PANAMA CANAL.


these matters with the chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission
the committee found that it was his intention to establish a municipal
department to have charge, in collaboration with the architectural
department, of the design, execution, and maintenance of the public
work other than buildings, including streets, sewers, water supply,
public grounds, and the grounds surrounding the quarters or resi-
dences in the new permanent town of Balboa. The municipal de-
partment would also have charge of the alterations and improvements
to be made in such of the existing towns as are to be permanently
retained. It is understood that he intended to organize this depart-
ment by appointing a chief and, as first assistant, a municipal engi-
neer and a landscape architect. He asked the assistance of the
committee in securing competent men for those positions, and they
submitted to him information in regard to a considerable number of
possible appointees.
 8. MARINE RESERVATION.

 Adjacent to the town of Balboa a large reservation has been set
apart for the permanent quarters of a detachment of marines. There
are to be erected several barracks, each housing 150 men, a number of
officers' quarters, and other buildings, together with a large parade
ground. The situation selected for the barracks and officers' quarters
is a very commanding terrace on the westerly side of Ancon Hill,
at a height of about 175 feet. The design of the buildings, and in
fact everything that is to be done within the marine reservation, is
entirely out of the hands of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and will
be determined by the naval authorities, but Col. Goethals suggested
to the committee to confer with the officer commanding the marines
on the Isthmus. with a view to considering these improvements with
those in the town of Balboa. The committee had a very interesting
and satisfactory interview with that officer, who explained the needs
of the post, and expressed a deep interest in its appearance and in
securing harmony between these improvements and those of the town.
Hle explained, however, that the matter was now out of his hands, and
urged that the Commission of Fine Arts confer with the naval
authorities at Washington upon the subject, which we have expressed
our entire readiness to do.

 9. ARMY POST.

 Col. Goethals further stated that a reservation is to be set apart for
a large Army post, but that the location is not yet determined.

 10. COMMEMORATIVE MONUMENT.

 The Commission of Fine Arts believe that a memorial record of the
building of the canal should be made in the form of an impressive
inscription upon a great monumental surface at some point of promi-
nence; and a careful examination of the whole length of the canal
led to the choice for this purpose of the east wall at the point of
deepest cut, 492 feet, at the continental divide. While the size and
design of this monument should be the result of careful study, we are
inclined to believe that it should be approximately 100 feet in height