Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-17
FOUND A FIRM BASE
Result of Many Behring'S at the
Gatun Dam Site.
REPORT OF THE EXPERTS
Inquiry Of the Senate Interoceanic
Canals Committee.
STATEMENT OF CHIEF ENGINEER
Report That the Proposed Lock Had
Been Shifted Declared With
out Foundation.
STATEMENT OF CHIEF ENGINEER

Chairman Willard of the Senate commit
tee on interoceanic canals today made pub
lie the report Of the interoceanic canal
commission on the borings at the Gatun
dam site. which were furnished in re-
Spouse to a request from the committed
The report includes cable statement
from Chief Engineer Stevens In which
he says that 127 holes have been bored at
the Gatun site. and all show that the lock
walls will rest on firm and suitable soft
rock. He also says that sixty three Dor
ings, all extending to rock. have been
made across the valley of the Chagres,
covering the dam site and that previous
material was found in only four holes
and below 200 feet. At the Pedro Miguel
lock walls there have been ten borings,
all showing rock suitable for founda ton
The correspondence accompanying the
report shows that the information was
transmitted in response to letter from
Senator Willard dated January s, in which
he Informed the commission of the desire
of the committee for information. In
that letter which was addressed to
Chairman Shonts, the senator said:
Request for Information.
AT a meeting of the committee held this
morning 1t represented by one of the
members that the borngs for the lock at
Gatun and on the Pacific side of the Guile
bra cut had been found unsatisfactory and
that the proposed lock on the Pacific side
had been changed some two or three miles
from the original point designated. 1t has
also been reported that the borings at Ga
tun found to be very unsatisfactory,
and it is the desire of the committee that
before Tuesday morning next (when our
regular meeting will be held you give
full information in regard to the borings At
this point, and also any other borings that
may have been had during the past year. 1t
is the wish of the committee that this be as
full and complete as possible as the rumor
seems to indicate that at Gatun especially
the conditions have been found very I'M
favorable
In his response Mr.. Shonts included not
only the statements of members of the
engineering committee of the commission.
but also a cabled statement from Chief
Engineer Stevens giving full information on
the point in question up to January II. Fol
lowing is the full text of Mr.. Stevens ca
blegram:
Chief Engineer Stevens Report.
lone hundred and twentyseven holes
have been bored Gatun lock site, covering
area 1900 by 5000 feet All carried well
below bottom lock walls, and 66 to depth
of 80 feet or more below sea level. and all
show that lock walls will rest on firm and
suitable soft rock Thirty-six borings made,
covering area Of controlling gates for spill
way. All show safe foundation in soft rock.
Three lines of borings, 63 in number, all
extending to rock, have been made across
valley Chagres covering dam site. Per-
vious material in only four holes. and those
below 200 feet. Pedro Miguel lock walls,
ten borings have been made below foun-
dations. all showing rock suitable for foun-
dations. Test pits Gatun and Pedro Miguel
so far all show harder material than cores
from borings.
View of Engineering Committee.
The letter from the engineering commit
he SIGNATURE of chairman
Admiral Endcott, who says:
1--WE know of no foundation for the re-
port that the proposed lock the Pacific
side has been changed some two or three
miles from the original point designated
The locks, both at Pedro Miguel and Sosa,
occupy substantially the sites chosen by
the minority of the advisory board. These
loca atoms are necessarily general. When
special examinations were made, it was
found that the rock foundations for the
locks at Pedro Miguel did not extend over
the entire area covered by the structures
and slight shifting of their position may
be advisable. but there have been no other
changes contemplated.
In conclusion, we state that the lnVeSti-
cations which the commission has contin-
ued have thus far led to no disclosure of
extraordinary difficulties requiring changes
of previous plans. The continuation of sur
veys has for its object the complete adapta
ton of the design of locks and other fea-
lures of the plan to the existing surface
| and sub-surface conditions.
There is nothing in the later eXamina
tons made affecting the practicablity or
permanence of the Gatun dam
Mr.. Endicott also transmitted a number
of blue prints. showing just what has been
done in the way of making borings.
Chairman Shonts' Comment.
Commenting on the documents transmit
ted, Mr.. Shonts says:
s'While the report of the members the
engineering committee and the cable from
Mr. Stevens relate primarily to the lock
sites your attention Is called, nevertheless,
to the statement that there is nothing in
the later examinations made affecting the
practca bility nor perma hence of the Gatun
dam.
The members of Senator Mllards COM
mittee are giving careful attention to the
report. but it will not be considered until
next Tuesday when the committee X.Il hold