OCR Text |
Show Pill CM IS iT REM FOR USE Major General Goethals Re fuses to Make Prediction as to Time. "WASHINGTON, .Tan. 22. OtriTjg to uncertainty regarding the movement of slides in Gailljard out, the Panama canal is not ready to he reopened, nor can a prediction as to its jirosppct ivc reopening reopen-ing be made, according to a statement issued today by M ajor (ipueral Goe-thals, Goe-thals, governur of tlie zone, which reads as follows: It is not intended to reopen the ca nal until a safe and prad ically permanent channel is reasonably assured. as-sured. This cannot be assured at present, although the operations of the dredges during Ihe past four months have shown that they are able, when not interrupted in the work by passage ot" slii ps or the clearing of the channel for navi gation, to gain on tho slides, and it is desired to have a reasonable assurance as-surance that they can maintain this gain even with the delay from the above causes. It is hoped that before long better bet-ter information on tho two main controlling features will be available. avail-able. The large mass of rock at the base of Gold Hill on the east bank is being carefully observed. If the materials behind it, movo northerly, as is not unlikely, one danger of interruption will be removed. re-moved. The other feature is the rate of motion that will result in the west slide when the dredges attack its fae, as will shortly be done. It is believed that the dredges can keep well ahead of any possible motion mo-tion in this mass, providing the east bank is quiescent or nearly so. , As soon as this office feels 'that sufficient information on these points is at hand to justify it, a prediction will be made. In the meantime, it is recommeuded that tno canal be not considered in the routing of shipping. The work in "restoration of the canal is proceeding proceed-ing most favorably. The office has in mind the desire of commerce to resume navigation through the canal, and as long notiro as possible will be given to shippers in order that preparations for such routing may be adfipiate. This statement is the result of exhaustive ex-haustive investigations and studies made by a special board composed of Lieutenant Lieuten-ant Colonel .1. .1. Morrow, C'ommauder Cone and Kcaident Engineer YV. Jj. Comber. |