The Washington herald., 1909-05-30


The United States government took
possession OF all canal properties on the
.Isthmus OF Panama. purchased from the
French Canal Company, on Hay 1, 1854
At that time the only work IN progress
on the canal was in CulebTa cut. where
about so West Indian laborers were en-
gased, and few side excavat0rs and
dump trains were in service The work
vas continued with this force and equip
ment. but active canal construction did
not begin until 1906
Il was perceived by the American com
mission al the outset that the work d.
vided itself naturally into two stages.
First. that OF preparation. and second.
that OF actual construction. The first
covered q period OF about TWO and half
years. AL energies were devoted during
that time 70 making the isthmus healthy
By thorough sanitation; 20 aecumUIating
and organizing a working force and pro-
viding for It houses and a food supply.
70 assembling a plant with which 10 90
the work OF construction. 10 charging
the existing railway system 50 as 70
make It adequate, and to establishing q
system ot civil government for the Zons-
The Three COmmisSiOnA-
There have been three commissions in
charge OF canal work. The first was il
Office from March 5. IS04. until April 2
1el5. the second was in Office from April
8. 1855. till April /. 1906, and the third, dat
ing from April 1. 1901. is in Office al tbs
present time. There have been three
chief engineers: John F. Wallace. who
served from June /, 1914. 10 June 2S 1896;
John ?. Stevens. July !, Is65, 70 April L
l9O7. and Lieut. Col George W. G0ethalS.
Corps Of Engineers. L s a, whose serv-
ices began on April /. 1S05.
The type Of canal TO De constructed was
decided IN June, 1875, when an act vas
passed by Congress and approved BIZ tbs
President on June p OF that year decree
ing the construction OF a lock canal s.
leet above sea level, with approaches a.
sea level.
The plan Of this canal. with several
changes which have since been ordered
by the President and adopted by the
commission. provides:
\ channel, go feet wide at sea level,
VIII lead from deep water in Limon Bay
TO GaJun. distance Of 6-7s miles. AZ Gao
tuu dam IL miles long and Us feet high
VIII iuGpO1Ed the waters Of the Chagres
River in a lake, the normal level OF
which VIII be s. feet above mean sea
level
A flight Of three twin locks. each I.00o
feet long. 10 feet wide. and allowing for
Il 1-3 feet OF water over tae siIls. VIII
raise vessels from sea level 10 the lake
or lower them from the lake TO the sea-
level channel From Gatun navigation
VIII be through the lake IN a channel
from 1,0o0 feet 70 so feet wide for a dis
tsnce OF 1888 miles. 10 Bas ObispO, whers
Culebra cut begins.
The channel through the Continental
Divide. from Bas ObIspo to Pedro Nj
guel. a distance OF S.1I miles. win be so
feet wide. and the surface Of the water
VIII be at the lake level st Pedro hi
gUel vessels viii Be lowered from the s.
foot level 10 a small lake al . fse1 above
sea level IN twin locks % one flight
Channel to sIirafIores.
a channel SEQ feet wide and os7 miles
the descent TO sea level win be made in
twin locks Of two fights. The locks al
Pedro Miguel and Mirafores VIII be OF
the same dimensions as those at Gatun.
From MirahOres 10 deep water in Pana-
ma Bay. a distance Of S3l miles, the
channel will be 800 feet wide and Is feet
deep al mean tide.
The total excavation from May 70
December 81. 1871 was only z53. ~ cubic
yards; IN the year 1865 It was only 1,zes.-
- cC5ic yards, and during 1876 i was
Only s.9IS so cubic yards There had
teen. therefore, excavateu previous 70
January I. 1s51, only 7.0o0e00 cubic yards.
Continued On Page /, Column 2.