Americans Of to-day
ssould feel proud and thrilled to know that this achieve
ment has been accomplished in their generation and
achievement that has required the devoted labor Of
$4,000 men and the sacrifice of many brave American
lives.
Your picture Of the 16inch gun that s 10 be mounted
on the Notifications Of the Canal gives idea Of the
reception.that will await any foreign power that
interfere with the Canal It is contrary to tho
regulations for army officer TO discuss numbers OF
guns any details concerning fortincato1s but you
can ascertain from the congressional report on Canal
Notifications how strong they are to be. You viii
probably be safe in saying that no hostile ship can live
within fifteen miles Of the entrance Of the Canal
Overwhelming will be the Are Of these l6-inch guns.
aimed with mathematical accuracy from secret en-
placements and dropping their shells With q pungng
6 fire the decks Of approaching vessels
Surprising that enemy had effected a landing On
e territory adjacent to the Canal Zone the attack
pud be equally difficult The locks placed
Bat they projected by the hills and topography from
ktillery fire. and the invader would be exposed TO
destruction before he could do any damage have
POINTED out In official statement that the hundreds
Of miles of fever haunted swamp and wilderness ada.
the zone in which there Is subsistence for
human beings constitutes important defense to the
Canal
great protection against any accidental malicious
blocking OF the Canal consists In s generous width,
which varies from 1000 to 800 feet through It's total
length of fifty miles Experience shows that risks 20
ships in narrow waterways material and important
In such channel the original Suez Canal the delays
and losses 10 commerce great and the danger to
ships considerable Although the benefit OF the widen
irI OF the Suez Canal Is striking this is even now
The Canal may not double the efficiency Of navy
but 1t certainly increases It enormously.
Congress has so far appropriated $349 505z23 for
canal construction, Of which S1O676g50 went for forth
hcations
Your fine photograph OF the opening OF the lock at
Mirafores will SHOW your readers better than can how
these devices operated Every possible safety de.
vice has been provided The locks have been built IN
duplicate, and a system has been installed by which the
vessels in the locks viii be controlled by powerful cleo