To Test Canal With Fleet.

New York Times 100 years ago today, April 23, 1913:
Atlantic Warships to Go Through to Pacific When Waterway Is Ready.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, April 22. — Plans are being formed for the mobilization of the Atlantic Fleet on the Pacific Coast next Fall or early Winter. The fleet will cruise through the Mediterranean this Summer, and it is desired to send the ships through the Panama Canal as soon as it is completed in order to determine how well and how quickly this may be accomplished in case of necessity.
    Secretary Daniels, after a conference with Secretary Garrison, who three days ago telegraphed Col. Goethals for definite information, finds that the Chief Engineer expects that the water will be turned into the Culebra cut in October, and that one flight of locks at each end of the canal will then be ready tor use.
    Col. Goethals said the opening of the canal had always been predicated on the condition of the slides and the completion of the locks. If in October, when the water is turned in at Culebra, slides do not prevent, it will be possible to pass vessels through. Col. Goethals is confident of being able to pass vessels through by the end of the year, at all events.
    It is planned to send the Fram through the canal, if possible, on her way to be used in Amundsen's arctic cruise, and that ship will be the first, after the old battleship Oregon, to go through. Col. Goethals, however, gives no positive assurances as to the time when the canal may be used because of the uncertainty of slides at Culebra.