The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-23
Work of Constructing the
American Waterway Is
of Much Greater
Magnitude.
PANAMA DITCH WILL BE MUCH
THE SHORTEST, BUT FAR
GREATER AMOUNT OF EARTH
AND ROCK MUST BE REMOVED
COST WILL ALSO BE MUCH
GREATER.
Special to The journal.

special to The journal.
Glasgow, Dec. 22.-ln an editorial
leader the Glasgow Herald thus con-
trasts the Panama and the Suez
canals:
That the irrepressible Ameri-
can delights in big things is ex-
emplified in the stress that is
being laid on the fact that the
contracts for the new Panama Canal
will be the largest ever made. On
that point there can be very little
doubt. The only engineering work in
the world which at all approaches the
projected Panama canal in, magnitude
is the Suez canal which was very
largely excavated by means of forced
labor. AS this expedient will not be
available in the execution of the
American enterprise, no trustworthy
comparison of the cost Of the two un-
dertakings can be instituted; but a
few figures may be cited to show
how much heavier will be the re-
sponsibilities Of the contractors for
the Panama canal than were those
overcome by the genius and perse-
verance of NJ. de Lesseps.
"The actual length of the Suez
Canal is SO miles against so in the
case of the Panama cut but actual
excavation or dredging was necessary
in 80 miles only of this distance. No
rock more formidable than soft
gypsum was encountered in any part
OF the excavations, whereas at Pafla-
ma there will be a great deal of cut
ting through rock Of varying degrees
of hardness. At Suez the canal as
originally constructed-it has since
been widened and deepened-was of
an average depth of 25 feet, bottom
width of 500 feet, except at one point
where through deep cutting somefour
miles in length was only from
200 to 300 feet wide. The actual
amount of material excavated at Suez
was 80 millions OF cubic yards; the
estimated amount at Panama will be
over 1917 millions.
These figures however, convey a
very imperfect figure of the differ.
ence between the two undertakings.
IN the Suez Canal there are no locks,
ard consequently except at the two
entrance harbors practically no ma
sorry. IN the Panama Canal in con-
sequence OF the decision taken by
congress against the opinion of the
majority in the consultative commits
sion of engineers there will be no
fewer than twelve locks (arranged il.
pairs for the purpose of promoting
rapidity of navigation) and these will
Of course necessitste great deal OF
question as to the supply OF water for
the canal for it flowed by natural
navigation from the Mediterranean on
the one side and the Red Sea on the
other But the lock system on the
Panama canal completes the construc-
ton Of an immense reservoir with an
area of 10 square miles. and an en-
bankment having a length of 400
feet, a height of 1875 feet, a bottom
width of 2,625 feet and top width of
100 feet Near the Panama Bay
mouth of the canal there is to be
constructed a smaller reservoir with
al area of about eight square miles.
1T is thus quite evident that the
work undertaken by whoever may be
successful for the Panama canal
will be Of vastly greater magni-
tude. and still greater difficulty and
costliness than that which had to be
accomplished in the Peninsula of
SueZ. The climatic conditions in
Egypt were on the whole extremely
favorable. There was of course gre Il
heat but there was no rain In the
Isthmus OF Panama the rainy season
extends over more than third of the
year: the downfall Is of vertically -or-
rental character, and there will be con-
slant danger of damage to the works
from floods, not to speak of the ex-
tremely insanitary conditions which
always exist in such climate. and
which no efforts of science can do
more than alleviate. In view of all of
these circumstances the business of
rendering for the construction of the
new canal will be one of extreme
risk. and II is not likely TO tempt
ANYBODY except men who combine
with immense energy and organizing
faculty distinctly speculative dispo-
sition. The capital requirements Of
the enterprise will be OF themselves
almost appalling. The actual cost OF
the Suez canal Including the entrance
harhnrs was in round figures, $780,
100000: We do not believe the Pana-
ma undertaking can DO ACCOMPLISHED
for double that sum. The problem o.
labor suDnlv alone is surrounded hv|
tho most formidable practical difficult
ties which can only be solved at
great expense and by the employ
nent OF exceptional administrative
and organizing ability. British en-
Pineers and contractors have achieved
many wonderful performances in Ill
narts If the world Int on the whole
they will be we'll advised to leave tia
Panama canal contracts to their
Transatlantic cousins, for there
seems 10 every likelihood that the
work will be- attended with more
glory than profit /"