Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-04
Remarkable Progress of
Excavation at Panama.


Work on the Panama canal is proceed
ing in a highly satisfactory manner. In
March last. john f.. Stevens. chairman Of
the commission and chief engineer, re-
signed. and the commission was recognized
and constituted as follows. Lieut. Col.
George W. Goethals, corps Of engineers, L..
s. army, chairman and chief engineer
Mai. Il. ID. Gaillard, corps Of engineers
L. $. army, Mai. William l.. Sibert corps
Of engineers, I. $. army; Civil Engineer H.
II. Rousseau, L. 5. navy; Mr.. J. c. ),
Blackburn. Col. w. G. Gorgas, u. 5. army,
and Mr.. jackson Smith. commissioner
This change OF authority and direction
went into effect on April J. without causing
a perceptible check TO the progress OF the
work. In March the total excavation in the
Culebra Cut. where effort was chiefly con-
centrated. was SIS, 270 cubic yards. In
April this was increased to s7S.527 cubic
yards. There was a considerable decrease
in the output for May and June owing
partly TO the advent Of the rainy season
and partly to temporary trouble with the
steam shovel men over the question ~
wages. The trouble was settled salts
~factorily to all parties aud in July the to-
tai excavation advanced materially ana
IN August the grand total from all points
in tie canal prism BY steam shoyels ana
dredges exceeded all previous United states
records. reaching 1,274,io4 cubic yards.
In September this record was ecipsed
and a total Of l.5lNflz cubic yards was
removed. OF this amount ffSi 500 cubic
Yards were from the canal prism an
36.iO5 cubic yards were from accessory
WI AER 49,
rainy season with a rainfall in August %
li.S9 inches and in september OF iva
inches. Finally. in October the record
was again eclipsed, the total excavation
being 1,S6S. 729 cubic yards, a Truly extra
ordinary record. especially ia view 90 the
heavy rainfall. which was III inches IN
fact experience during the last two rainy
seasons demonstrates that the rains are a
lass serious obstacle to progress than nds
hitherto been supposed.
Work on the locks and dams az Gntun
which began actively IN March last has
advanced so far that Il is thought masonry
work on the locks can be begun within
fifteen months. In order TO remove an
doubt as to the satisfactory character 80
the foundations for the locks ~ the canhl
the secretary Of war requested three en-
nent civil engineers, OF special expert
ence in such construction, Alfred Noble
Frederic =. Stearns and John X Freeman
to visit the isthmus and make tblt''u GA
personal Investigations Of the sites
These gentlemen went to he isiumus il
April and by means Of test pits which had
been dug for the purpose. they inspected
the proposed foundations, ana also eN-
amined the borings that had been made
IN their report 70 the secretary Of war
under date Of May 2 1897. they said We
found that all Of the locks. u the dimen-
sions now proposed, viii rest upon rock
Of such character that II viii furnish a
safe and stable foundation suhsequen.
new borings. conducted by the present
commission. have fully confirmed this Ner.
dict. They show that the locks viii res'
on rock for their entire length. The cross
EfNNNNl ~ IN AAAA hAA NNF
struction will be such as to insure against
any slip or sloughing OF similar eNami,
nation Of the foundatiotk Of the locks and
dams on the Pacific side are IN proloess
1 believe that the locks should be made
Of a width Of 120 feet.
Last winter bids were requested ana re-
rcived for doing the work 81 canal con-
Struction by contract None oi them was
found to be satisfactory ana an were re-,
iected. II is the unanimous opinion oi
the present commission that the work can
he done better, more chealhy ana wN.'
quickly by the government than hN pil-
Vate contractors. Fully 50 per ~rnt or ihc
entire plant needed for construction has
been purchased or contracted for mathln
shops have been erected aud equipped Tor
making all needed repairs 60 the plant.
many thousands Of employees have h"eil
secured: an effective organization has been
perfected; a recruiting system IS loo opera
ton which is capable 81 furnishing more
labor than can Doe used advantageously
employees are well sheltered and well led
salaries paid are satisfactory, and the
work is not only going forward snvnlhlf
but IL b. producing results FAR in advance
- the most sanEuine auticipatinns Under
these favorable conditions, q change W lue
method OF prosecuting the work would hf
unwiso and uuiustinahle, for % would W'
ovitably disurganize existing conditions
check progress. and increase the cost ana
lenFthcn the time Of completing the canal
The chief engineer and all bis proiea.
si0nal associates ARE nrm1 convinced Nha'
the Sc feet Lowell lock canal which they are
constructing ls the best that could Zoe de-
sired Some ~ them had doubts ou THIS
point when they went Co The isthmus As
the plans have developed under their at
rectlon their doubts have been dispelied
While they may decide upon changes Dol
detail as 60 construction advances they are
% hearty accord ih appI"Nihs We 4eN'l
plan. They believe that 30 provides a cana
not only adequate o. al demands that VIII
be made upou a. but superior in eNcft way
60 a sea level canal ! concur in TINS De-