The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-05
North Dakotan Tells Of Splendid
Organization at Panama Canal


Forum: One cannot read the reports
on the Panama canal work without
feeling the trend OF evolution in the
work. back OF which has been the
courageous and dominant face OF
Roosevelt and TAFT.
eliminating OF jarring factions in
the Isthmian Canal Commission Ia
very evident by the concentration OF
authority in the chief engineer, who
is also chairman OF the commission.
Prior 10 this concentration, the de-
partment OF construction and engi-
neering consisted of these departments
and twelve divisions; each had inde-
pendent organizations reporting to
separate heads working without prop
er coordination, undertaking work
under separate heads in the same ter
ritory. Under Colonel vGoethals ali
construction work in any given dis
trict, irrespective OF its character. has
been placed under one head. resulting
in reduction OF cost of each adminis-
definite fixing OF responsibility and
things like that. Instead OF three de-
partnlents and twelve divisions the
new organization consists of three
parts, each Of which is a division un-
der a division engineer reporting to
the chief engineer.
This kind OF evolution could not
evolve with a chief engineer looking
out OF seventeenth story window in
New York or behind a mahogany desk
at Washington. csoethals lives on the
job, and Is evidently not running the
work by typewriter
II the reader can derive half the
pleasure from the brief facts here sub
mitted that the writer has gained by
delving In the able and intelligent
reports made BY the engineers on the
work, the time will be probably
spent.
For the year ending June 30, 1908,
120S6,1Ss cubic yards OF earth were
removed by flfty-nine steam shovels
from Culebra division extends s.2
miles from Chagres river at Gamboa
to Pedro Miguel lock. This is the
mountain pass through the Cordille-
ras.
The mere digging of a canal chan
mel seems the lesser part OF the great
work. Diversion channels for the Co
mancho river. and for the obispo
river, and other streams-with dams
and tunnels. For instance in the
obispo diversion 1881 cubic yards
OF material were moved during the
year while 100000 remained for ex-
cavations before completion
From the cut at Bas Obispo 1900
cubic yards of rock had been deposit
ed daily at Gatum dam from March
2e 1908.
dustIy for engineers and workmen
comes from slides. After digging down
200 feet more or less into the mountain
pass, with the slopes towering on
each side, the earth on the sides does
not remain stationary. From perco-
lation of water and excessive weight
of slippery material the side of the
slope will move like a slow scheduled
avalanche.
On Oct. 4. 1907, one of these slopes
which had caused trouble since 1884
on the Culebra division started to
move toward the east edge of the cam
al at a rate of at first fourteen feet
in twenty -four hours. decreasing to-
wards the close of the month to four
feet in twenty-four hours. This slide
blocked transportation through the
cut.
The. area of the slide was S4,44S
square yards and material in motion
was 100000 cubic yards.
BY working day and night with
steam shovels and improyised hydrau-
lie means, by the end OF the month
over three weeks-the passage through
the cut was opened.
Another slide occurred at Paraiso,
Culebra division in April following,
having an area of 21s. 700 square yards
and putting 100000 cubic yards in
motion.
Another slide of $4,000 cubic yards
at New Culebra, and still another near
Las Cascades of 100000 cubic yards
were taken care of.
At New Culebra, station a sinking
of the ground surface west of the
west slope of the cut was noticed and
corresponding uplift of the bottom
of the cut took place. A similar action
took place at another location. In both
instances the upward movement of the
bottom was stopped by removing
weight of material on the upper levels.
Thus an extra large amount OF
emergency work is entailed while the
general work proceeds for the fifty
miles acress the Isthmus and at the
same time dredging is going on In
Colon and Panama harbors. with the
work on the breakwaters on the At
lantic and Pacific sides also-with re-
movaI OF material amounting up tc
millions of cubic yards.
1t was originally intended TO put the
two docks. now under construction al
Mirafiorea -four and olne-half miles
inland. at La Boca near the city OF
Panama Work was commenced on the
dam at La Boea and trestles were