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RE: Bill van Wulven Sells Barnacle Bill’s ‘the Biggest Little Tackle Store in San Diego’

(JULY 23-AUG. 5)

“Easily one of the coolest, selfl ess, and most generous people I have ever met Happy retirement Bill!! We love you ” —Jen

RE: Long Beach City Regains Control of Queen Mary and Authorizes Repairs

(JULY 23-AUG. 5)

“I am from Italy and I was on the Queen Mary to sleep in September 2013 …. it looked beautiful and really well cared for …. if they decided to sink it or scrap it, it would be terrible. Please, repair it and let it live for at least another 100 years…. —Luca Bombardi

“In agreement with this decision. I’ve loved The Queen Mary for decades and had my 50th birthday party on board. She is the last of the era of luxury transatlantic liners; there is so much history and craftsmanship to be seen on her decks. A historic designation is a good way to go.” —Anne Devlin

RE: Sportfishing Industry Starts Petition Calling for Changes to CARB’s Proposed Engine

Regulations (JUNE 25-JULY 8)

“It is all a necessary process we need to take moving forward in the industry. However, it’s impact will be crucial either environmentally or fi nancially.” —Bree

Comments are edited for clarity.

Write to: The Log Editorial, P.O. Box 1337, Newport Beach, CA 92659 thelogeditor@thelog.com.

FAST FACTS

The Panama Canal is currently still in service and had it’s one-millionth passing in Sept. 2010.

On Board With Johnson by J.R. Johnson Fast Facts: Panama Canal Opens for Traffic in 1914

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

PANAMA— On Aug. 15, 1914, the Panama Canal had its inaugural passage when the U.S. vessel Ancon, passed through its gates, according to an article from This Day in History on History.com.

In the 1880s a French contractor was brought on to attempt to build the canal to connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

According to the article construction on the sea-level canal began in 1881 but was halted because of poor planning, a breakout of disease among the crew, and financial problems that drove the contractor’s company to bankruptcy in 1889.

In 1902 U.S. Congress authorized the purchase of the French contracting company. Congress signed a contract in 1903 with Colombia granting the U.S. use of the territory.

Colombia refused to ratify the treaty and a faction of Panamanians issued a deceleration of independence from Colombia.

The movement was supported by President Theodore Roosevelt who removed the U.S. railroad trains from Colón stranding Colombian troops sent to stop the rebellion and then Roosevelt sent the U.S. warship Nashville to Panama.

Part of Roosevelt’s foreign policy “speak softly and carry a big stick.” On Nov. 18, 1903, the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was signed with Panama which granted the U.S. exclusive rights to the Panama Canal Zone.

Construction began again in 1909 and was one of the largest construction projects of all time, engineers moved almost 240 million cubic yards of earth and spent roughly $400 million in constructing the 40-milelong canal.

In 1977 President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty with Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos for the transfer of the canal to Panama by the year 2000, the transfer happened on Dec. 31, 1999. The canal had its one-millionth passing ship in Sept. 2010.