The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-27
Engineer Submits Definite Plans and Recommends a Sea
 Level Waterway
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST
 WILL BE $23O,5OO,OOO
Chagres River Can be Controlled by Dam at Gamboa Built to Crest Height of 200
 Feet.

Washington, February 26.-The first definite engineering plans for the con struction of the Panama canal have just been laid before the Isthmlan canal com mission 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 ap- prove and recommend for adoption by the commission a plan for a sea-level canal, with bottom width of 15O feet, and a minimum depth of water of B feet. and with twin tidal locks at Moraf- torres. whose usable dimensions shall be 1000 feet long, and 100 feet wide, at a total estimated cost of S23O. 5O0.OOO Such estimate includes an allowance for ad- ministration. engineering, sanitation and contingencies amounting to $3S, 450, ,00O, but without allowance for interest during construction, expense of zone govern ment, and collateral costs, and water supply. sewers or paving of Panama or Colon, which last items are to be re- paid by the inhabitants of those cities"
 WClNC Gdfos
 The committee estimates that sea- level canal can be completed within ten to twelve years from the present time.
 These recommendations are the conclu- sion of a report to the commission pre- pared in the canal zone, under date of February IA, last, and based on complete engineering reports on all of the problems 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 $17S,0l3, ,406. A thirty-foot level is estimated to cost $194. .213,4 ,406.
 It is recommended that the Chagres river be controlled by dam at Gamboa, built to a crest height of POO feet. and the waters of the lake thus created dis posed of through tunnels. The work on the foundation of the dam will require from one to one and half years, and the committee reports should begin at once. The dam at this place, it is said, involves no formidable obstacles which is not the case of the Bohio location
 50 Gents Cubic Yard.
 Actual work with the new American steam shovels in the Culebra cut has demonstrated that the entire excavation can be done al a cost of fifty cents a cubic yard. The former isthmian canal commission estimated this cost at eighty cents This reduction amounts to a to- tai of $15.000,000 and Is given as q justi- fication of the recommenda ton of the sea-level canal Immediate work is rec commended at Colon in constructing a safe harbor. To this end an outer breakwater Is suggested as well as the construction of inner harbor at the entrance to the canal. It Is recommended that bids be invited for this work. Other minor features of canal construction recom- mended, include completing the Gatun- cillo division channel. begun by the old canal company to divert from the canal the waters of the Gatuncillo and Mlndi 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 of the canal and it's immediate execution Is rec commended.
 Other subsidiary features depend on the level determined on and are not discussed
 The committee makes these observa- tions in suming up:
 Sea Level is Practical.
 The practicability of certainly and satis- factorily controlling the floods of the Chagres by so simple and economical a
 
 flow channels, and the reducing cost of excavation as actually demonstrated by the work of the commission In the Cule- bra cut, makes the construction of the canal at a reasonable cost far more available than has heretofore ap- peared possible. These recent develop ments in the conditions attending the of the canal are so impor- tant as to be almost controlling in char acter.
 The remaining element is that of time required to make the great summit ex- cavation. It is to be carefully observed that the results thus far obtained in the Culebra cut had been reached under an condition of both organf- zation of plant and force. The railroad tracks serving the excayators are yet fragmentary, and tentatively placed to serve the purpose of investigation In both respects the disposition of plant is far more unfavorable. both as to economy and celerity of operations than will be the case when a complete track system has been arranged, and laid down to serve a large number of steam shovels operat- ed by an experienced force. In the face of these disadvantageous conditions, the cost of excavation has been reduced far lower than was anticipated. and it has been demonstrated that each steam shovel
  record of at least 1000 cubic yards per day. The chief engineer esti- mates that with 100 steam shovels install ed with complete system of tracks serv- Ing them, yearly record of 30000,00O cubic yards of excavation may be reached without requiring greater output per shovel of greater speed in working than has already been attained. This rate of working could probably be reached with In two years from the present time.
 Depth of Water 35 Feet.
 With the rate of progress which now appears reasonable to anticipate this. the committee believes d sea-level canal. with a tidal lock 1000 feet long and 100 feet usable width at Miraflores can be completed within ten or twelve years from this time, the bottom width of the canal being 150 feet, and the minimum depth of water 35 feet.
 The committee wishes to express to