The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-27

tflnn In the wet. It Ia desirable that
work be undertaken without delay;
though the amount to be done is rela-
lively not large, the conditions arc
such az to initiate against rapid pro-
gress.
Colon Dredging DlvlsiOn.-This d.
vision consists OF the Mindi and Colon
districts. III the former about 100000
cubic yards of material In the vicinity
or NIindf Hills will be removed by
steam shovels, tilis method being more
economical since tile borlngs made dur
ing the fiscal year indicate that
large percentage of rock Is found In
this locality; tho remainder will lie
dredged. The necessary clearing and
other preparations were made and
excavation by steam shovel was begun
5townrd the close OF tho year.
The excavation by dredges during
the fiscal year amounted to 1,1l9.32t
cubic yards. place measurement. of
which 1862 cubic yards were rock:
1900 cubic yards of the total we've
removed from the canal prism, the re-
lnainder Of material being from aces
sorry works.
La Boca Dredging Divislon.-The
surveys III progress during the previous
fiscal year to determine the line OF
the canal were continued and com
piGtcus lcSt DOIiueo1 WSlc lIlGuS Ill Tue
channel west OF Naos Island to depth
forty feet, below the low water OF
Spring tide to ascertain the character
Of material to be removed. The dredg-
Ing fleet for this division consisted
OF one old French ladder dredge and
one five-.ard dipper dredge.
During the past fiscal year 1,235. S07
cubic yards OF material were dredgcd
from the division. OF which s4.352 cubic
yards were taken from the canal
prism and the remainder from access
sorry works.
The machine shop at La Boca IS
fairly well equipped for marine work,
bag accomplished much in rebuilding
and repairing floating equipment sueh
as clapets, launches, barges and cleo
tcic cranes.
Locks and Dams.-This department
of construction embraces the Gatun
locks and dam. the locks and dam at
Pedro Miguel. the locks and dams att
LIN Boca, meteorology and river by.
draulics.
The locks are In pairs, each, as now
proposed. with disable lengths Of 1000
feet and widths of 100 feet The adopt
ed project contemplates flight of
three locks at Gatun, flight of two
at La Boca, and one lift at Pedro
Miguel.
To actually. develop the character OIL
the foundations on which the locks
are to rest five test pits each six feet
by eight feet were sunk to the depths
of the lock walls at Gatun, two at
Pedro Miguel. and one at. the spillway
in Gatun dam. The outcropping OF trap
rock at La Boca. which borings showed
extends to proper depths, rendered
such examinations OF the foundations
fe,, H3,nc 4 ar1So
Gatun Locks and Dnm.-Excavation of
the lock site by steam shovels was be-
gun In September. and by the end of
March four shovels were at work. and
a total of 4S4,362 cubic yards. place
measurement. OF earth and rock were
removed during the year.
About 573 acres OF the site to be
occupied by the dam were cleared of
timber and pile trestle was partially
driven along the thirty-foot contour
on the upstream toe OF the dam for
the purpose of depositing rock from
Bias Obispo as an integral part of the
DAM Contracts were entered into for
two twenty-inch pipeline suction
dredges for construction use on the
lower portion OF the dam.
Pedro Miguel Locks and Dam.-Be-
sides the pits already noted and, nu-.
merous borings made to determine the
character of the foundations, work was
confined to excavating the lock site,
and 162.0s4 cubic yards, place measure
ment, were removed. This excavation
was done by the Culebra division in
connection with the work at Culebra
cut, and is noted as part of that out
put.
La Bocn Locks and Dams.-During
the fiscal year only preparatory work
,.sr, -
ings at the lock site and along the lines
OF the two dams. La Boca-sa Juan
dam and the Sosa-Corozal dam, and
for locating and constructing the me-
cessary spiilway. At the Sosa- Corozal
dam preparations We're made for the
construction Of trestles on the two
toes OF the dam from which material
from Culebra cut is to be dumped Be-
tween the two dumps thus made suit
able material for the dam is to be
placed.
Division OF Municipal Engincering.-
The work performed by this division
during the fiscal year included the paw
ing of streets and construction of
waterworks and sewer systems in the
cities OF Panama and Colon, paving,
roadmaking, grading construction of
waterworks and sewer systems, and
miscellaneous work of similar ma
ture In the Canal Zone, necesstatinK
an expenditure of $1.74l.953, divided
about equally between work in the
cities OF Colon and Panama and work
in the Canal Zone.
During the year material was re-
.ceived by purchase to the value Of
Ss,5o0,00O. of which over 80 per cent.
covers purchases made In the United
States. This has entalled the hand
ling of 81 full cargoes OF material and
partial cargoes from about $50 yes
sells. Among other items there were
100000 feet ofslumber. $4,000 cross
ties. 1000 piles. and about $4,000 tons
of miscellaneous cargo. ALI material,
except lumber. piling, ties, rail, and
rolling stock, Is received and checked
at the Mount Hope storehouse, from
which distribution is made to the sew
eral storelouses along the line. A large
amount Of old French material. con-
sisting of boilers. pumps, Decauville
track cara, locomotives, cranes and
other material, has been repaired and
placed In service. About II. 900 tons
of this old French material We're dis
posed OF to dealers in the United
States as scrap iron. and 1000 tons OF