The Panama Canal: One Canal, Three Chief Engineers

The Panama Canal: One Canal, Three Chief Engineers In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt called John Wallace, the first chief engineer of the Panama Canal Project, into his office and ordered him to “make the dirt fly!” However, digging a canal across the Isthmus of Panama and successfully linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans would require extensive planning and preparation before digging could commence. The task of building the Panama Canal would prove to be one of the most expensive and challenging projects ever attempted by the United States. Panama’s difficult terrain, tropical climate, and numerous deadly diseases called for a chief engineer with strong leadership skills, strategic planning capability, and a solid engineering background. Although Chief Engineer George Goethals oversaw the completion of the canal, his success was due in large part to the …show more content…
He demonstrated a grasp of the nature of the conflict, treating the massive project as a humanitarian and engineering effort. After making considerable progress with the construction of the necessary infrastructure and railroad system for excavation and improving workers’ living conditions, Stevens resigned from the chief engineer position in January 1907. His impact on the workforce was evident as the day he left Panama, thousands of showed up on the dock to say farewell, and presented him with a gold watch, diamond ring, silver tea set, and two bound volumes containing signatures of more than 10,000 employees. Stevens’ steadfast dedication to improving conditions for the workforce and strategic planning for the construction of the canal laid the foundation for the eventual success of the massive