Panama Canal. Give it to the army ... said President Roosevelt. So a soldier called George Washington Goethals (left portrait) took over the building of the Panama Canal. Despite frequent, and often devastating landslides, he finished the daunting task. Thousands of people flocked to see the new wonder of the world, the Culebra Cut. They were carried to safe viewing by special trains but, even from considerable distances, the noise of the constant explosions was terrible. Right portrait is of Colonel Gaillard. Original artwork for illustration on p15 of Look and Learn issue number 935 (22 December 1979).