New-York tribune., 1907-06-02
I1EAYRAINS P2c$regsP f2s;2 31RPsss ss eFANAMACANAM
FEW HOURS FLOODS 10 be
CONTROLLED FINALLY BY DAMS.
(From The Tribune Bureau I

Washington June The rainy season is on at
Panama and every man engaged on the construc-
ton Of the canal is fighting The ravages resulting
from torrental streams. swollen far beyond their
natural boundaries by the sudden downpours 10
fether with the depressing effects of daily rains in
terspersed with sudden bursts of fierce sunshine
which make the intense humidity the more unbear-
able
Il was recently announced that some of the
steam shoves had been laid off because Of the rainy
season, and the latest reports from the isthmus
confirm the statement. while the sensational re-
perts catIeG from Colon, the effect that the
decrease in the number of Steam shovels i'm opera
zion is due 10 general strike of the steam shovel
men, are pronounced baseess. No one familiar
with the conditions on the isthmus expects for
moment that all Of the steam shovels can be kent
work all Of the time during the rainy season. al
though every precaution looking to the minimizing
Of the damage ty floods has been taken
n fact one Of the greatest achievements of the
engineers who directing the work has been the
arrangements whereby the disastrous effects of the
sudden and uncomfortable foods have been reduced
70 a minimum. while the rapidity with which re-
ceyery Of normal conditions following flood is
efeeted is pronounced by those who have wit
messed il 10 be truly remarkable
The obstacles created by food and rainfall are
above all Others. what the President had in mind
when he declared that the men who successfully
Contended with the difficulties which hampered the
construction Of the great interoceanic waterway
greatly deserved to receive medals teStfying o
their crurage and perseverance as did the men
VINO fought in the counuy's wars.
The rainy season in Panama begins in May and
lasts until far into December, sometimes into jan
uary For eight and sometimes nine months there
are daily rainfas which saturate the earth and
every worker exposed to the weather. and between
the rains the sun pours down the sodden soil
and produces state Of humidity which sickens
and disheartens some Of the most energetic. The
Chagres and other rivers rise many feet in a few
hours. and unless the engineers have taken every
rGecauticn. and sometimes when they have, the
work of days is Undone in a few hours in the pres
ence Of the torrents which sweep down the noun
tain sides inundat:ng steam shoYels. submerging
tracks and washing great gulies in the walls of the
prospective canal
Some conception Of these obstacles be formed
when it is realized that covering period of thirty
two years the average annual rainfall the At
lsntic end of the has been only four
inches less than twelve feet, and considerably
five feet on the Pacific end. on a single day SIS
inches Of rain has fallen the bed of the canal,
and the torrents which poured down from the
mountain streams completely inundated the huge
trench while in some places the railway tracks
buried under four feet Of water. which rushed
along At the rate Of many miles hour.
Fortunately the American engineers engaged in
constructing the canal have never had TO contend
with the difficulties and discourag agements present
ed by the record food OF 1873, but only last year
after & rainfall aggregating one foot IN a period
Of twelve days there fell in a single day nearly
six inches Of rain. and the greatest damage re-
suited. The ChaGres rose 1856 inches at Gamboa