Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-05-24

Washington, May21.-That the earth
quake which destroyed San Francisco
was an important afctor in determin-
ing the vote Of the senate committee
on interoceanic annals in favor Of a sea-
level type is apparent from the fact
that a feature of the majority report is
q discussion Of the effect such an earth
wave might have on locks and dams.
The majority report in favor of a
sea-level canal was submitted Thurs
day by Senator Kittredge. On the sub
ject of danger from earthquakes on the
isthmus and the possible effect on the
two types Of canal proposed, the re-
port says:
THE recent calamity that overwhelmed
one of our great cities has caused many
forebodings. The assertion that any par
ticular spot in the tropic is exempt from
ture as Recently visited California or
wrought great havoc near Charleston.
.. G., IN 1856, or changed the face or
nature in southeastern Missouri, near the
beginning OF the century, would not be
naZarueu by any wise man. That the
lSthmus OF Panama IS not exempt con-
clusively appears, and W can nave no
guaranty hat the canal zone Will in the
future be exempt from such disaster.
Effect of Earthquake.
THE canal structures that would be
most exposed to injury by the passing Of
Al earth wave or violent movement of
the earthS surface are the locks pro-
posed by the minority, whose walls, many
h1lndrGHC nF Tnht ~ avian fWn ~ fhrnp
thousand feet long at Gatun would, at
least some of them, be more than rs feet
high and entirely unsupported on one
water. II these walls should be moved
at all, the natural and probable result
would be in their leaking and SO pre-
vent the closing of the gates-an injury
for which a suggestion OF extra gates on
hand would be useless, for no one could
guess the extent of the movement. But
the most likely effect of such shock
repairing of which much time-months
or years-might be required, and thus
cause interruption of traffic or the aban-
donntent of the canal.
The minority suggests that the dam
at Gamboa, included in the plan of the
board. would be as likely to sustain in
jury from such CONFUSION as the struc-
ture above mentioned. This is not the
solid rock foundation, reinforced with
strong walls of rock. 1t is a structure
the least likely to be affected of any
superimposed on the earth's surface, and
no record is found in any similar struc-
ture being permanently injured under
similar circumstances. The side slopes
of the Culebra cut would be no more
likely to be disturbed than are the nearly
vertical slopes near the divide, that have
never been affected.
A earth dam on alluvial base, as
proposed by the minority, might be fis-
sured if the earthquake passed the local
ity, and II a crack in the dam or its
base should open, the dam would go out,
the lock drain, and the canal be ruined.
AT San francisco where the water ate
greatly augmented by this cause, for the
water could not be held in the pipes
and be directed on the flames. What
pipes and valves buried in the concrete
walls used for filing and empting the
locks. IAN not be we'll coniectured."
Must Decide Type.
After reviewing the legislation and
the messages of the president or the
subject of the canal, the report says
1t is due to the executive branch of
the government that the uncertain
ties ~fncoronting the president as to
his powers in the premises be settled
and disposed of ~afirmatively, once and
for all, by the only national authority
competent to pass upon the question
the national legislature.
The division among experts as to
the best type of canal is treated by
the report, which says that the con-
c%lusion has been reached that the fol-
lowing propositions are irrefutable:
That the ideal canal is one at sea
level; that its construction would be
attended with more, and probably
with less, habard than one with locks
and dams on doubtful foundations;
that the sea-level canal is safer and
more convenient than one with locks;
that it would take but little longer
time to ubild; that it is the simpler