The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-20
which obtain there. The other method


is to examine the results obtained in
the great operations of the old French
company in this same work. 1t is not
unusual to hear that company spoken
Of lightly, but it is to be remembered
that it had at its head men who had
recently built the Suez canal, that it
had the advice of the best engineering
talent in Europe, and that its pecuni-
airy resources for some years were
practically unlimited. After devoting
the years 1881 and 1882 to preliminary
work, it began operations on a large
scale in the early part of 1883, and
continued them until the latter part
of 1888, about six years or seventy
two months. 1t eXcavated altogether
about 100000 cubic yards of mate
rial, or about 100000 per month if
we attribute the work of 1881 and 1882
to the latek period, of which about one
third was the easv excavation with
dredges in the coastal plains. In do
ing this it had every sinducement that
men could have to make haste Its
concession from Columbia for linn
tied period, its enormous interest
charges, and the ,sanguine assurances
of it's promoters and managers, all
Urged the greatest possible speed.
The wreckage along the line of the,
canal to-day is demonstration of the
feverish energy with which every spe-
cies of machinery was lavished upon
the work. To get the work done was
the primary consideration, it's cost
secondary. The circumstances are
now different in several important re-
spects. There have been great i'm
provements in excavating machinery,
and means have been found to remove
the terror of yellow fever, both of
which conditions favor an increase of
output. On the other hand, there
must be much more careful adjust.
ment of the means to the end. Ex-
travagant duplication of machinery, or
other reckless expenditure, can not be
tolerated. 1t is hoped and believed
that considerable increase over the
French rate of progress can be at
tanned. What the percentage will be
is a matter of judgment, and is not
capable of exact computation. but it
would seem that the chances of error
here are less than where all of the
factors are unknown. Here at least
the difference between spasmodic and
long-continued effort, and the reduc-
ton of efficiency due to climate and
distance from supplies are eliminated.
In the opinion of the commission it
would not be unreasonable to hope
for an increase of rs per cent, which
would give an average output of 1885,
900 cubit yards per month. To ex-
cavate the 231,OOO,O0O cubic yards of
the sea-level canal at this rate would
require one hundred and eighty-five
months or fifteen and one-half years.
There would be at least two and one
half years at the beginning before this
rate could be reached, and at least
an equal amount of time at the end,
during which the contracted space at
the bottom of the cut would compel a
reduction of force. 1t is to be feared
that the time required to construct a
sea-level canal would be eighteen or
twenty years, rather than the twelve
or thirteen years estimated by the ma
jority, even supposing that the total
amount of excavation will not exceed
the 100000 cubic yards estimated.
To reach that amount the majority of
the board has adopted sleeper slopes
in the Culebra cut than any previous
board or commission has adjudged APP
plicable. 1t may we'll happen that
these slopes must be reduced, and the
amount of excavation thus increased.
The majority of the board has made no
provision for the necessary turning
out places and widening at curves. It
is not safe to estimate the time re-
CURED for the construction of sea-
level canal at less than twenty years.
Plaa WITH Locks.
The plan recommended by the mi
nority Of the board Ii canal with
locks, following in general the same
location as the other, but with slight
variations therefrom In Limon and
Panama bays. It's controlling feature
is a dam to close the valley Of the
Chages at ,Gatun, thus creating an arti-.
fetal lake Of which the surface 40 to
1 be IS feet above the sea and which ii
to constitute the summit level. The
length Of this dam Will be 7,70O feet,
and the height Of Its crest 135 fest, or
50 feet above the watsr surface. II