The San Francisco call., 1905-02-27
Engineering Board Draws
Up Plans for Construction
of Isthmian Waterway on
the Most Elaborate Scale
AMERICAN METHODS
WILL REDUCE COST
Figures Show Work Can Be
Completed in Ten or Dozen
Years for Two Hundred
and Thirty Million Dollars

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-The first
definite engineering plans for the con-
struction of the Panama canal have
just been laid before the Isthmian
Canal Commission by the engineering
committee of that body, Consisting Of
Commissioners Burr, Parsons and
Davis. The principal recommendations
are summed up in this resolution:
Resolved That this committee approve and
recommend for adoption by the commission
plan for sea level canal, with a bottom width
of 13o feet and minimum depth OF water
at Miraiores whose usable dimensions shall
be 1000 feet long and 100 feet wide, at
| Inmates include allowance for administra-
ton, engineering, sanitation and contingencies.
amounting TO xSs 400 600 but without allow.
OF zone government and collateral costs and
water supply, sewers or paving Of Panama or
the Inhabitants Of those cities.
The committee estimates that a sea-
level canal can be completed within ten
or twelve years from the present time
These recommendations are the con-
clusion Of report Of the committee
prepared In the canal zone under date
of February IA, and based on complete
engineering reports on all Of the prob
lens involved.
The committee decided that under no
circumstances should the surface Of the
canal be more than sixty feet above
the sea, and estimates that at this level
the cost would be SITS, ,o13, ,4Os. A thirty
foot level Is estimated to cost 1884,
213, ,406.
WORK AT LESS EXPENSE.
1t is recommended that the Chagres
River be controlled by a dam at Gam
boa, built to a crest height Of 200 feet
and the waters of the lake thus Gre
OF cd Of r-1-.
work on the dam will require from one
to two and a half years and the COM
mittee reports 1t should begin at once.
The dam at this place, 1t is said, in
wolves no formidable obstacle, which Is
not the case at the Bohfo location.
Actual work with the new American
steam shovels In the CuIebra cut has
demonstrated that the entire excava-
tion can be done at a cost of fifty cents
cubic yard. The former Isthmian
committee estimated this cost at eighty
cents. This reduction amounts to a
total Of S15,000,00o and is given as
justification of the recommendation Of
the sea-level canal.
Immediate work is recommended at
Colon in constructing a safe harbor
To this end an outer breakwater is sug-
gested as we'll as the construction of an
inner harbor at the entrance to the
canal. 1t is recommended that bids
be invited for this work. Other minor
features of canal construction recon-
mended include completing the Galun-
clio diversion channel begun by the old
canal company to divert from the canal
the waters of the Galuncillo and Mindi
rivers and other smaller streams In
connection with this three small dams
must be built, two across the Chagres
near the Mindi and one across the Boca
Mindi. All of this work is independent
Of the decision as to the level for the
canal and its immediate execution is
recommended.
IT'S MANY ADVANTAGES.
The committee makes this observa-
ton in summing up:
The practicability OF certainly and satisfac-
torily controlling the floods Of the Chagres by
Gamboa Lake and it's outflow channels and
the reduced cost OF excavation as actually
make the work of the sea level canal at
reasonable cost far more available than has
heretofore appeared possible. These recent de-
velopments In the conditions attending the
construction of the canal are so important as
to be almost controlling In character.
The advantages OF aAsea level canal across
waterway with no restriction to navigation and
which could easily be enlarged by widen
to dccomr1odate an Increased trafffc without
any inconvenience to the shipping using It.
whereas. lock canal is In reality permanent
restriction to the volume OF traffic and size OF
ships that It.
The additional cost OF a sea leve, canal over
that OF canal with locks with summit
level of so feet above mean tide is S52, 462. .OCO
and S79. 742, 600 more than the estimated cost
of the lock canal with summit level IS feet
Isthmian Canal Commission. after allowing
Sc 500 eco for the Colon breakwater and di-
committee considers this sdditonai exn.ndi. MS
ture fully Justified by the advantages secured.