The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-24
TASK IS. NOT
DIFFICULT
Building 81 Canal Comparative e
" Easy for American li1r's
Engineers.
THE SOFT SOIL ". 70 70 ]. DIG IN 4 |
the SOFT SOIL 10 DIG IN.
Tie Locks Are Only Serious
Problems That Cctlfront Con-
{ structors Of the Canal.
BY. MERRILL A. TEAdUE.
Especial Cor. ,bpOndence Of The Times
.5Hs.iglN ME m ci1.) #G4s

Dispatct) "a
S5 COLON, r. r., Dec. 2o-There Is
nothing in tho nature OF the work which
has to be dono on the 1sthnus before
the ship canal can be opened to naviga-
ton TO daunt an American. have made
three excursions over tho canal route.
taking in the sea level sections at either
end and the middle portion, which runs
through dry cutting. and. while do not
pretend to speak expertly Of the en-
cheering aspects Of the problem, should
say-tkat the building Of the canal will
be q comparatively easy task for know
ing, enterprisng and energetic Americans.
4 That Americans have undertaken ana
successfully concluded projects present
Ing vastly greater engineering complex ~
ties is indtsputabe. AS problem m en-
RIneering science the New York sub
way system dwarfs tho canal scheme
into lnsignifcance So does the plan %
4 tho Pennsylvania Railroad to tunnel tie
North River and construct In the very
heart OF New York city great SUD
(. terranean tunnel. On como OF our west
ern misunderstanding on the lineEwhichi
runs over Marshall Pass, in Southwestern
u Observation-Disclosures more Intricate pro-
blerns were successfully solved at q ti'n ~,
when engineering science was not nearly
as exact as It is to-day, and from the
engineering, as well as from the t'nanc!a'
noint OF View, New York State Is to-day
dealing with a project-the enlargement
OF the Erie Canal-which deserves to
stand on a plane with that ono which
centers here. :.
As \ remarked in previous letter, the
activity OF the American engineers VINO
have dealt with this problem with q sv i'''
TO It's solution By the United States nas
been in the direction OF slmplificat!on.,
Great success has attended their cHotts.
!, In our scehme We have gone many
strides ahead OF anything the FRENCH
even in their final plans. contemplated.
Instead OF q canal With I'VE !ocks aNo
ak levels. We shalt build waterway
with two sets OF locks. a tide gate ana
three levels. Instead OF a complicated ar.
rangeu,ent for controlling the torrenuai
4 flow OF the Chagres River. with auxiliary
& canals and storage reservoirs TO proVioe
water for certain OF the levels. our p'an
Ia to build ono monster dam ana tnen
Let the natural swamps take care OF ING
Cha gres. s. t4 -. I II - ~ sst
Should we build this canal-and nearly
every Isthmian will die OF dlsappo!At.
ment should NO funk on the pro)ecs
.,hi,h incubated this baby republlc-there
viii be sea level section 600 feet Woe
m the surface, $50 feet wide on the DOL
tom ana deep enough to safely accom-
rodato vessels drawing IS feet Of water.
extending from the entrance back Of
Cristobal Colon Point the northern Ter
minus TO Bohio distance Of "A miles.
In this section we will utilize the pea
OF the Chagres River at certain points,
and the entire section can be constructea
BY the dredging process. THIS sectlon s's
now open for Its entire length to very
light draft vessels. and the soil under
living It Is soft mud and stu sottef
alluyiai deposit so that the dredges can
work steadily and without encountertng
any serious obstruction. One problem
alone presents Itself on this portion OF
the work. and the French partially solved
Z that, We shall have to make effective tne
plan to divert the current OF the Allno!
and Gatun Rivers. The French construct
ed the diversion canal; 1t remains LOT W
to put 1t to practical use by making u
carry the water OF these rivers. Vhis
done-and the doing Of 1t will be q simple
matter--there will be no dimculty1 on
connterea beyond that OF preventing silt
dcposits that might obstruct tho channel.
This latter will entail constant dredging,
an item which will come within tho
annual cost OF maintenance and to whion
enRtneers are now paying no attention.
THE GREAT BoHIo DAM.
w The plan for the Bohio dam Will, beside
greatly simplifying the whole canal pro-
ject, minimize the amount OF work tnnt
will annually BIO required to keep Inc
sea level section from being filled pp
BY the action OF the water washing con-
49, E,,tn1d In -
for this dam will restrict the current ~
the Chagres River until It Will be no
more formidable than 10 the tide 81
Colon. which rises only IS inches. The
dam at Bohlo will be one OF the largest
aver constructed. It will extend IN an
easterly and westerly direction tor DIS
tance OF 1886 feet, and 1t will DO 800 feet
wide on the bottom, narrowing to aoou,
rs feet on the top. which Will be about q
feet above the level OF tho Chagres RIVER
The only problem now ootherlng en-
eineers who have given careful attention
to the canal plans is IN relation 70 en1t
dam.
1he French, In prospecting the country
shout RohIo to secure suitable location
Far the dam, did their work IN shift
: iess manner, Their borings were wholly
INADEQUATE. and Americans have not gone
aufficiently into the matter TO- have bet
tered to any appreciable. extent .Whue
tho French did. As Investigation on TINS
particular detail now stands, " wy! %
necessary to sink calssons TO uepth
Of 128 feet in order to secure suitable
foundation tor the dam. This depth Is
greater than has yet been reached by
tho pneumatic process-the only ayalia-
bic one-of constructing foundations, the
nearest approach to It having been q
depth OF ll5 feet, to which the calssona
for the new Williamsburg Bridge across
Inc East River, at New York. were sunk,
Caisson work is deadly In Its character,
and, while the engineers are confident
that the oaissons at Bohio can be sunk
III feet IL necessary, they are equally
confident that secure foundation can
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>0RYoA To proven,