The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-27


struction is recommended
other subsidiary features depend
upon the level determined on and are
not discussed.
Reasons for Recommendations
The commission makes these oh
servations in summing up:
The practicability of certainly and sat
lsfactoriiy controlling the floods OF the
Chagres by so simple and economical a
method as the GambO lake and its OUT
now channels and the reduced COST OF
excavation as actually demonstrated nv
the work of the commission in the Guile
ora cut makes the construction of the sea
level canal at a reasonable cost far more
avaliable than had heretofore appeared
possible These recent developments in
the conditions attending the construction
al ois me canai are so Important as to be
almost controlling in character The re-
naming element is that of the time re-
quired 10 make the great summit ex-
Cavatlon- 1t Is to be carefully observed
that the work so far done in the Guile
bra cut has been done under disadvan-
tageous conditions OF both organization
and plant. The railway tracks serving the
excaNators are yet fragmentary and ten
tatively placed TO serve the purposes OF
investigation In both cases the disposi-
ton OF the plant Is far more unfavOrable,
ooth as 10 economy and celebrity OF opera
tions. than Will be the case when a COM
plete track system has been arranged
and laid down 10 serve large number
enced force.
I'm the face of these Instantaneous
conditions. the cost OF excavation has
been reduced far lower than was anticI-
pated and IL has been demonstrated that
each steam shovel may be counted upon
10 Yield an average yield of at least 1.130
engineer estimates that with 100 steam
shovels installed with a proper system
OF tracks serving them. a yearly record
OF 3OOOO.OO0 cubic yards of excavation
hn "a Wi Nfrfr, .
output per shovel. or greater speed in
working. than has been already attained.
This rate of working could probably be
reached within two years from the pres
ent time.
With the rate of progress which now ap-
pears reasonable TO anticipate this COM
with tidal lock. 1900 feet long and 100
feet usable width at MirafioreS, the canal
can be completed within ten to twelve
years from this time. the bottom width
mum depth of water 35 feet.
Commission Unanimous
These considerations have induced this
commission TO express to the commission
Its unanimous judgment that with con-
Sistent system of working and with the
rate OF operations as appears to be justi-
fed by the work done at Culebra, a sea
level canal can be adopted. This COM
mission believes that such a canal can be
constructed for sum not exceeding $2O3,
The advantages of a sea level canal
across the isthmus are most obvious. 1t
would be waterway with no restric-
tion TO navigation and which could easily
be enlarged by widening or deepening at
any time In the future. to accommodate
an increased traffic. without any incon-
venience to the shipping using ii.
Whereas lock canal is in reality a
permanent restriction to the volume of
traffic and size of ships that use 1t.
Although it is possible to repair and
construct locks adapted to the future
construction or q sea level canal that
transformation cannot be made without
serious inconvenience to navigation and
at cost as to be excessive. The addi-
tional cost of a sea level canal over that
OF a canal with locks with a summit level
OF 90 feet above mean tide is So. 262,
O00 or $79. T42. 900 more than the estimated
cost Of the lock canal with a summit level
50 feet above mean tide, prepared by the
former isthmian canal commission. This
commission considers this additional ex-
penditure fully justified by the advan-
tageS secured.