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Show mnf 1 ...mjuniujiiujiJiaMi 0111 un inL Description of the Isthmian Isth-mian Waterway as it Now Appears Colon, Panama, October . Magnificent Mag-nificent Is the word which might fittingly fit-tingly dcscrlbo tho progress mado on the construction of the Panama Canal. Tho statement of Colonel George W. Goethals, chlof engineer of the Canol, Hint the Canal would bo finished in September, 1913, or over one year before be-fore tho date previously announced for its inauguration, was at first received re-ceived with some hesitation. Now, however, an examination of tho solos-sal solos-sal work that is being rushed to completion com-pletion in Mlraflores, Pedro Miguel nnd Gatun, and the surprising way the Culebra Cut Is advanced has convinced con-vinced the most credulous that Colonel Col-onel Goethals' estimate of completion In 1013 will be borne out. Tho point which soems to offer the greatest difficulties throughout the whole Canal is the cut in the Culebra Hills and this, not on account of engineering engi-neering .problems, but because of the many slides occurring from tho loose earth These slides confuse estimates as to the number of cubic yards to be ultimately exravated. The engineers, however, in charge of the work are confident that these difficulties are by no means insuperable and will. In no way, retard the date set for opening open-ing tho Canal. Even before disembarking the stranger to tho Isthmus on arriving at Colon, the Atlantic terminus of tho Canal, will be struck by the unusual activity in every direction in tho harbor. har-bor. His attention will first be directed di-rected to the long trestle already stretching seawards for over one and a half miles In a porthcast direction from Toro Lighthouse Point across the harbor. All along this trestle rock and stones are being dumped to form a breakwater whose ultimate length from shore will be about two miles. The estlmoted cost of this breakwater break-water is five and a half million dollars. dol-lars. It is being built to reduce to a minimum tho silt that may be washed into the channel of tho Canal, and also to protect the Inner basin of the "harbor, "har-bor, which leads to the entrance of the Canal, from tho northerly gales wh'ch usually obtain here from October Octo-ber to January and which not infrequently infre-quently do much damage to the shipping ship-ping and coastline The eye following the coastline will soon be attracted towards the masslvo piers which, begun about three months ago and to cost ultimately several million dollars, already strotch out for nearly half a mile Into the harbor har-bor from Cristobal Point. These piers will be roomy enough to permit several large liners to dock simultaneously. Powerful tugs, each towing large barges laden with sand and rock for the locks from Porto Bello (some twenty miles from Colon along the Eastern coast and now a fairly large American settlement), may possibly bo In sight on tnoir way through the Canal to Gatun. seven miles distant from Colon. If the above bespeaks activity around Colon Harbor, the activity will be seen to be greater when Gatun is reached. It is here the Canal ceases to be sea level and reaches the three giant I locks which will lift all ships eighty-five eighty-five feet and onable them to pass In-1 to tho Gatun Lake, artificially formed by a monster dam which Impounds the waters of the River Chagres and f its tributaries. ; The steam shovels, of which thero are sevoral types and sizes, are eat-1 ing away the dirt from the mountain slopes or digging deep down into tho earth with a regularity that suggests the swing of a pendulum or the beat of a pulse. Large buckets filled with concreto are passing noiselessly overhead over-head along the steel cables and depositing depos-iting their contents at tho desired spot. The whole scene is one well calculated calcu-lated to Inspire admiration for tho manner in which the work is being performed. ' What applies to Gatun applies also to the other various sections along tho Canal, all tending to convince the observer ob-server that the -possibility of opening the Canal before tho date officially fixed is no empty boast. I What, thp sanltarv department of the Canal Commission has accom-I accom-I plished in cleansing the Canal Zone or yellow fever and other disease Is well known. The progressive wonders that liavo boon attained In housing, feeding feed-ing and providing amusement and instruction in-struction to thjo army of 40,000 workmen work-men Is loss well known. The pestiferous pesti-ferous junglo and swamp have been transformed into clean, smart-Jooklng, healthful towns and villages to bo seen throughout the Canal Zone, all full , of hustling activity and today the 'pleasant rendezvous of an ever-Increasing ever-Increasing number of Americans and other tourists. This transformation hns cost millions, but they have been well spont and the uninterrupted and successful digging of the Canal over since has been rendered possible thereby. Throughout tho whole length of tho Canal clean comfortable houses havo been built for the married employes ' and their families. Eighteen big ho- tola were also erected for the bachelors, bachel-ors, besides numerous barracks, l messes and kitchens for tho laborers. ! In these buildings thero are under the Commission's care not fewer than G5,-000 G5,-000 people. Tho white canal and railroad employes em-ployes aro furnished with free house, electric light, coal and water, and all laborers and employes have commissary commis-sary rights which enable them to pur-1 pur-1 chase In the Government stores nt practically cost prices, clothes, food and other necessaries which permits them to live well and inexpensively and save a considerable part of their salaries. The public schools of the Zopo are very good. The teachers are American Amer-ican and native. Tho gardens estab- lished In many of them have beer Buch a success that tho Panama Go-reru-ment Is adopting the same methoil In Its provincial schools, Under the management of the Y. M. C. A. thcic are club houses In the principal prin-cipal Zone towns wherein employes, after a hard day's toll may go in reading and billiard rooms, tenuis courts, bowling alleys or gymnasiums The orecllon and maintenance of these clubs havo added much to the welfnre of the men, and In the long run has been an excellent investment This regard for the social welfare of the Canal workers has had Its effect ef-fect on tho work Itself for the workorr ;eem taking a personal Interest In fulfilling ful-filling Colonel Goethal's prediction that tho great waterway will be finished fin-ished ahead of time What ultlmato economic effect tho completion of the Canal will have on the Republic of Panama Is discussed I hero from different standpoints, and It I U generally believed that greater pros-I pros-I perlty is in store for the Republic if I developments, along the line of agriculture, agri-culture, mining and manufactuies, aro I seriously studied |