The Newtown bee., 1905-12-15
NAVIGATING THE CANAL.

TRIP THROUGH THE PROPOSED
WATERWAY WILL BE SLOW AT BEST
1.-THE PANAMA CANAL" IN THE NO
VENEER CENTURY.
To make it possible to pass a 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 considered,
is the better is question requiring
great thought for the proper answer.
On the other hand, there are required
a greatly increased Investment OF cap
ital and some delay in time, although
the latter in the life Of such an enter
prise 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 navi-
gated its entire length by large steam
ers with the freedom that they pass
up midtown broad river. It is con-
templated 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 fiat.
ness 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 Is 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 a tug to take her
through. After an inspection, the
taking on of coal, supplies and pilot,
and hoinn moo ca3rc1 for q nd no vi 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 either to
meet and pass a 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 further.
The passing of ships will be arranged
by constructing ''sidings," that is,
widenings Of the channel into which
a vessel can draw and moor to clusters
OF piles. When the passing is made
siding where a vessel is expected, all
of which will be controlled by teleg-
raphic orders from central dispatch
er's office, where there will be a chart
showing the exact position of any ship
at any time, corrected instantly by adj
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-
which the reader is familiar, but vast
IN 1orror Thoco 1ppHc xui11
length of about 1000 feet and a width
commodate not only the steamers 800
feet long now building, but to allow
for such increase in size as. may be re-
allied. The gates closing the locks at
the downstream end will have
height equal to the depth of the'canal
the height to lift, and, say, 10 feet of
surplus, or total of Is to perhaps 100
feet, according to conditions-dimen-
SiOnS far In excess of those of any 9TH
er 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 outrushing water, and yet
may rise or fall with the change of
level, the great gates behind her will
be closed and water admitted into the
lock from the higher level or drawn off
into the lower as the vessel is ascend
ing or descending. When the new
level is reached the other gates are
opened, and once more the vessel con-
tinues her journey between 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 arriv-
ing at the far terminus the pilot is
dropped and the vessel disappears at