Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-02-03
CANAL READY IN 1914
James R. Mann's Prediction Con-
corning Isthmian Waterway.
EMPLOYEES ARE VERY EAGER.
Everybody Imbued With Spirit Of In
tense Energy, Says illinois Repre-
sentative--Believes Cost Will Exceed
Estimate by $50,ooo,O0o.

I'm the spring of 1914 after an expend-
iture of $50,000.00O more than the orig
inal estimates of the isthmian canal
commission and the board Of consult
ing engineers, according to Represent
alive James r. Mann of Illinois, who
recently returned from a trip to the
fsthmus with party Of his colleagues,
says q Washington correspondent of
the New York Tribune. He believes
that the foundations Of the Gatun dam
are of rock and entirely satisfactory.
Mr.. Mann. who went to the isthmus
at the request OF the president and
speaker in order to make a special
study of the Gatun dam feature, said
Conditions in Panama are In most
excellent shape. Colonel Cocktails has
proved himself master mind. The
organization is almost perfect. The
discipline is good The enthusiasm Of
the employees is great. Every one
there seems imbued with the spirit of
intense energy. Up To the beginning of
the present year the work there was
preparatory, but now the actual con
struetion work is going on
"a comparison with the work of the
French company is instructive. After
the French had been at work three
years. I'm October, 1885. they took out
of what we now know as the Culebra
cut $4,000 cubic yards of dirt. In Oc-
tober, 1885, they took out $4,000 Gu
bic yards. In October just passed we
took out $4,000 cubic yards. The
rainfall was about the same as in
fhn DO lar
the French took out Of the Culebra
cut 3,837.000 cubic yards, while we re-
moved during the year ended Oct. 81
last 100000 cubic yards.
'aThe main excavation made by the
French was not in the Culebra cut.
but easy work near the Caribbean sea.
Ours has been in the cut and mostly
rock excavation. Mr.. Randolph, one
OF the board of consulting engineers,
estimated the average capacity of the
steam shovels at $500 yards a month,
while In October last one of our shov-
els took out 1887 cubic yards of rock
and another 39.615 of rock and earth
I'VE saw the work at the worst time
Of the year, and yet there was con-
slant movement Of empty trains from
the dumps to the Bhovels and Of load
ed ones from the shovels to the dumps.
The work has now progressed to such
nm extent that even the lifting of the
track toward the ambankment is done
by machinery and In short order Dur
eng the last year we have removed
about one-seventh OF the material to
be excavated from the great cut, and
our full complement of machinery is
not yet installed.
Il gave speckal study to the Gatun
dam locks and spillways and brought
home with me large number of sam
Piles Of clay and rock which gathered
by the side OF these works. Major ST.
bert. who Is In charge of the Gatun
works under Colonel Cocktails, ia, like
his chief, exhibiting great genius. APP
parently no move Is made without
thorough knowledge OF the conditions.
From the borings which have been
made with diamond drills 1t is certain
that the foundation of the great locks
10 rock.
'aThere are numerous problems In
connection with the locks and dams
which are not yet worked out, but
the care with which the engineers in
charge are proceeding leaves no doubt
that when fully determined the plans
win be beyond proper criticism. The
problems yet unsolved relate only to
expense and not to ability to construct
safe dams and locks.
@At the rate OF progress already es-
fablished the Culehra cut can easily
be excavated within six years. 1t is
probable that ny the spring OF 1911
they can turn water into the new Ga.
tun lake. That will enable them to
excavate a considerable section Of the
canal by dredging. There is no rea.
son to doubt. unless some improbable
pesti'ence should seize the isthmus
that the canal Will be finished and
ready for test within seven years and
probably even sooner.
The original estimate for finishing
the canal was $145, 900, 600, but 1t will
be necessary tb modify In many re
spects the suggested plans of the orig
tnal commission and board in order tc
insure greater safety of construction
This will add considerably to the ex,
pense. While we have expended enor.
nous sums of money. and In some
cases extravaaantly, upon sanitation
and buildings, and while we are pay
ing excessive salaries, vet the unit cost
OF the work is probably a little less
than the estimate of the board of con
eulting engineers. 1t is probably safe
to estimate the total cost at about
&200.0o0,00O. In addition to the $4,000,
900 paid to the Panama republic and
the French Canal company. These es.
Inmates may be increased II it becomes
the policy further TO widen and length
On the locks.
1.-THE consulting board provided locks
90 feet in width and 900 feet In length
II is estimated that ships % per cent
larger than the Lusitania could e