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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 27, 1913)
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JULY 27, 1913. 70 Goethals Talks on Completion of Canal HHHHMHI ZWeapioag" Ae ZocJzS Jtotti. (jaizxi . . . . r w rr r i n i t I i i ii t r i r i tip till I I'll i i i i i i i mi i rm (Copyrighted 1913, by Frank a. Carpenter.) ASHINQTON, July .-It Wil In a little ten-uy-twelve room In the top of the Mills build ing that I talked with Colo nel George W. Goethals as to the completion of the Panama rnnal. The colonel sat In front of a window looking out on the Potomoc, the "War department and the Washington monument, and the hot breeze which ' blew through seemed like a north pole xephyr In comparison with Panama. It made his blue eyes bright, his dark cheeks rosy, and ho seemed as cool as the center seed of a cucumber. I know now that he was loaded with work, but he did not show It then. Indeed, I find that the busiest men are those who seem to have the most leisure. They know how to uso their minds, and do not let their sojils fly to the four corners of the world while talking to you. The chief of the great work at Panama had only a week o spend In Washington, and every bit of that time, with the exception, per haps, of six hours at night for sleeping, has been occupied with the president, the secretary of war and anxiously Inquiring members of the senate and house. Big questions were discussed and matters in rotvlng millions were weighed in the bal ance. Date far Completion. It was during one of the Intervals of such discussions' that I got an appoint ment for an Interview. T n... lions, and the answers promptly came. Said I: , "When will the canal be done?" "I don't know, n will be finally opened In 1S15. I expect to see It done long in advance of that." "When will the water be let Into th Culebra cut?" "Early In October next." (But will the cut be ready by that timo?" "The cut Is ready "tor the water now. The difficulty Is that we cannot get the dredges in. The situation Is briefly this: When I went back last February I found that two slides hod developed and' the ennlneers told mo that the cut could not be made ready for the' water until Janu ary 1, 1914. So I had to figure backward and see how soon after that time we could raise the level of Gatun lake from tha fifty feet, which It is now, to the re quired level of eighty-five feet. This could be done only during tho rainy season, which docs not begin until July, and it Jvould have been far along la November Of 1914 before we could have the maximum . lake level. The canal had to be opened, thoroughly tested and ready for work by lsii, and I could plainly see that this was Impossible If we relied upon exca vating the balance of the Culebra cut in the dry and did not finish it before Janu ary 1. That determined me upon letting the water in during the coming rafny season and completing the work with the dredges. "The rainy season In nnw ai nViAnt i beginning. It will rise to the level of. cvciuy-nve reet by October 1, when the dike which separates the lake from the cut will disappear and the waters flow in." Work for the Dredge. "But how about the work then? What kind of progress can you make in scoop ing up the earth and rock out qf that mighty ditch of water forty feet deep?" "The progress is all a question of slides." replied the englneer-ln-chlef. "We expect to put In three dredges, and Mr. Comber, who Is in charge of the Pacific division, tolls me that these three dredges will tHke out EOO.OCO cubic yards .Intone month. I believe we can do the work cheaper and quicker by the drednes than by the steam shovels. The arrange ments are such that we will get the dredges in about October 1. The con. tractors will finish one flight of locks throughout the canal by that time. We shall then blow up the dike and lot the suction dredges In from tho Atlantlo end. We will bring up the Corozal from the Pacific end, and we will have three great dredges carrying the material of the pucuracha slide and other material over the sides of the cut Into the Rio Grando valley on the west. I have also . Installed a sluicing plant which will carry tho. top of the Cucuracha slide back into tho valley at the east." "That means that October 1 you will have three great streams of earth and rock flowing out of Culebra cut at dif ferent places?" said I. . "Yes, that's It, and those streams will keep moving day and night We shall keep the machinery going for twenty four hours of the day and for six days 1 of the week." Where Will Men Oot "The stopping of the dry escavation ' will greatly reduce the number of the men employed, will it not?" "Yea, We shall begin to make a heavy ' reduction In the force by October 1." "How many men have you at work now?'' "About 40,000, Including those under the contractors as well as our own." "What will become of them?" "The natives will go back home and Ihe Americans will be scattered." "What will become of the skilled forcoT I mean the thousands of engineers and mechanics whom Uncle Sam has trained?' . "Most of them will have to And Jobs wherever they can," said Colonel Goe tnals. "It would be almost Impossible to transfer the organisation as a whole, and there la no other piece of work which the government has on hand that would re--iutr8 Huch an organization. Indeed, the talk of transferring the organisation has cost as a whole and In detail?" I nuked. "Most certainty. Wo keep a close ac count of everything. Our books tell Just whnt becomes of the scrap, and we havo been selling everything from tho old wire netting torn from the houses to the steam shovels ami dredges and other machinery. We havo sold everything pos sible as soon as It had done Its work, and wo know Just what we havo Rotten from It The waste In such matters has been small, and that especially on ac count of our system of cost keeping, which charges every brsneh of the force with the tools and machinery and sup plies It has to work with. There Is a great rivalry between the men to keep the cost down, and this has born so throughout tho building of the whole canal." "Hut will pot a largo part of the pres ent equipment be retained at Panama In one of your reports you say that the government should u.e every effort to make tho canal pay." "Yes, I bcllovo that." said Colonel Goethals. "The government will have quite a plant at Panama outside of tho oanal property, and somo of the present equipment will be of value In that plant. Wo shall need supply depots to furnish the steamers With fuel. Wo are erect ing coal depots now and we are putting up tanks for fuel oil on both sides of tho Isthmus. You know, many of the steamers are now burning oil. This Is so of the Peruvian 'lne, which piles between Lima and Panama." "Is1 there nny possibility of having a pipe line from tho Mexican oil fields to Panama?" "Not that I know of. I doubt that one will evor be constructed." "Will Uncle' Sam keep his hotels on tho Isthmus?" "I HUppose so. Tho Tlvoll hotel, which Is at the Panama end of .tho canal, Is now' being run at a profit. The New Washington, which wo have opened on tho Colon end, will probably do equally as well. There should bo good hotels" at Panama." "Will tho government keep tho Panama railroad?" "It wW have to do so," roplled Colonel tiiNtoirtrr from Panama to other places Is more or loss hot air." - About the Machinery. ,.!!Wuat wlll.becomeiof Uncle Sam's ma; chlnery at the completion, of the canal?" I asked. "There is somo talk of sending It to Alaska to aid is the building of railroads, and also to the Mississippi valley for the improvement of that great waterway," replied Colonel Goethals. ' "I know noth ing about that I am only interested In that we get as much- as possible out of It to cut down the total cost of tho canal." "Iq there any possibility that wa wilt get very much?" , "Yes, the returns should bo consider able, and whatever we get will be clear gain. You see the cost or tho whole plant Including machinery and supplies, Is figured up in the coat of the canal. It forms a part of the cost of every cubic yard of concrete put into the place and of every cubic yard, of earth taken out So when tho canal Is done tho machinery will all havo been paid for, and what we get for it will be velvet. It will decrease thi total cost of the canal." "Can you give me any idea as to its possible value?" , "No, it is worth what it will bring and that Is all. This Is always the scrap value, and if tho government should take the plant and use It elsewhere wo shall get an appraisal value, which will be far more than that of ordinary sorap. We should like to see it go into govern ment work, for that would add to our assets." "If sold to private parties It would bring comparatively little, I suppose?" said I. "That depends," replied Colonel Goe thals. "We aro now selling It piecemeal at Colon for CO per cent of its actual cost to us. That Is the price delivered at the steamship docks." Knom Coat of All. "Can you tell Just what the machinery1 Goethals, "That road Is a neoeeslty for the working of tho oanat. Wo cannot rely entirely upon the boats, for If any damage should oeeur to tho locks we could not get our supplies back and forth aoross the Isthmus. We shall have to operate the road as a matter of con venience and safety. Tho road has been making money as a prlvnte corporation, and It ought to continue to do so under tho government." "How many men will It take tho operate the completed canal?" "Between t.KO and 8.000, oxcluslvo of tho Panama rallrosd. Adding tho force required for that, 1 should say that the limit would be 3.S00." "I receive many letters from young men and young women who Want to go to Panamn. Will there bo any chance for such persons from now on?" "There aro abeotutety no opportunities open to young women, and very few for young men," said Colonel Goethals. "You see, we havo now a largo forco at Pan ama, and many of tho employes of tho completed canal will be taken from It. Wo shall need trained men to operate the canal, and wo shall havo to try them out and find the best man for each place." MnUo it Mtlltnrr Cmnn. "How about tho canal sonc? Will It be a pleasure resort or a beohlro of Amer ican plantations and winter homes?" "I hope It will be none of these?" said tho chief engineer of tho canal. "I think It should be a military reservation, de voted to tho care of tho canal and Its protection. I believe In depopulating tho zone as soon as the work Is completed, and In leaving nothing there except the homes of the employes necessary to tha running of the canal and tho buildings of the Tnllltary and naval establishments. "Wo shall need dry docks, warehouses and'l other facilities at each of tho terminals, but tho Interior of tho sono should not bo given up to prlvnte residences nor to private ownership." "How are you getting on with tho forti fications?" "Very well. Wo are building forts on tho Islapds at tho Pacific tormlnal, and wo shall have fortifications at the en trance from tho Atlantlo, as well na BOlicmo of defense alonr the line of the canal." "Will Undo Sam bo able to proteot tho canal?" "I don't think I should talk about huch matters," said tho chief englnoer. "Thoy aro military features and I would rather not dlsouss them. Thero Is no question but that the oanal should be amply de fended, and I have no doubt but that we shall have everything necessary to that end." "But, Colonel Goethals, do not tho Im provements In flying maohlnes make it Impossible to defend a work of this na ture. Could not an aerodrome fly over Panama and knock a holo In your ditch with a stick of dynamite?" "I don't think that danger Is great," wo tho reply. "It would take a good many sticks of dynatnlto to harm the ditch proper, and to do nny damage to the locks the dynamite would havo to be carefully located. You cannot do much by scattering dynamite about as you would have to do from a flying machine. It would be merely a matter of luck and besides we havo guns which can disable almost any flying machine." first Mi li Thronnrti. "When wilt tho first ship go througa the canal?" "Just as soon as wo can get tho slides sufficiently dredged to give us ample depth and width for tho vessels to movo." "Will you risk nnythlng as to that?" "I will tako no risk on to stating the exact time of tho passago of tho first ship," said tho great engineer. "What ship will you choose to make the trial?" I asked. "It will be a boat belonging to tho gov eminent, and In all probability one of tho Panama railroad steamers. Wo shall ohoose our own boat and then, If any thing happens to tho dog, tho dog Is ours, and no one can blamo us for having done as we plrnsed with It." "I see that one of tho Hamburg-American line steamers Is advertised to pass through tho canal about tho first of next February." "Yes, I havo seen the advertisement. It Is made upon their own responsibility. It Is their own lookout whother It goe through or not," "How soon do you expect the canal to bo open to traffic?" "I shall have to go back and answer that Just as I did boforo. It depends en tirely upon the removal of tho slides. As soon as wo havo tho canal dear wo shall have to run ships through and tost tho machinery, and thon we want as much traffic as possible In order to glvo us tho prnotloe necessary for tho official open ing of tho canal In January, 1015, At that time we shall have the Vessels of all the great navies passing through on their way to San Franelsco, and we do not want them to bo In tho least danger," May Write n Hook. "What other representation will tho ca nal havo at San Francisco, outside of those naval vessels?" I asked. "I havo no Idea," replied Colonel Goethals. "I have nothing to do with tha exposition, I have troubles enough of my own." "You do not look It," said I. "You seem to bo in tho pink of condition and your health Is apparently perfect" "My health Is all right," sntd the chief engineer, "but thero aro times when this Job gels on one's nerves, and I have been at It, you know,, for quite a few years." "But you havo enjoyed the Job, havo you not?" "Yes, very much, especially since tho excoutlve order of 1908." "What are you going to do when the canal In completed? Havo you picked upon your next world to conquer?" "I am not going to conquer any morn worlds. One of the first things I shall do after I leavo this Job will bo to tako a vacation, and I shall perhnps wrlto a book about tho canal. I am receiving a number of applications to do so from some of tho lending publishing "houses, and I may make Bomo arrangement to that effect" FRANK G. CARPENTER- Dn.BcMaFDAiLE? Sanatorium This Institution Is the only ono la tho control west with Boparnto buildings Bttuatad In thalr own nmplo grounds, yet entirely dis tinct, and rendering it posstblo to clisBlfy cases. Tho one building bolng fitted for and dovotod to tho treatmont of non-contagious and non-montal dlsoasoe, no otbora bo lng admitted; tho othor RoBt Cot tago being designed for and do voted to tho oxcluslvo treatment of Beloct mental cases requiring for a tlrao watchful caro and apo dal nursing. Phone Douglas 1889 Luxiis Mercantile Co, for base of . 'C lift. tt 1 i, A . , THE BEER YOU LIKE! i It is refreshing, soothing and nourishing. It lends new vigor to the tired body and overtaxed nerves. :" i- 1 Brewed and' bottled by! Fred Krug Browing Co. MO. 13 , Wit f Vf), You U he Heaviest Taxed Gas In the United States So fnr ns wo can lenrn the Omaha Gas Company is tho heaviest taxed gas company in tho United States. For overy thousand feet of gas sold in Omaha tho company pays 17 cent in taxes. The average tax payment per thousand feet of gas throughout tho country is ahout G cents. These facts should be taken into consideration when contrasting the rates for gas in Omaha with tho rates for gas in other cities. Taxes havo to be included in the selling prico of gas. There is no other way of paying them. Thoy are part of tho cost of doing business. For overy day in tho year tho company now pays jn taxes of all kinds approximately $358.00. In 1912 tho city of Omaha had a total rovenuo of $1,658,792 from all sources. Of this amount tho gas company paid $95,629 or 5.7 por cent of tho total. Tho company has borno similar and even larger pro portions of tho tax burden in previous years. The company pays regular city, school, county and state taxes upon an assessed valuation of raoro than $3,500,000; a royalty of 5 cents a thousand feet upon gas sold, and an occupation tax of 3 por cent uppmi its gross receipts. In 1912 tho total was $125, 800. Besides this the company pays tho federal cor- sporation and state occupation taxes. The proposed national income tax will add fur ther to tho company's tax burdens. At tho present timo tho gas company is assessed upon one forty-second of all tho taxablo proporty in tho city of Omaha, but pays into tho city treasury one-eighteenth of all revenues except those derived from the sale of bonds. THE BURDEN OF TAXATION UPON THE OAS COMPANY PER DOLLAR OF VALUATION IS MORE THAN TWICE THE BURDEN ON PRI VATE PROPERTY. Under tho proposed franchise, it is proposed to make a limited reduction in tlio occupation taxes paid by the company. This reduction will make a difference of less than 'two cents por thousand feet in tho amount of taxes paid by tho company. IT WILL GO TO THE GAS CONSUMERS. Tho present taxes of 17 cents por thousand feet mean that for ovoiy dollar of revenue earned by tho company, nearly 15 cents is paid back in taxes. Under tho PROPOSED franchiso tho company will pay slightly less por thousand feet in taxos, but will continue to pay into tho publio treasury approx imately tho samo proportion of its gross rovenue this owing to tho reduction of 15 cents per thousand fet in tho gas rate. Excessive taxes aro unfair to a service company, and its patrons. Thoy forco tho company to chargo rates higher than aro necessary and make tho sorvico user an involuntary taxpayer in addition to tho tax burden which ho bears directly. Below is a list of ropresontativo cities showing tho taxes paid on each thousand feet of gas used: City Albany, N. Y. Baltimore, Md. Bridgeport, Conn. Cambridgo, Mass. Camdon, N. J. Chicago, 111. Denvor, Colo. Detroit Mich. Des Moines, la. Fall River, Mass. Ilarrisburg, Pa. Hartford, Conn. Jorsoy City, N. J. Milwaukee, Wis. Minneapolis, Minn. Newark, N." J. New Haven, Conn. Oakland, Cal. Omaha Paterson, N. J. St. Paul, Minn. Seattle, Wash. Spokane, Wash. Syracuse, N. Y. Trenton, N. J. Utica, N. Y. Worcester, Mass. Population 1910 100,2531 558,485 102,054 104,839 94,538 1,185,283 213,381 465,766 86,368 119,295 64,186 98,915 267,779 373,857 301,408 347,469 133,605 150,174 124,096 125,600 214,744 237,194 104,402 137,249 96,819 74,419 145,986 Taxes foot 7.91 6.77 5.73 7.53 4.39 4.90 7.10 5.00 7.23 7.50 .84 4.00 4.94 6.50 5.37 4.57 5.68 8.55 16.99 4.50 9.50 9.00 7.38 7.13 4.39 5.40 8.00 per 1,000 of gas cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents' cents cents cents cents cents cents cents cents This exhibit might be prolonged indefinitely and would still show the taxes per 1,000 cubio feet paid in Omaha to bo far tho highest. Despite tho excessivo tax upon gas in Omaha tho proposed rate reduction franchiso will give $1.00 gas immediately if approved by tho voters at tho special election August 19th. '" S 'i K . OMAHA GAS COMPANY