The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-10
CANAL A GIGANTIC TASK
SURVEY OF WORK TO BE DONE
IN PANAMA.


DR.. G. A. Stephens, who has been
well known for generation as
writer of stories Of adventure for boys,
has recently visited Panama, where he
has had excellent opportunities for OBJ
serving the great project the nation
has undertaken there. writes the
| Washington correspondent of the New
York Post
Americans speak glibly of the posi-.
bility of a tide.level canal at Panama.
| OF this DR.. Stephens says: "It Is not
an easy matter to estimate the exact
amount OF earth which would have to
| be removed to get clear channel
across the Isthmus, 35 feet below tide
at Colon and at La Boca on the Bay OF
Panama. But computing II at the va
rious levels, step by step up to the
Culebra, through this vast cut and be-
beyond, deducing what the French ap-
pear to have done, we obtain 446,000,-
900 cubic yards, as a very conserva-
tive estimate of what remains to be
removed In order to have an open
ditch from ocean to ocean, $50 feet
wide at the bottom. with 35 feet Of
standing water in It. AS to the length
Of time required, we have to guide us
only what the new French company
have done. It is agreed on all hands,
however that they have worked with
fair degree of intelligence and with
honesty.
During their most successful year,
1897, the new company employed 5000
men and removed, mainly in the Cule-
bra cut, 100000 cubic metres, chiefly
earth. This was by far the best ever
done by the French. Adding 40 per.
cent to this 100000 metres, for better
American methods and better ma
chimes, and assuming that the United
States will employ 10000 laborers in
place Of 5000, we find that to remove
the 341, 100000 cubic metres forty-six
years and nine days will be required,
or until 1851. BY employing 10000 la.
borers the work might be done in
about thirty-one years. More than
10000 men could not be advantageous
ly worked there. At best. therefore
allowing nothing for contingencies or
I
ma could not be completed before
1860 that few of the present gen
GRAFTON would see it.
Immense Cost Of Tidewater Canal.
"As to the cost of tidewater canal
at Panama, reckoning laborers' wages
at only dollar day, and the salaries
Of engineers, foremen, ETC., at equally
reasonable rates; adding present cost
figures for machinery, tools, explo
sives, transportation, hospital equip
ment and maintenance, with the thou
sand other minor expenses, and to this
the interest on the money as used fol
thirty years, at 8 percent; I am un
able to find the amount called for Il
construct a tidewater canal at less
than $50, 900, or, adding the price
of the canal from the French company
s61O 100000"
Magnitude Of the Project.
DR.. Stephens in other ways makes
more distinct than do the formal re
ports the size of the project in which
we are already committed. The Guile
bra cut he describes as the creates
thing of its kind ever undertaken b!
man. When complete 1t will be three
ffths of mile wide at the top, falling
off to a width of $50 feet at the bot
tom, into which the great lake mad,
by the dam at Bohio will flow back
filling it to a depth of S5 feet. From
the top Of the Culebra on the nortl
side of the cut the depth will be near
ly or quite 400 feet.
These figures, he says, convey littl'
idea of the tremendous quantity o
earth and rock which must be re
moved. II Is not until one descend
into this vast trench and marks hov
tiny the locomotives and great stean
, excavators look when seen In the pre-
digious depth and breadth of the eS
, cavation that conception of the her
, culean labor dawns on the mind.
. is like Niagara, and must be contem
, plated for awhile. At first sight
, might be thought that thousand meI
, operating 90 or 100 Of these steam eS
, cavators, would dig it out in year
but by the time the visitor has walKe
and climbed about the cut for an hou
[ or two, he can readily believe that tn
, task may occupy 5000 men, with ma
, chimes, for ten years.
The temperature in the cut he de
scribes as intense, The lofty, bar
sides of the excavation accumulat
heat like the walls Of an oven. TIL
seething steam boilers add to the ca
orific glow. 1t makes the eyeball
ache and the lungs feel dry and hot.
"It is no place." says DR.. stephen!
"for white mans unprotected heaC
A cork hemlet, or green umbrella
or both, are necessary to his safet,
1t makes me shudder to think of tn
human suffering implied by ten year
of labor here ON the part OF 5000 meI
But only at the price of all this TO
can stately vessels steam throsgh tn
Culebra."
The French Canal company has T,
moved much earth here, but vastl