IN PREFACE 'N THE ensuing pages an effort has been made to tell the plain, unvarnished story of Panama and the Panama Canal. The information contained herein has been gathered from many publications and from public and private persons. The records of the Government have been available at all times, to the writer, thanks to the courtesy of the authorities at Washington and of Major-General Goethals. Special acknowledgments are due to the Hon. William H. Taft, who, as Secretary of War and President of the United States, from 1904 to 1913, directed the affairs of the Panama Canal from its beginning to its virtual completion. In 1912 President Taft wrote to the author as follows: I am very glad to hear from you that you contemplate publishing a history of the construction of the Panama Canal. There is a great deal of detail connected with it which is forgotten and yet which is interesting to know with respect to the great work. There are a good many facts, indeed, that have never been brought to the public attention, that are of record and ought properly to be put in an historical form. I shall be very glad myself to furnish you with all the data that I have in my cor- Cordial encouragement was extended, also, by the Hon. Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, and Col. George W. Goethals, Chairman and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Mr. Stimson wrote: "I think it is very important that a full and careful history of the construction of the Panama Canal should be written while people are still alive in whose memories many of the most important events will rest, and I am very glad to hear that you are contemplating publishing such a history. I should be glad to put at your disposal all the data that I properly can while in office here in the Department which has had supervision to a certain extent over the work." Col. Goethals wrote: "I am very glad to hear from you that you contemplate publishing a history of the construction of the Panama Canal. To facilitate you in the enterprise I will take pleasure in authorizing you to collect information from any reliable source and give you access to the records for verification of such information or any additional data that may be available." The author is indebted to Prof. Patrick J. Lennox, Professor of English Language and Literature at the Catholic University of America, for valuable assistance in preparing the history of the Isthmus of Panama. A master of the subject, his aid in critical researches through an extensive bibliog raphy served to bring out what is believed to be a clear and concise account of the romantic developments that followed the discovery of Tierra Firme. Equally important was the assistance rendered by Mr. William Joseph Showalter in the preparation of the history of canal construction. In conversation with the writer, Col. Goethals expressed his pleasure upon being informed that Mr. Showalter was engaged in this task, and he added: "Mr. Showalter knows more about the Panama Canal than any other man except myself. I wish some of my engineers knew as much." No doubt many details of canal history cannot be ascertained or accurately weighed at this time; but it has been deemed wise to obtain from some of the makers of this history their own version of their activities, for the information of future historians. In this regard the chapters contributed by Messrs. John F. Wallace and John F. Stevens, respectively chief engineers of the Canal, are especially notable. To the Associate Editors, contributors, and numerous American engineers, contractors, and industrial corporations cordial thanks are extended for co-operation and advice. Although care has been taken to insure the accuracy of technical descriptions of equipment, machinery, and operations, it is hoped that the reader will bear in mind, when errors are noted, that the construction of the Panama Canal involved the energies of almost all branches of American industry, and that a review of these operations is almost equivalent to a description of a ten years' war. Happily, however, the campaign conducted at Panama was constructive, not destructive; for the benefit of mankind, not for the killing of men and the conquest of nations; and more permanent glory was won by the gallant soldier who lost his life in the struggle at Panama than by those who count their triumphs in the number of men slaughtered in Europe. The name of the late Lieutenant-Colonel David DuBose Gaillard is perpetuated, not only by the renaming of Culebra Cut, but by the record of his own devotion, which will endure even if Gaillard Cut should be swept away. The Panama Canal was completed at a time when war enveloped Europe. The story of its construction is offered in the hope that it will aid in reminding the world that WASHINGTON, "Peace hath her victories, No less renowned than war." May, 1915. XXV CULEBRA CUT... XXVI THE STORY OF THE LOCKS. XXVIII THE CANAL ARMY... XXIX QUARTERING AND FEEDING THE CANAL ARMY.. XXXI THE CANAL FORTIFICATIONS. XXXIII THE CANAL IN OPERATION.. XXXIV THE CANAL GOVERNMENT.. XXXV BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS... BY JOHN F. WALLace.. BY THEODORE P. SHONTS.... HOW THE UNITted States Acquired the Right to Dig the Panama 140 146 150 156 160 165 169 172 175 179 183 187 202 210 225 PANAMA CANAL LEGISLATION.. BY J. HAMPTON MOORE. XL PROBLEMS OF QUARANTINE....BY RUPERT BLUE..... XLI THE PROPOSAL TO Complete the CANAL BY CONTRACTORS' GROUPS BY CAPT. PHILIP ANDREWS, U.S.N. 267 XLV OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE......BY JOHN HAYS HAMMOND. |