The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-17
SEA LEVEL CANAL
San Francisco Earthquake De-
termined the Type.
Similar Disturbance Would
Destroy Lock Waterway.
COST WILL BE GREATER
But the Maintenance Won't Be
as Much.
Decided Advantage in Case of
War.
COST WILL BE GREATER


abstract Of the majority report of the
senate committee on fnteroceanic can
ais:
That the earthquake which destroyed
San Francisco was an important factor
in determining the vote of the senate
committee on interoceanic canals in
favor Of a sea-level type is apparent
from the fact that feature of the
majority report is a discussion of the
effect such an earth wave might have
on locks and dams. The majority re-
port in favor OF a sea level canal was
submitted today by Senator Kittredge.
On the subject of danger from earth
quakes on the isthmus and the possi-
bic effect on the two types of canal
proposed the report says:
The recent calamity that overwheln-
ed one of our great cities has caused
many forebodings. The assertion that
any particular spot in the tropics is
exempt from all danger from such con-
vulsions of nature as recently visited
California or wrought great havoc near
Charleston, s. C., in 1886, or changed
the face of nature in southeastern Mis-
souri,, near the beginning of this cen
tury, would not be hazarded by any
wise man. That the isthmus of Pana-
ma IS not exempt, cOnclusively appears
ana we can have no guaranty that the
canal zone will In the future be ex-
enpt from such disaster.
The canal structures that would be
most exposed to injury by the passing
OF an earth wave or violent movement
OF the earth's surface are the locks pro-
posed by the minority whose walls,
many hundreds Of feet, or even two or
three thousand feet long at Catun
would. at least some of them be more
than 20 feet high and entirely unsup-
ported on one side save for part of
& H.
should be moved at all the natural and
probable result would be in their leak
ing and so prevent the closing of the
gaJes-an injury for which a sugges-
tion Of extra gates on hand would be
useless, for no one could guess the ex-
tent Of the movement. But the most
likely effect Of such shock would he
the fracture Of these locks In reDajriYe
might be required, and thus cause in
terTuption of traffic or the abandon
ment of the canal
The minority suggests that the dam
at Gamboa. included in the plan of the
board, would be as likely to sustain
injury from such convulsiOn as the
structure above mentioned. This is not
the fact The GambOa dam is built on
a solid rock foundation, reinforced with
strong walls and buttressed at either
/ end with walls Of rock. It is a struc-
/ ture the least likely to be affected of
4 ana supertmpOsed on the earths sur
l face, and no record is found in any
/ similar structure being permanently
/ injured under similar circumstances.
The side slopes Of the Culebra cut
would be no more likely to be disturb
ed than are the nearly vertical slopes
near the divide, that have never been
affected.
Might Ruin the Canal.
An earth dam on an alluvial base
as proposed by the minority might be
fissured if the earthquake passed the
/ locality. and If 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
pipes were broken, the disaster was
greatly augmented by this cause, for
the water could not be held in the
pipes and directed on the flames. What
would happen to the aqueduct. con-
duits pipes and valves, buried in the
concrete walls, used for filling and
| emptying the locks, can not be well
After reviewing the legislation and
the messages of the president on the
subject Of the canal, the report says
that it is due to the executive branch
Of the government that the uncertain
ties confronting the president as to his
powers in the premises be settled and
| disposed OF af1rmatively. once and for
all by the only national authority COM
i petent to pass up on the question
the national legislature.
The division among experts as to the
best type of canal is treated by the re-
port which says that the conclusion
has been reached that the following
propositions are irrefutable:
That the ideal canal is one at sea
level; that its construction would be
attended with no more and probably
with less hazard than one with locks
and dams on doubtful foundations;
that the sea level canal Is safer and
more convenient than one with locks;
that 1t would take but little longer
time to build; that it is the simplest
and the more economical in operation
and maintenance
Only TSvoN or Three Years More.
The estimates of the minority and
the majority Of the board Of consult
ing engineers on the time that would
be required to excavate the different
types of canal are reviewed and tn e
majority report concludes that the sea
level canal would not require more
than two or three years more than the
lock type.
Risks encountered in the operation
of the sea level canal are made light
of by the report. which says the Cam
boa dam would be ready to control the
Chagres floods before the Culebra ex-
cavation is half finished and the bal
ance of the excavation in the prism
and below sea level could go on with
out Interruption When the Chagres
is subdued and controlled and the sea
level canal made its use will be at
tended with no more risk than equal
sailing distance in the oceans.
A chapter Of the report is devoted
to the locks and dams proposed by the
minority report of the consulting en-
gineers. and these are asserted to be
an element Of danger. The various ac-
cidents to which such mechanism
might be subject are recounted and the
report asserts that these hazards can
be avoided by the small sacrifice OF
time necessary to the construction OF
/ the sea level canal.
.114