2
THE SUNDAY OREGONTAN, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 21, 1913.
T
1
NIG
TO
PANAMA
CANA
ffcEmRATIOm BEING KU&IEJ) fX)& WEDDMG OF MONTH.
A Simple but Picturesque Incident Will Usher Into Prac
tical Use the Greatest Engineering Feat of Modern
Times Commission Busy With Details of Celebration
That Is to Mark Consummation of Greatest of Undertakings.
The trending of the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceacs at Panama Is scheduled for next
montil.
This consummation of the grandest engi
neering enterprise of all time will be as Im
pressive as It Is simple. There will bs an
explosion. A mass of earth, will ba hurled
Into the air, obscurln everything for the
moment. Then will come tha thunder of
rushing waters the first sweep of the
mtghtv torrent through tha full length of
the canal.
HE ceremonies at the official
opening of the Panama Canal In
the early part of 1914 will be the
subject of a Nation's care.
A special commissioner already Is In
Washington and is taking up the vari
ous plans of the grand celebration and
festival to take place when the first
heavy draught ships are sent from the
Atlantic to the Pacific.
But when the oceans meet next
month the exercises will bo much more
modest. Indeed, there will be almost
nothing to inform the great American
nublic that at last those two ocean
have been brought together for the
betterment of commerce.
Colonel Goethals. clad in the white
soldier's uniform which has made him
a fisrure during the canal enterprise,
will stRnd Just beyond the mud of
(iatun dam. With him will be a llttl
staff of officers, men whose faces are
wrinkled by care and browned by con
stant exposure to the tropic sun.
Behind them a knot of civilians will
be huddled, a splotch of color against
the green of vegetation, when the ex
plosion comes there will be a mighty
rush of water as a valley, trees and
shrubbery and all, is Inundated by th
tremendous inlet.
That will be all. The mighty dredges
will go into the huge valleys so recent
ly created, towing out huge trees which
have been left in the lakes bottom.
And over the green spillway there will
sweep for days and days a mass of
vegetation torn from earth by the
waters.
When the big celebration begins next
year It will represent the combined
genlua of the War and Navy Depart
ments. Secretary of War Garrison and
Secretary of the Navy Daniels are even
now holding conferences which are
slowly bringing the plans Into shape.
Later they will hold conferences with
Colonel Goethals. and with him will
finally decide upon the complete cele
bration to take place when the canal
la capable of floating the giant battle
ship Oregon, on whose bridge the bee
retary the Navy will stand as she
plows through the still waters. There
will be dances and receptions and ban
queta and apeecbmaklng and fireworks
when the work of the canal Is finally
finished.
Mr. Dodge, In charge of the division
of publications of the Isthmian Canal
Commission, reoently stated that the
plans for the opening of the canal were
really merely an extension of the work
which haa been done In the past.
"When the canal is opened next
month, said he, "it, will simply mean
that the last great feature of the work
is to be begun. The men who are In
charge of this work will have as ardu
ous and steady a task for months as
the men who handled the shovels at
Culebra cut.
"For under the waters of the canal
there are dying forests, swamped by
the entrance of the waters. And the
sliding earth of the canal's bottom
must be removed and the channel made
safe before the big vessels of the world
may enter.
"The dredges which are to be em
ployed from now on will find a steady
and difficult task in removing the
waste vegetation and earth from the
canal.
"Thus when the dike at Gatun dam
is blown up it will be the signal call
ing the men to ' work for the final
stretch in the completion of the canal.
How long it will take I do not know.
There are many who, visiting the canal
when this work is in progress, will
hardly realize that the canal is at last
open to navigation."
It Is almost impossible to realize
what this enterprise meaK "wrmn you
are far away troy, '.he scene of activ
ities. You have heard that we main
tain In Panama a beneficent despotism
yclept "military government" which
keeps thousands of workmen busy six
days out of seven, and which, notwith
standing Its mighty throne of husky
laborers of many nations, preserves a
discipline that would be a credit to a
model city. Few can appreciate what
this tremendous government means.
I have talked to men in Washington
who are the most instrumental in the
completion of the canal. This most
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cannot be gauged bv mere fitrurp
When one talks lightly of millions he
but compresses the numerals within the
bounds of his own Imagination.
study for a moment the accompany
ing picture showing the concrete "ap
proach" to the Gatun dam lock the
picture that looks like a glgantlo por
tico larger than the mighty entrance
to the union station In Washington.
This Is only Incidental to the work of
the canal. It is merely a type of
buffer" extending out from each of
the locks. Yet, when viewed at close
range. It stands by itself as a monu
mental achievement Justly comparable
with any of our mighty public build
ings.
when French genius and French
wealth attempted the canal, 78,000,000
cubic yards of material were excavated.
Of this amount 29.000,000 cubic yards
were available for the present canal
in other words, only about one-third
of the abandoned French work could
be utilized by Uncle Sam in the con
duction of his big ditch.
Already more than 220.000.000 cubic
yards have been taken out by our
laborers. And something over a dollar
haa been spent out of the Treasury of
the United States for each of these
ublc yards of eartn excavated. In a
statement concluding with the 1st of
May, 1913, the isthmian canal commls-
ion states that 292.000,000 had been
spent upon this work.
The canal when completed will at Its
highest point raise water to an eleva
tion of 85 feet above the sea,
and this height will be reached by a
flight of three locks located at Gatun
on the Atlantic side, by one lock at
Fedro Miguel and by a flight of two
other locks at Miraflores on the Pacific
side.
Each of these locks will be large
enough to lift ships 1000 feet long and
will be 110 feet in width. From deep
water In the Caribbean Sea to deep wa
ter In the Pacific the canal will be a
stretch of 50 miles.
And the locks, mind you are the nar
rowest points in the canal. Imagine a
um-bell sawed lengthwise and you
ave. rough);-, a notion of the relative
width of ine locks and the canal chan
nel -at either end.
The channel from mile 0 in the Carib
bean Sea to mile 6.70 at the north of
Gatun locks will be 500 feet wide.
From the south end of the Qatun locks
to mile 23.50 the channel will not be
ss than 1000 feet wide. From mile
to 2o.u0 the canal will be
800 feet wide. So It will go to the
Pacific Coast, varying from 500 to 1000
feet In width, so that a fleet of vessels
ight tie up while awaiting their turn
go through the locks.
While we are still dealing in figures
might be worth while to mention the
9. r
f II w H h it ,,-"if,- , ' I
lsilSSiiS, JSs&t& v..rr: 7u - ?
1 1
slon has decided that $35,000,000 will
be the total cost of the cannal, and these
figures Include the 350,000.000 paid the
new French Canal Company and the
Republic of Panama for franchises and
property.
Do you realize what this means? Well
for one thing It represents the cost of
10 battleships of a type which would
make the United States the master of
all nations on the sea. Ten ships larger
and more dangerous than the Pennsyl
vania could be constructed out of this
sum. Nations could be saved or de
stroyed with the money which is quiet
ly going Into the "big ditch," so quietly
that the average American doesn't
realize what it is costing him.
It Isn't to be supposed for an instant
because a great fuss isn't made about
it that this expenditure has been made
haphazard. The Canal Commission has
itemized each cent spent. Sanitation,
total cost of the canal to the United administration, fortifications, buildings
stupendous engineering feat of the ages State. The Isthmian Cannal Commis-' machinery, everything is carefully
listed in a most comprehensive state
ment available to any taxpayer who
cares to look at it.
A Middle-Western city would point
with pride to the population which the
Canal zone possesses. According to
the last census there were on the
isthmus 4.3.000 people assisting in the
process of canal construction. Of this
army of workers about 5000 were
Americans, they holding most of the
administrative positions.
Eliminating those who were but In
directly interested in the actual con
struction of the canal, such as those
administering justice, attending to the
sanitation of the zone and doing other
things, there were actually 37,000 men
who were active in the canal con
struction. It isn't to be supposed that
because the others were not working
on dredges or blue prints or the like
the remainder of the 45.000 were not
materially assisting in the work.
It Is possible from these figures to
gain a vague notion of this great
work. But a better method Is to con
sider a stretch of country 60 miles In
length and 10 miles wide, populated
with a horde of workmen drawn from
all parts of the earth and directed by
a great central genius. You must
Imagine little communities of homes,
each a neat, individual cottago with
beautiful tropical flowers In the front
yard. You must imagine a continual
procession 01 trains, carrying earth, a
snorting and clunking of giant steam
shovels, the crash of the forge where
machinery Is mended. And, above all,
you must remember a swift and Im
partial Justice which is administered
personally. Then you must think of
Colonel Goethals, the guiding force, the
genius of the canaL
They told me at the Isthmian Canal
Commission that this mighty, solitary
figure, working apparently at a pres
sure that would destroy the brain of
a lesser man, la really the father of
the canal. And no man is too small
to get Justice from Goethals.
On Sunday mornings he conducts his
impromptu court. One man believes
that another man has stolen a pig
belonging to him. He goes to see
Goethals. In the musty warmness of
the Government house the complainant
enters a darkened room where, sitting
behind a severely plain desk, is a man,
square-headed, rather stern-faced, clad
in Immaculate white. Only the eyes of
the man show his latent humor.
With one powerful hand he strokes
the short, closely cropped gray mus
tache. In a few words he persuades
the workman to tell his story. If the
pig has been stolen the offender Is
punished. If the workman has been
trying to get something from Uncle
Sam under the Impression that so great
an organization cannot give time to de
tails, he finds himself bitterly disap
pointed, . For Goethals has succeeded
In doing what could hardly be done
in the best modeled American city. He
has established a direct system of Jus
tlce, which has convinced every man
of his sincerity and fairness. He knows
law as he knows engineering. He Is
the alpha and omega of the canal
and many of his workmen will shake
their heads dubiously when his rule
gives way to the civil government
provided by the last administration.
The Canal Zone Is now being equipped
with an electrical supply sufficient to
handle all of the locks and the light
houses as well. These high concrete
lighthouses have a strange appearance I the obligatory vote has been first tried
now. standing as they do in the midst Switzerland. Some years ago several
of dry wide jungle. But in a little I cantons Introduced and practiced It
building the canal Is being conductai.
he was enthusiastic over what had
been accomplished.
"I regard the Panama Canal," said he
"as the highest tribute which can be
paid to the United States Army. For
absolute efficiency, workmanlike prog
ress and thorough order there has been
nothing within the memory of man
which has equaled the work of Goe
thals at the Panama Canal."
Then. I spoke to Secretary Daniels, of
the Navy Department, whose fleet must
bear the brunt of the defense of the
canal. The Secretary will be on the
bridge of the first heavy-draft vessel
to pass from the Atlantic to the Paclfio
through the waterway. That ship will
be the battleship Oregon, if present
plans carry.
"When the American fleet, the first
heavy draft vessels to pass through the
canal, shall make its Initial trip." said
he, "I desire to be on board tho flag
ship, because I want to watch the
progress of those mighty vessels be
hind me warships which are to be tre
mendously benefited by this new
waterway.
"It is worth the while of the think
ing man to consider what this canal
will mean to the Navy Department. Of
course there are so many benefts that
it lg possible for a man, considering
the entire giant project, to forget for
a moment the single. Individual group
which is aided.
"When the Spanish-American war
broke out a vessel, in order to reach
the scene of battle, rounded Cape Horn
and thero were days and days of anx
iety on the part of the American peo
ple while this fateful voyage was being
made.
"When this canal is opened the davs
of the Isolated ship will be over. Ws
can detail our ships from coast to
coast. Should an attack be made on
either side of the United States we
could soon throw the entire force of
our entire fighting strength to meet
the Invader, without delays, without
dangers and without mishaps.
When the canal has been completed
the American Navy's work, as I see it,
will begin.
"I may not pause to elaborate on the
possibilities to all Industries of the ex
portation of raw products as a result
of the building of the canal. Some of
the larger cities of the United States
have great facilities in the way ot
long-established steamship lines, but 1
am confident that the opr-niiiK of this
new water route to the Pacific, while
not diverting, perhaps to any apnrecla
bie extent tho vast trade of New York
City and other great cities of the At
lantic, will create an enormous new
trade as our country progresses and
will eventually make the cities of the
South Atlantic, the Gulf and the Pacific
Seaboards second to none In shipping;
facilities.
It is a wonderful project. Industry
will advance by leaps and bounds.
Every business will profit by Its con
struction. And the Navy will not be
the least among the varied interests
which will benefit when the Panama
Canal Is opened." John Alfred Wat-
kins.
Yon Must Vote in Argentina.
New York Times.
Like almost every feature of de
mocracy as at present conceived for
Instance, referendum. Initiative, pro
portional party representation, etc.
while they will be the guide posts of
the long stretch of water.
The monstrous locks, though heavy
enough to crush a house, will be moved
as easily and smoothly as a door by the
electrical power supplied.
The lighthouses will operate auto
matically, flashing and going out.
Hashing and going out, from dark un
til sunrise.
When the canal Is opened the big
boats will be carried through the locks
upon little cars run by electrlcltv.
These trams will be operated much like
witch engines and will haul ships big
enough to carry a thousand of them
on board without inconvenience.
It is now stated positively that no
hip will be allowed to go through the
canal under her own steam. The little
trolley cars," as they are called bv
tne workmen, will be panting and pull
'1th Indifferent success. The first
country to Imitate Switzerland on a
national scale was Argentina, where
municipal, district, stats or Federal
elections take place once every few
weeks, but usually not more than 15
per cent of the voters go to the polls.
An old-style Latin-American revolu
tion In Argentina Is now quite aa
unlikely as in the United States, but
If ever that country was near having
one It was when an attempt was mada
to bring into court thousands of citi
zens liable to a ten-peso fine for not
having appeared at the polls and at
least having cast a blank vote. If they
did not want to take sides.
The Argentina trial with the obllga
tory vote haa thus far not been a suc
cess, for the simple reason that practi
cally all of those who have an opinion
of their own go to vote anyhow, while
lnv iv on nto-ht tha hto- .v,i. i the balance, if tney vote at all, are
all parts of the world are brought up merely (what the ward heeler knows aa
to ba loaded or unloaded.
I have talked recently to the men In
Washington who are directly Interested
In the Panama Canal project. Repre
sentative Adamson, of Georgia, in
whose committee originated the law
under which the Panama Canal was
operated, was the lirst man I saw. As
chairman of the House committee on
Interstate and foreign commerce, he
has had most to do with the adoption
of the code of civil law for Panama In
the House.
It may surprise you," said he.
cattle."
However, It might be well to watch
further the experiment now made in
Argentina, and maybe we may not only
teach but learn something from one of
our sister republics.
Warm Plants in Alpine Snows.
Pathfinder.
The Alpine flower, called, the solda-
nella, produces heat sufficient so that
It grows even under a considerable cov
ering of snow. If the snow is not too
deeo the plant sends its stem up
to through the snow, which is melted by
find that the Panama Canal ls going to the heat. If the snow is deeper the
have a government of its own, which, I heat melts a little hollow chamber out
believe, will be superior to the govern-1 about the plant, thus giving It room
ment of many an American city. Did to expand and blossom. It lias been
you ever stop to think that the Panama found that some of the plantH of the
Canal had the benefit of the wisdom of arum family, which are common In the
the entire United States Government Mediterranean region, develop a tern-
when the law governing the conduct of perature of as high as 100 degrees
its affairs came into being? when their buds are opening. To a ices
In other words. Congress has devot-1 degree probably all plants rurnisn tnetr
ed Its time to preparing a law for Pan.
ama which shall have none of the
weaknesses which are found In other
governments.'
own heat under certain conditions, but
ordinarily vegetation, being by nature
adapted to its surrounding, gets the
heat It needs from the soil, air and sun.
Tin vnn hitllnvs " T nalrari "ih.t .. Animals are of a nigner oraer than
Panama government in all of Its feat-1 plants partly because they are more
ures will surpass any other municipal independent oi meir em runnings.
or statl government?'' I
I believe It will," he replied. "I be- Wlmras Fees After S3 Years. (
lleve that the Government will be as I
good and aa free from corruption as it rittsourg u.icuir-timtj.
hag been In the past and that Is high! Reuben Winters, A man who was a
praise." , I witness in court in Norrlstown, Pa., B3
When I spoke to Secretary of War years ago, came to collect his wltnea
Garrison, under whom tha work of I fee a. few daya ago.