Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-02
The Panama Canal Opens
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

~ - AASoNAS
the canal zone, and is now turning Its
attention more particularly to bubonic
plague. The quarantine, OF course, Is
pretty certain guard against this ter
rible disease, but the canal zone is IN
constant touch with infected ports by
reason OF the traffic passing through
the canal, and the health oficials are
determined to take no chances. Rats
are the great carriers Of bubonic
plague Hence all the government
buildings have been made rat PROOF.
But that is not all. Recently the edict
went forth that no chickens were to be
kept within the limits Of the canal
zone There was howl of protest
from the employees. many OF whom
kept few chickens on their premises
They loudly asserted that the anti
chicken violation was violation OF IN
dividual rights. The government was
polite, but firm. 1t issued long state
ment explaining that rats were above
all fond of chickens. and were invar'
iably found where chickens we're kept
1t would be absurd to risk an epidemic
of bubonic plague for the sake OF few
eggs and broilers. So now the chicken
has disappeared finally and completely
from the canal zone.
When Governor Goethals returned
to the United States not long ago, ne
said the defenses of the canal zone
made It safe from any attack. With in
ternational complications arising both
to east and to west of us and only one
real first class navy to defend potn
coasts. the safety of the Panama canal
Is a most important consideration. It's
coast and harbor defenses have long
been considered very adequate, but
army ofiicers have asserted that 1t was
far from impregnable by land. more
troops, they declared to be necessary
and troops have been pouring into the
canal zone in small detachments tor
nearly 4 year. A few weeks ago a
SQUADRON Of the Twelfth cavalry reach
ed the canal zone from Galveston
They are the first mounted troops to
be stationed at the canal. The SECOND
battalion of the Fourth field artillery
soon followed them. The canal sarTi'
son now includes all of the three main
branches Of the service and Is general
" conceded to be strong enough for It's
purpose. Owing to the nature OF the
country and the strong coast defenses.
the taking Of the Panama canal by land
would be diflicult under any circum'
stances There are, however. stretches
of open country, reaching north and
vast from the zone over which an In
yadinx army could advance with great
rapidity and troops are needed 70
guard these.
The canal has been restored to work
irq order and is in better trim than
ever before; but there is an Immense
bill to be footed While the waterway
has been closed to trafiic all the ex'
pense of maintaining the great estab-
lishment on the zone, as well as tnat
Of the dredging operations has gone
steadily forward. For the last hscal
year the Panama canal showed slight
profit on its operations. During the
first seven months Of the current fiscal
year 1t was in working order only two
and one-half months and for that
period the excess Of expenses over
tolls was $2,450 900. That is the bill
which the American people must pay
Like many a private investment that
promises large returns, the canal keeps
calling for the investment Of Just a
little more capital. Yet it's ultimate
financial success, aside from Its stra.
tegic Importance. has never been
doubted by the men who know its pos
sibilities best. When the European
war is over and world commerce Is re-
sumed, nothing can prevent the great
waterway from developing a tremen'
dous earning capacity-nothing but an
other slide. And the men that are fight
ing them believe that they are con-
quered at last. There may be small
movements. they admit, but the back
bone of Culebra mountain, they assert,
il broken.