The record-union., 1899-01-11

properly regulate the flow of the river,
dams will be erected. One Of them will
be located at Bohio, at the last group
of locks on the Atlantic side. This dam
will transform the Chagres into vast
lake, which will extend to Obispo,
distance Of thirteen miles, and will
cover an area of twenty -one miles. The
dam, besides acting as a regulator of
the ChagreS flood, will obviate strong
currents where the canal traverses the
bed of the river, an extremely impor-
tant matter for ocean shipping.
The other dam will be located at
Alhajuela, on the upper Chagres, about
nine and one-third miles from the ca
nal. Ut will form g. reservoir covering
ten miles, which will be "a feeder to the
summit level on the canal, and will as
sist in effectually controlling the floods
Of the Chagres.
ut will also furnish hydraulic power,
transmitting electricity for operating
the locks and lighting at night the en-
tire canal from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific.
Both dams consequently can accum-
ulate a storage of at least 66,OOO,O0O.-
600 gallons, which, with proper adjust
ment weirs, will be more than suffi-
Gent to control the largest freshets
known. Should any larger freshets &C.
cur navigation might be interrupted
for a day or two, but, owing to the
precautions observed in designing the
various structures, the canal will SUI
fer no damage.
''The question of caving in the deep
central cut has been studied out in
most thorough manner The results CT
the experimental excavation, which
has caused the removal of 1924, 600
cubic yards in the last three years, are
highly satisfactory, and the old bug
bear of sliding mountain divide has
proven to be imaginary.
From an examination Of the records
there appears to be no serious mortal
ity among the workmen engaged in the
construction Of the canal, due care be-
ing taken to benefit by past experience
in selecting the laborers.
There are no active volcanoes within
200 miles of the canal, and there are no
troublesome winds or river currents to
be encountered, even in times of flow.
The time of transit for vessels through
the canal will be less than a day, and
AiOiSu dllQ Wal VESSELS VI the
est size can be accommodated.
There is nothing in the physical
condition on the isthmus to prevent a
sea level canal, should the latter seem
desirable in the future.
''The estimate Of cost of the compile
ton Of the canal has been established
from the experience acquired during
the last four years of actual work on
the isthmus, and is reported by the
technical commission as follows:
Cost of the work proper under plans
adopted, $S7. 900; add for contin-
gencies, ST., 100000; total, $1O2, 400 900.
IF both locks be built with a width
of S2.025 feet, the cost would be in
creased to $125.OOO,OOO.
'Such, in brief, is the present status
of the Panama Canal, and if this Gov
eminent does not take advantage of
the chance now offered it, the water
way of the isthmus will be completed
by private capital. It then will be in
operation years before the rival scheme
proposed across Nicaragua could be
finished, and, being a shorter route
from ocean to ocean, would be a finan-
cial success, while the other cut, if ever
carried out, would be failure in more
ways than one