Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1908 — PMUM CANAL GOST CUNT BE ESTHD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PMUM CANAL GOST CUNT BE ESTHD

Amount First Considered Necessary Has Been Increased and May Need Stretching Again. IT’S ONLY A ROUGH GUESS NOW. —•< , " . » Colonel Goethals Expects to Make Forecast Next Year —Unknown Difficulties May Be Met. Washington correspondence: The wonder is growing among Senators and Representatives on what basis the original estimators fixed the probable cost of the Panama Canal. There is a halfway suspicion that the first estimators didn’t business or were afraid to give out a truth that they thought might be appalling. With the characteristic bluntness of a soldier Colonel George W. Goethals has said that he can only guess at the total cost of the canal, but that he believes it will not exceed $230,000,000, excluding the original purchase price. As another has put it, “the estimated cost of the Panama Canal pace in the ascending scale with the cost of living. Every year thef price the United States will have to pay for the water way is marked up.” First estimates put it as low as $140,000,000. Then came what was called an authentic estimate to the effect that the country would have to expend $184,000,000 before the canal could be completed. Colonel-Goethals’ guess is $300,000,000, and he is frank to say that the limit may have to be raised at least once again. Ha. Appropriated Eiarhty Million.. Up to the present about $80,000,000 has been appropriated by Congress for the canal work. July 1, 1907, $31,000.000 of the sum remained unexpended. When Colonel Goethals succeeded Mr. Stevens last March as engineer In charge he found that circumstances warranted an increase of the working force and an enlargement of the plan of the work. It was in August that the soldier-engineer told the'Secretary of Whr that if the work was to be pushed at the rate at which it has been pushed since the army took charge the appropriation which had been made for the year ending June 30, 1908, would be used up by the first of the calendar year.

This bit of Information which was cheering to those who hoped for a speedy completion of the canal work, waa given to President Roosevelt, who at once ordered Colonel Qoethals not to stay his hand, but to go ahead at the same labor rate and incur a deficiency. The Colonel, like a good soldier, obeyed orders, and now the appropriation made last year, which supposedly was large enough to provide for the continuation of the work until July 1..19U8, Is exhausted and an urgent deficiency bill calling for $11,000,000 is pending in the House. • The Secretary of War hag told the Seuate committee on interocennlc canals that the work was kept going at high speed and that the deficiency was Incurred because It was his belief there was greater economy In going ahead than In lagging. Of the Increased cost of the canal over the original estimates the Secretary of War has sold: “The widening of the locks In accordance with the request of the Navy Department has been approved, and It means an additional cost of about 10 per cent In the construction of the locks. The locks themselves at now projected will coat $52,000,000, and this means an addition of $5,000,000 to the price."

In talking to the Senators Colonel Goethnls used the word “guess” when he was telling them about the price of the completed canal. At first the Senators didn't approve the word, but they came to untHrratamd that the actual coes was paat the power of man to Mtlmate accurately, and ao they fell In with the soldier’s idea and feel that it waa better to have indefinite state-'' menta than definite statements which might bring in their woks disappoint-

STEAM SHOVEL AT WORK IN CULEBRA CUT.