The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-01-03

'THE writer in choosing Panama
for subject, did so for two
reasons. First, to those who
contemplate going to that
country upon their release from prison,
that they may know the existing con-
ditions. Second, to those who care to
hear something of this great work from
one who has been on the isthmus sew
eral times. / am familiar with thet
country, work and conditions that our
government will have to overcome be-
fore we can hope to open the big ditch
to the ships of the world. The sani-
tary conditions are as bad as one can
imagine, resulting from the terrific
heat. Millions of flies, clouds of mos
quitOes, and swamps that are filled
with stagnate water, causing almost
every kind of fever known to the med
ical profession, to say nothing of stom-
ach troubles, bites from insects, and
the lawless element that will invade
the canal zone as soon as active opera
tions have started. The government
is doing everything possible to rid the
isthmus of these conditions, but it will
take time before it can hope to make
a healthy place out of one that has
proved itself to be deathtrap to those
that have gone there.
The construction of the canal has
caused more prominent engineers, brill
liant statesmen and eminent newspaper
writers to disagree over than any
other public work this or any other
government ever undertook. Half
agreeing that the work could be done
snccessiveiy in the estimated time, i. e.,
ten years; while the other half are so
positive that the work could not be
finished short of twenty-five to fifty
years, and some engineers have de-
clared the work could never be built,
that it is an engineering impossibility.
The government spent thousands of
dollars for engineers to figure out and
locate the best route; and after some.
thing over two hundred surveys were
made, they decided upon the original
French location, with few exceptions
believing that to be the only practica
BILE route on the isthmus for canal.
The labor question will not 60 into
for it is no place for an American, be
cause one who is able to pass the ex
animation for position on the works
can demand as much salary at home
as the government is paying for clerks
'bookkeepers, engineers and pay depart
ment men. Common labor the govern
ment does not need.
The amount of material to be exca
waited is estimated to be 100000
yards, classified as follows: Rock, fiji
teen per cent; riprsp, twenty-five pc
cent, and dirt, sixty per cent. Tn
"cuts" range from eight feet to thre
hundred and twelve, which is tn
heaviest and is of solid rock, havin
over 100000 yards to excavate an
haul off before they get down t
~grade" Engineers figure it will TAX
from ten to fifteen years actual worl
ing time to make this one cut. The
we must figure loss of time from otht
causes. Therefore the time consume
on this section will be nearly fiftee
years. The amount Of giant powder
will take to blast this cut will be $4,000
600 lbs, enough to supply the Unite
States for years time.
Another trouble is the style of cam
that can be built and maintained at
nominal cost. believe the sea lev
type will be the only practicable kin
The difference in the Pacific and A
lantic ocean is fifteen feet. The hi(
being the Pacific. To keep water in
sea level canal we will have to mai
stain one grade the entire length, thel
fore causing the grade to be 080
one per cent, which would cause t
water to flow. thru at speed of eig
miles per hour, which would increa
to twelve by two-inch rainfall Cal
ing vessel to steam at the rate
fifteen miles per hour to crawl thru
the actual moving time of five mi
per hour. One good feature is, tt
the water flowing thru at this. spe
will keep the ditch clear Of all tropi'
vegetation, which has tendency