Bridgeton pioneer., 1905-11-09
NAVIGATING The CANAL
Engineer Tells How Ships Will
Go Through Panama Ditch.
YEARS BEFORE TRIP CAN BE MADE

Will Require From Six to Ten
Years, According to Type of Canal
BuiIt-Why Large Steamers Cannot
Pass Each Other In Regular Cham
nel-Sidings For Ships.
How the proposed isthmian water
way can be navigated is thus de-
scribed by William Barclay Parsons,
the well known engineer, in his article
on '"The Panama Canal" in the No
vember Century:
To make it possible to pass ship
from ocean to ocean, even by high
level design, will require from six to
eight years, and by one at sea level
ten years, though possibly twelve.
Which of the two types, all things con-
sidered, is the better is question re-
quiring great thought for the proper
answer. On the one hand, there are
required a greatly increased invest
ment of capital and some delay in time,
although the latter in the life Of such
an enterprise is probably of small
amount. The deciding factor will
probably be the practical usefulness Of
the type when completed.
No matter what the design, the canal
cannot be navigated it's entire length
by large steamers with the freedom
that they pass up and down a broad
river. 1t is contemplated that the
width Of the canal at the bottom shall
be about $50 feet, giving width on
the surface Of from 200 to $50 feet,
according to the flatness Of the side
slopes, dependent on the varying local
character Of the rock or earth through
which the canal will be dug. AS large
modern steamers have beam of
seventy-fve feet, it is obvious that two
such vessels cannot pass each other in
the regular channel
On arriving at either terminus the
ship will report to the harbor master
for permit to pass, and, if she be a
sailing vessel, for tug to take her
through. After an inspection, the TAX
ing on of coal, supplies and pilot, and
being measured for and paying toll
charges, the vessel will then receive
an order emitting her to proceed. This
order will be like train order on a
single track railway, giving authority
to go to certain point, and there
either to meet and pass ship coming
from the other end or to draw to
one side and permit the other ship to
pass or to get other orders to proceed
farther.
The passing of ships will be arrang-
ed by constructing "sidings'-that is,
widenings Of the channel into which
vessel can draw and moor to clusters
Of piles. When the passing is made the
vessel then advances to the next sid
ing where vessel is expected, all of
which will be controlled by telegraphic
orders from central dispatcher's Of
fee, where there will be chart show
ing the exact position of any ship at
any time, corrected instantly by ad-
vices received from the local stations.
Along the banks there will be sema-
phore signals by day and lights by
night, Indicating the position of OBJ
structions or vessels ahead, so as to
prevent collisions.
On arriving at lock the steamer
will find structure similar in princi-
pie to the small canal locks with which
the reader is familiar, but vastly lar
ger. These locks will have length of
about 1000 feet and width in the
clear of 100 feet, in order to accommo-
date not only the steamers 800 feet
long now building, but to allow for
such increase in size as may be realiz-
ed. The gates closing the locks at the
downstream end will have a height
equal to the depth of the canal, the
height to lift, and, say, 10 feet Of sur
plus, or a total Of rs to perhaps 100
feet, according to conditions-dimen-
sions far in excess Of those Of any
other lock gates in the world. AS soon
as the lock is entered and the ship
made fast so that it cannot be moved
about by the in or out rushing water
and yet may rise or fall with the
change Of level, the great gates be-
hind her will be closed and water ad-
mitted into the lock from the higher
level or drawn off into the lower as
the vessel is ascending or descending.
When the new level is reached the
other gates are opened, and once more
the vessel continues her journey be-
tween banks crowded to the waters
edge with the wild tangle of tropical
jungle or the long leafed banana trees
set out in regular rows in plantations.
On arriving at the far terminus the
pilot is dropped and the vessel disap-
pears at sea.
His Friendship.
At the annual business meeting Of a