The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-13
FOR A SEA LEVEL CANAL
Advisory Engineers Say a Lock
Ditch Would Save Little.
Commission Ends It's Session III Wash
ington, d. C.-some ImpT-Hant
Changes Are Planned.

Washington, D. C.-That a canal can
be dug across the lsthmus of Panama
at sea.level at an expenditure Of time
and money comparatively slightly in
excess of that which would he re-
quired for the construction of a lock
canal is the contention Of a majority
of the Board of Advisory Engineers,
which recorded its opinion in favor Of
a 4sea.level ditch. q
1t is asserted by these great en-
gineers that a sea-level canal can be
t,dug inaffteen years. and at, a, cost of
$3.50, 600, 900. While the generally ac-
copied estimates for a lock canal have
given ten years and 5000, 000,0 900 for its
construction, they declare that con-
s%iderations not taken into account in
making these estimates would bring
them much nearer to the figures they
give for their plan.
1t was pointed out in the meetings
of the board, in answer to the criti-
cismS as to cost, that an important
item that must be taken into account
in the matter of the construction of a
lock canal is the i%nundation of private
grounds and lands belonging to the
Republic of Panama, that would be
necessary under the lock system. The
assertion was made that the United
States would be called upon to pay be-
tween 100000, 900 and $40,000,000 on
this item, and that to do away with
it by a sea-level canal would absorb
practically all the difference in cost
between the two plans. D. =
In the matter of the construction of
the locks it was asserted .byjmajoriN;
= members of the board that more time
than that estimated would probably be
required. The locks would have to be
so large, they declare. that even the
drawing of plans for them would take
considerably more than a year.
q, The sea-level canal as approved by
the majority Of the board. would have
a width at the bottom of $50 feet, ex-
cept in the Culebra Cut, where that
width will be 200 feet. The greater
width in the cut is necessary to per-
NIT two ships to pass safely between
the high banks.
The plan, as adopted by the board,
would make Limon Bay n Of the
greatest harbors in the world. Almost
/. through the middle of the bay a.break-
water will be- built with a shorter
breakwater from San Cristobal, which
is American territory. Colon, which
'fbelotgs to the Republic of Panama:
will be left outside of the canal works.
San Cristobal is expected to become
the chief city on the Atlantic side Of
the canal, and the promontory on
which arises the statue of Columbus
would be covered with official build
ings, docks, coaling stations, and all
the works necessary for an important
harbor. '.
The canal constructed by the French
began at San Cristobal. 1t is now pro-
posed by the board to build a short
direct canal from Mindi to Limon Bay.
thereby making the distance shorter
by a few hundred yards, and also max
hight possible for ships to sail into the
ditch without having to make any
difficult. turns.
The breakwaters for this. harbor will
be an item of great expense.
On the Pacific side of the Panama
. the plans as adopted are also different
from those Of the French Canal Com
pany. The French canal ends at La
Boca, and it was found as one Of the
/; difficulties that the Rio s.Grande. with
It's many branches crosses the canal.
and in the rainy season mandates and
does great damage to the works
already constructed.
Therefore it was decided that the
canal should be built nearer to the
City of Panama, and should run be-
tween two hills, one called Sosa and
the other the well-known Ancon. At
this place the one lock necessitated
through the differences in the tides of
the Atlantic and the Pacific will be
built.