Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-02-17

1 the Gatun dam is the possible slip
ping and sliding of the materials un-
| derneath and in the body of the dam
IN regard to this question they have
-reached the conclusion the design
upon which the work is now beins
! prosecuted abundantly fulfills the re-
quired degree of stability and goes
far beyond the limits of what would
pe regarded as sufficient and safe in
any less important structure"
In regard to the slips which hav..
occurred at several times they assert
that they are "of no serious conse-
qutnce either in the practical execu-
ton of the work or in the ultimate
! stability of the structures"
Having considered the proprr
height for the crest of the Gatun
dam they conclude that " it could be
safely reduced 20 feet from that orig
inally proposed; namely, to an eleva .
tion of 115 feet above sea level, or 80
feet above the normal level of the
water against the dam"
This change they say "will facili-
tate the work of construction and
VIII reduce somewhat the cost of the
proposed work. AS to the change Of
the lower locks on the Pacific end
of the canal from Laboca, on the
shore of Panama Bay to Moraflores
about four miles inland. they report
that the settlements which occurred
as a result Of the change cause no
reason to doubt the stability of the
pit posed dam. This change having
been made because objection might
be made from a military view point
10 placing locks on the shore of the
bay exposed to guns of hostile ships'
the board of engineers estimate that
1t Will increase the cost by about
$lO,O00,O00 but that it will greatly
lessen the cost of fortification."
Another change. that Of increasing
the minimum width of the bottom of
the canal for about 40 miles in the
culebrat cut, they estimate will in.
crease the cost of the work about
Sl3,oOOOO but they say it will not de-
lay the completion of the canal. that
1t VIII permit ships To pass one an.
other IN this portion Of the canal and
VIII otherwise facilitate navigation
IF slides occur after the completion
OF the canal they say the wider
canal is not as likely be block
ed as q narrow one"
Th,y approve the change In the
proposed location Of the breakwater
at tha Atlantic end Of the canal.
Their estimate or the completa
cost of the canal is $36O.OOO, 600.
TGey say II is Incorrect to state that
the original estimate of cost was
$l4O.OOO,O0O as this does not include
sanitation and zone government"
They estimate the expense Of santa
ton and zone government at $4,000
600 while payments TO the republic
of Panama and to the new Panama
canal company amounted 20 $5O,OOO.-
600 which would make the difference
between the present estimate and the
previous estimate with cost of sani-
tation and zone government and pay
ments added only $143,OOO, 900.
"Of this amount they say, nearly
one half can be accounted for by the
changes i'm the canal and appurten-
ant works already referred to and
the remainder is TO be attributed
mainly to the higher unh cost Of the
'''f@"ent items Of the work"
lmendation is expressed at the
It condition Of the work and the
eers voice the belief that "i1
her great construction work has
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