Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-04-10


the lake, whose height will be deter
mined by dam across the old path
Of the Chagres, only seventy feet
above sea level. The United States
commission adopted ninety feet as the
standard, although in the driest season
this may fall off to eighty-two. Where
the canal taps the lake two or three
locks are to be introduced. The COM
mission favored only two, each making
difference Of forty-two or forty-f1ve
feet in the water level. Although such
locks are feasible, it is remotely possi
BILE that three may finally be adopted,
as it Is safer to lock up and down only
thirty feet as a time. If third lock
Is introduced perhaps 1t will not be
located close to the other two, but be
constructed at Tiger Hill. An enor-
nous dam, blocking the course Of the
Chagres, is to be built little east OF
the Bohio locks. Engineers say that
there will be less danger Of seepage,
or leakage through the soil, If there Is
head Of only sixty-five to seventy
feet here, instead of one of ninety.
Still, If. there is another lock at Tiger
Hill the same effect would be secured.
| A spillway to discharge the surplus
water Of Lake Bohio, will be construct
ed three miles to the southwest Of the
dam and locks, on a small tributary
] called the Gigante. A natural cut ex-
lists here, sixty-five feet above sea lev
el. OF course the spillway must be
higher than that to maintain the de-
sired level In Lake Bohio. The COM
mission proposes to have 1t eighty-fve
feet above the sea. From the Gigante
the water will drain off through
swamps to the lower Chagres, little
excavating helping the flow here 1t
is expected that the Gigantic spillway
will serve as an automatic safety valve
In time Of floods.
AS already stated, about twelve and
a half miles of route lie through Lake
Bohio. For fully seven miles there
will be deep water. Only little dredg-
Ing will be necessary as Gamboa is ap-
preached To the Southeast Of the lat
ter point lies the heaviest work along
the whole route. For nearly eight
miles (7.95, to be exact cut in the
backbone Of the isthmus will be need
ed to bring the canal down to the
proper level. This is known as the
Culebra cut The water will be no
higher here than in Lake Bohio, and
there will be no locks. However, as 1t
may be desirable to drain the Culebra
level some time, gates will be intro
duced near Gamboa (at Obispo).
1t may be remarked, in passing, that
the depth of the Culebra cut bears
close relation to the height of the Bo.
hio dam. The amount of excavation
In the former was lessened twenty feet
when the commission decided to raise
the level Of Lake Bohio to ninety feet
above the sea, instead of seventy feet
On the other hand, IL General Abbot's
recommendations had been adopted, It
would have been necessary to go twen-
ty feet lower In the cut. Part Of the
material to be removed here Is rock,
but good deal is merely clay.
Partly to control the excesses of the
Chagres In very rainy weather, 1t has
been proposed to build dam at Alba
juela, ten or eleven miles east of Gam
boa, near the source of the stream. An
artificial lake there would serve as
reservoir, take care Of part of the sur
plus water when the precipitation was
heavy, and thus relieve Lake Bohio
Of part Of Its responsibility. BY af-
, fording storage, too, 1t would be able
to reinforce the lower lake In the dry
season.
A woman regards every old enpaqe-