Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-15
PROBLEMS At PANAMA
An Engineer on the Difficult
ties Of Canal Construction.
SANITATION rs FIRST
UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE
BEST AVAILABLE ADVICE.
American Tools and Administrative
Capacity SupsFior.-The Engineer
ing Questions Involved.
SANITATION rs FIRST

The recent events on the Isthmus Of
Panama have focused attention more
sharply than before upon that region and
also upon the actual program for the con-
struction of the isthnian canal, which, 1t
is generally believed. sis brought one step
nearer to contamination by the partition Of
Panama from Colombia. Among the inter-
esting matters now being printed in gen.
erous measure concerning the country and
the work in prospect. an article published in
a recent issue Of the Cleveland Leader is
worthy of particular attention. 1t en-
bodies an interview with Mr. Lyman E.
Cooley, hydraulic engineer of that city,
who has made an especial study of the
canal question. He said:
within the precincts of the canal works
the arm of the law must be both strong and
vigorous. An elaborate and costly hospital
and sanitary system must be established.
as We'll as efficient police. Along the San
Juan river the camps of the workmen
might be built close at hand. while on the
Charges 1T might be found expedient to To-
cate the camp dwellings high up In the
hills. thousand feet or more above the
sea level. and well removed from the MAS
matte and fever-laden vapors that over
hang the swamps and lowlands. From such
points of vantage. as regards foul and UNI
healthy environments. the men could be
transported to and from the works daily on
an electric tramway similar to our SUI
burban trolley lines. The cost Of building
and operating the tramways would be Offset
by the lowering of the death rate and the
lessening of the outlay for hospital service.
1.-The British garrisons camp is located on
the heights above Kingston Jamaica, and
the wisdom Of SO doing has been shown by
long experience.
The Cost Sure to Be Heavy.
1.-THE unhygienic conditions and the in
tolerable heat of the isthmian climate will,
in the final reckoning. add materially to
the bill of cost. Mechanics and skilled Ia
borers from the north will demand and will
obtain more than double the wages they
would earn in this country. 1t was the ex-
perience of the dredging contractor for the
Panama canal that ne was obliged to pay
such exorbitant prices for skilled labor.
Probably the estimates of the iSthmian
canal commission should be enlarged by
considerable percenfage-how much no man
can guess-because of the disheartening dis
advanta ges which are created by adverse
climatic conditions. 1t is well known that
men will imperfl themselves, as to life limb
and health, for the sake of gold or pecu-
mary reward. To encourage men to take
such risks may be regarded a mere
business proposition to be carried out under
the eye.-and within the limitations of 1.-The
law, or as matter of questionable morality
on the part of the responsible authorities.
A man of conscience shrinks from the task
of directing his fellows into paths beset
with pitfalls and hidden dangers" ...4c
Technical Questions.
The engineer was questioned as regards
the feasibility of the canal project from
technical standpoint. if the labor and health
problems are satisfactorily solved. 1.-THE
cuttings through the high ridges he said,
known as the Culebra and Emperador, and
the construction of the Bohio dam and
Giante Spillway are the most serious prob
lens. None of these are insuperable. The
isthmian canal commission devised plan
that was intended to be an Improvement
upon the project of the French. If new
canal commission shall be constituted and
appointed there will be further notifications
OF the various schemes that have been pro-
jected AS difficulties arise and are met and
disposed of the general plan will undergo
constant change rs to detail until the final
cOnSummation will be found to bear only
family resemblance to the original concep-
ton. 1t is hardly to be expected that the
successors of the commission In the field of
research. and constructive endeayor-- will
work upon the same lines, reaching the
same results. but will rather depart from
the ideas so promulgated in many essential
particulars.
1.-The dimensions of the canal prism, the
height OF the summit level above the sea,
the location and size of the locks and spill
ways, and Of portions of the canal proper,
and the question of water supply are still
undetermined or changeable factors In
some respects. however, the progress of the
work. as 1T may continue is without doubt
subject to no departure from the general
scheme of the French engineers The ter
minal points at Colon and Panamas will
hardly be changed The location of the
route through the main part of the 18TH
milan divide cannot be altered. The waters
of the Chagres river must be raised in sur
face elevation to height of from sixty to
ninety feet above sea level for an artificial
lake, and the most available site for a dam
is no doubt, at Bohio. The salient features
are uniform and indispensable as set forth
in every project that has been approved by
board of engineers
Efficient French Engineers.
pouct not he c,1ppocad that he EFrapob