New-York tribune., 1879-09-20
THE DARIEN CANAL,
SUGGESTIONS IN Favor OF = SYSTEM or PUMPGNG
WATER 10 THE UrTR Level.
ydiiyr ID 1nr Trtbvur


To me razor Or me TrtbNHc.
Sir: Regarding tLe great DGrien Canal, now
being 90 thoroughly distressed there is ore important
view oi The project that have presented and
which may prove Of interest - the public I l., 10
choose Of the survcs cl lines with least elevation %
overcome. aud To pumpup he water TO the upper level
when necessary In the seio ion OF rcr C. there Is 20
be consi .clodi lsj, Iracuc.J5 o. r,utcj ~, Cost
In money aud time for construction 81, Facility for
operating aud repairs D. Natural hGrors 70 the ter
uIri Take f0r illustration tho Tuyr-Atiato route,
which. with limited cost at oi tie mouths Of tie
AIato, vould have ue natural harbo.s. Tile most dill
cult work. would De outlet locks vitu their
foundations other works being elevated and the drain
age easily provided during conrfrucan. Across de-
pressions ana rayiRcs permanent dams should be con-
sructed forming reservoirs, which, 10 country where
there rainy season of sht months, would Doc almost
e,gtaln to retain suhic water without any need oi
pumping back Tie wnter after oucs used Now, The
movement OF large vessels through tie canal proper
must he governed BY s.ati.rsly engines Wiz sec tow
lines, attacked To- permanent Substantial wire cables
upon each bank Of tho canal, TIC tow-i mes
holding fore aud an, absolutely governing
the ship that she shall uot touch tIe sides al CORE
ducting her into locks firmly that she shall not
touch the caissOus (sa,s nor any part NJ tho locks
These engiues should always he ready 10 throw bacA
wafer L. higher evci through fuur-t-nt mans, il Ie
quu,d and they would do IL a1ol, a. quickly nsit is
safe to allow TIE escape to lower love through gaics
The clay Of these nounans and valleys II tho best
pudding material be found any where, ard with This
lining. the canals ard reservoir would hold tie water
from porcolaton through the porous volcanic rocks In
such canal over tho mountains any icvcl could be
drawn Off for repairs. ana elevated canal would have
great advantages IN regard To hoaltliuncss as COM
pared with the Owauds and approaches 10 some routes
spoken Of This Is an mportan, consideration both IN
building and in working tie canal. suDl WoiA could
be three 90 Hv years. ~ cost ~ less
than sJO,OOOo.0 90 again work wtloii locks "r
with tunnel at cost Of s.sO.Oc0OJO twenty years
time ana great sacrifice of life.
The fscJ IL, IL not possible 70 construct tunnel
route below the td # the Caribbean Sea- with constant
pouring in Of through The pous rock aOoye sud
from all sides, ana with sea forcing u rom me Dot
tom. Machinery enough cannot be GOT mo pace -
draw tn" water out aud mold u oni, lile INC rgck a.9
earth from fho prism uf canal and tuuucl
above and tnOuid eccient nIIrcn AID ship 'H
10 such cavern, or rvrr 80 ciuh 1l Nhhndt i"th-'
great difficulty would be found 10 removing her. while
lie caviug ia ~ bauss or tunnel ~Jdu render the cost
The method gtcsi (Which NAV have been suggested
by Others have not heard OF it would be well
~ maj rome Seem 90 nr M "a ficuity oi controlling the
d,ods I'm e low and. The prevalence ~ fevers aud tie
moor narbpr facitles l. would be applicable also to re
Ncaraguan route eXceut tnuf t or,is without Hal@i
H. rbor, and n.s a mlsnty r,cr jo contend Tor
near gong into drAi fur. her than say in genera
tn sccorin To tol1n' t. tcrr ,stlina fs, thrIe
won,d be- some O0OOsO cubic Yard, OF rock cXoata-
lion In either tie tnaul 90. NIcai.stna route, wuicl
cunid be rrgev avoided by climbing over th- prncll
grades with locks Nitn euch |u'n- as may De hrr''
TIE mere cost Ibis pumping tg3 coal can De lt'd
chcapy and with machinery already provided Tor Tow
lug uruosss = ainOuats 90 $500 lifc u sch great woIh
a. 10 be nom nal compared wit hc vast interest ae
count and time saved TO- tbs simpler method ci coli
-frucion. For illustrator may Ussd- ihIf ~ me
sumgiIeVri tHr locAs w Dc JOO rect long, 100 lcti
wide and 80 deep. ol,asOu- winch al tcllilDf
ample; we assume also, YNat Is called = l,up'"'N
duiy, that wcllhuAt engines Will pump sVplp'V5'
pound. cr loot .igh 1'ltn 100 posui. ~ coal
Witn coa at - per ton TIE cost per ecSgc. rai~nG
ths water 100 Ieef would BE- 49, aud Tor itJ Ochs's
per day : 300; While thr daiy Interest on an ezra
capital of ~2oO.VOJ 800. which woun he required lor
.aual with a tluu. without locke, MuUu ". ." per
cent ahous - SO per dis iAs shows sdflf- ui-s
tGis eniirr Interest arcoDa dunno the dhcrtnf" ."
time rrqu rrd fricon, fld Thereafter saving
of over SO. 900 per day, allowing twenty-five loc"ases
d.iv carn way, aud Aluntug tic DO crs-itf oi Tuni
which might entIr,y avoided % the reservoirs couli
/ be made 10 supply suhctnt waller "
Tie ente water III, lird 10 ihc city - BROOKLYN l.
manned INFO re- ervors ri itnee OF l13 iett, aud
most ol the cites Of this country afc supplied win
vat tu the same manner. 4ii- i.ct ana TIC Vast
quantities OF water pumped from mln"s daily. lcm"'
stl.t Is fh4t the -vsisn practicable one. IN ths
prtscntat of thr fu4 ci steam power MS eh A.
sumcd for pump.n- lac water % tie summ-cfel' an +.
II remain, 10 b. co slutTtI II The ilnnens" qudht Oi
water now wasitu AZ h.ln elevations near iA' 'c"i
the caual can rot b" advartaLeou.i sNpsilnlrl -
| ,n,,.r ,,s,f.nd of Steam fiESgY =. y NLlILS
No 81 BcsI min y"tn st, |e'o- orN pa D. 1917