The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-31

will be used, though of a type unfamiliar on this continent. An endless chain car rying a row of buckets, that scoop up the loose earth as they are dragged up bank Is the principle upon which most of these foreign machines work. Some of them are enormous in size that they cost a half to three-quarters of million dollars They will do a great deal of work, but are not regarded with much favor by Americans, who prefer smaller machines, that can be handled more quick ly. The Suez type of dredges use swing ing booms and dippers mounted on barge or float. One of these (shoWn In illustration) is known as a double cen trifugal machine and cost 3,500,00O francs. Such of the foreign dredges as are in Tar order are being repaired, and will be used for dredging the harbors, the approaches, and the swampy regions, being supple mented with American machines. Up to June 15 of the present year g steam shovels all of the Bucyrus type, had been ordered. also three large wrecking cranes, all of United States manufacture.
 The commission will provide and own most of the machinery required for the canal work, partly because 1t was nec- essary to buy the French machines on tho spot, and partly because Ameri- can contractors would be loath to make heavy machinery investments for such distant employment Nearly all the ac- tual work of digging and dredging will be done by contract. after the commls- son's engineers have laid out the vari- ous sections and determined the nature Of the soil. as to relative proportion Of earth, rock, etc. For the deep heavy work such as In the Culebra cut, 1O-ton steam shoves. similar to those used in the Lake Superior open-cut iron mines, will be the main dependence. Several of these machines now at work average over 1000 cubic yards of broken rock daily. There have also been made 90 tons weight and one of these has record of over 800 cubic yards removed in one hour the enormous dipper picking up five yards at each lift. In order to form a better idea of what rapid work this Is, let us compare 1t with manual labor One good man with good shovel can dig about yard of rock out of a bank and throw 1t in a car in one hour; there fore this great shovel, with a crew of only three men. did the work of 800 men, and it will average to do the work of oOO laborers the year round.
 System of cableways.
 Where the digging is shallow the old system of cableways, as used on the Chi cago drainage canal, will be employed to some extent.
 The earth-spreader is another typical American machine of which a number are being ordered for the Isthmus. The largest size, weighing 100000 pounds "1ll do the work of 1000 men, and consists of heavy flat car. bearing a powerful engine and operative mechanism, and carving a great wing or spreader on each side It runs along a track, and the spreaders level the piles of earth that have been dumped on the sides.
 It is not the intention of the writer to enter into a discussion of the merits of any controversy which has arisen out of the Panama canal operations but right here might be a good place to call at tention to the manner in which more re- cent developments have vindicated the action of Chief Engineer John r. wal lace, criticised though 1t was. The prac- tieal adoption of his scheme of building the canal by private contractors by the Washington officials is ample testimony to it's excellence, and the conditions at the isthmus as they appear to me, coupled with a personal knowledge of the oppo- sition and tangle at the capital, Justify his action. in the mind Of the wrlter and it is apparent to one who has Vls- ited the Isthmus and listened to the sentiment of the men who worked there under his regime. that had he not been interfered with by political and selfish interests he would still be in charge of the work
 The absolute impossibility Of building the canal in manner to conform to the verdant ideas of the American pub lie and the chaotic conditions created by official red tape were enough to disgust, although not discourage, such man as this. whose hard-headed judgment in such matters won for him the appointment In the first place He wanted a free hand to manage things as they should be man. aged. and being practically denied this, he resigned.
 Is Yet Undecided.
 Whether the canal shall be built by the government itself or shall be sub-let to contractors is a question as yet unde- cided. At present it appears probable that the latter method will be selected, though no one can tell how far official cupidity will go The immense success of this plan in the construction of the Chicago drain age canal recommends 1t strongly to the consideration of Panama authorities. as 1t is the cheapest and most expeditions method possible under average conditions. The scheme Is to divide the route up into sections, each about one mile lon>. ~nd let each section to a private contractor who shall furnish and care for his own men. If this arrangement is adopted, which at present seems extremely prob able, the work of making the great cut