New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-06
WORK AT PANAMA

NOW that the new owner of the unfinished
lnteroceanic highway across the Isthmus of
Fanama has obtained complete control of the
property and has assumed full responsibility
Tor the work, the world is likely to witness a
NUMBER or improvements upon the unhappy
precedents established there. One of the most
Important advances, without doubt will be I'm
the provision made for the health OF the work
men and engineers employed there Though
the mortality which attended the building OF
the Panama Railway has probably been over
rated. and unduly pessimistic opinions have
been uttered regarding the prevalence of dis
ease in that vicinity, IL cannot be denied thar
the wnole region is fearfuily uninviting from
sanitary point Of view. Before much new
excavation or construction is done however
radical changes will be made. Both Colon and
Panama are to have adequate sewers and an
ample water supply, and ii is announced that
wholesome water will also be furnished TO the
men all the way from one end of the canal
route TO the other In a recent report 10 the
director or the Marine Hospital Service in
Washington, DIR. J. c. Perry declared that four
hfths OF the sickness on the isthmus is pre-
ventable The full benefit OF the precautions
about 10 be adopted will not OF course be felt
until after the completion of the canal itself
yet a material reduction in both illness and
mortality may be anticipated after the first
year two.
Another marked contrast between the future
and the past will relate to the way in which
the money spent will be applied In the May
number Of "CasSier's Magazine George T.
Walsh presents pathetic but doubtless truth
full picture of the waste which has occurred
along the canal route, mainly from the action
Of the damp air upon dsused machinery Steel
railG cars, locomotives, dredges and other
appliances have so softened through rust that
fhnxy t;ooIJ,
ment of loss resulted from the employment Of
valuable machinery as foundation material for
wOrkmen's houses, but the chief trouble came
from a combination OF bad management neg
lect and dampness. Mr.. Walsh thinks that the
capital which has been sunk in these two ways
can hardly be less than 100000 OOI Well
such thing will be out of the question under
the new regime. When practical operations are
once begun they will be pushed with n vigor
that will astonish Europe There will be a
studiOus adaptation of means TO ends which
will preclude the importation of needless mech
anism. Whatever tools and other equipment
are taken 10 the scene Of action will be kept
from rust by either constant use or proper care
when idle. Finally, the commission which will
supervise the work be safely trusted to
exercise such vigilance that misrepresentation
and extravaganza will be impossible
So thoroughly have the canal site and prof.
ect been studied by the advisers of the United
States government that few engineering prob
lens yet remain to be solved in connection
with this mighty undertaking. One relates to
the situation of the huge dam that will create
Lake Bohio. At the place Professionally select
ed 1t would be necessary to sink caissons for
the foundations TO a depth OF 12S feet. Hith-
erto no such caissons have gone lower than
115 feet. To avoid the necessity for facing
new difficulties 1t has been suggested that by
putting the dam further upstream or down
stream 1t will be practicable to find bedrock
at us feet. If special exploration for this
purpose has not already been made. 1t Is proba-
BILE that It win soon be ordered. Again. there
still appears to be some difference OF opinion as
to the height to which it Will be Judicious TO
lift vessels by locks. If the Bohio dam is sew
enty-fye feet above the sea, and IL only two
locks are employed to raise ships to that leved,
each win be called upon to DO half OF tho work.
Some engineers cherish misgivings about the
expediency OF lift Of thirty seven and q half
feet. though it certainly would not be so diff
cult as one of forty or forty-nva feet. At one
time there was talk OF building the tam ninoty
feet high, in whse.s ca~2, p-.Iaps, a third lock