Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-17
LOCK TYPE MORE EXPOSED.
Other Kind Simpler and More
Economical to Operate
And Maintain.
Would Not Take Much Longer 10 Build
But Cost Would be Consid-
crabiy More,

Washington,M May 17.-That the earth
quake which destroyed San Francisco
was an important factor in determining
the vote of the senate committee on
interoceanc canals in favor of a sea
level type is apparent from the fact
that a feature Of the majority report
is n discussion OF the effect such an
earth wave might have on locks and
dams. The majority report in favor
of sea level canal was submitted
today by Senator Kittredge. On the
subject of danger from earthquakes on
the isthmus and the possible effect on
the two types of canal proposed the
report says.
FEAR EARTHQUAKE.
The recent calamity that over
whelmed one Of our great cities has
caused many forebodings. The as
ser;ion that any particular spot In the
tropics Is exempt from all danger from
such commissions of nature as re-
Gently visited California or wrought
great havoc near Charleston, 5. G.,
I'm 1856 or changed the face OF nature
in southeast I'm Missouri, near the
beginning of this century, would not be
hazarded by any wise man. That the
Isthmus of Panama Is not exempt,
ocnclusively appears and we can have
no guaranty that the canal zone will
I'm the future be exempt from such
disaster
LOCKS MOST EXPOSED.
1.-THE canal structures that would be
most exposed to injury by the passage
of an earth wave or violent movement
of the earth's surface are the locks pro-
messed by the minority whose walls,
many hundreds Of feet, or even two
or three thousand feet long at Gatun
would. at least some of them, be more
than rs feet high and entirely unsup-
ported ON one side save for part OF
the height by water. II these walls
should be moved at all the natural and
probable result would be.in their Leak
ing and 80 prevent the closing OF the
gates on hand would be useless. for no
one could guess the extent OF the move
ment. But the most likely effect OF
such shock would be the fracture of
these locks in repairing of which much
time-months or years--might be re-
quired, and thus cause interruption or
traffic or the abandonment OF the
canal.
DAM AT GAMBOA.
"The minority suggests that the dam
nj Gambia. included In the plan Of the
hoard. would be as likely TO sustain
injury from such CONFUSION as the
structure above mentioned. This Is
not the fact. The Gamboa dam Is built
in "A solid rock foundation, reinforced
with strong walls and buttressed at
either end with walls Of rock. II Is "A
structure the least likely TO be affected
Of any superlmposed disturbance on
the earth's surface, and no record In
found In any similar structure being
injured under similar cir
The side slopes OF the
Culebra cut would be no more likely
10 be disturbed than are the nearly
vertical slopes near the divide, that
have never been affected.
IAN earth dam on an illuvial base
as proposed by the minority might be
assured II the earthquake passed the
locality. and II a crack In the dam or
It's base should open, the dam would |
go out, the lock drain, and the canal
be ruined.
DAMAGE AT SAN FRANCISCO.
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 |
pines 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, cannot be we'll |
conlec turet."
After reviewing the legislation and |
the messages OF the preside Mt on the |
subject OF the canal the report says |
that IL Is due to the executive branch |
~ the government that the uncertain |
lies confronting the president as to
his powers In the premises be settled |
and disposed OF afi]rmatively, once and
for all by tho only national authority