Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-05-04

Editor: It must be evident 10 Tue
reader that most extraordinary diff
culty must attend the digging OF
canal across the Isthmus of Panama
when one considers that as early as
1920 the digging of a waterway there
was considered.
Panama was the Oldest European
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Qjcmfwy
city in America founded In 1915,
century prior to the landing OF the
Pilgrams at Plymouth Rock.
It was the greatest emporium for
gold and silver from Peru, thence
| transported to Europe.
In 1871 Panama, with 10000 inhabl-
tants, was the largest and richest city
in the new world, and at that time was
destroyed by Henry Morgan, the free
hooter. in the interest of England.
At that time Morgan carried away
plumber laden on ITS mules, ana ooo
prisoners held for ransom.
It is estimated that fifty millions IN
gold and twelve millions in silver
were annually transported across the
Isthmus on pack mules during the
| seven or eight years succeeding the
first find of gold in Suffers Creek
| California, in 1849.
January %, 1855, the first train
reached Panama on the railroad.
In 1888 the French Canal Co., fall
ed after spending $230,O00,0 900. Work
was suspended May 49,. 1889.
In the meantime the transcontlnen-
tai railroads were built across plain
mountain and desert in the United
States. fully taking care of transcon-
tinenta1 traffic and developing the in
termediate country in a marvellous
way.
In looking at the map 1t seems only
a little way from Panama to San Fran
cisco. but one of my friends on the
| boat estimated the journey at S,6OO
miles by water.
It is about 1000 miles from New
York to Colon.
Hence, in point of expeditions SER
vice for transcontinental trafhc, the
American and Canadian railroads
have a great advantage.
The Panama canal is not CONNER
cial necessity, but is a military nee
essity for the United States and Its
allies in the expeditions handling OF
naval armament. "
That ocean commerce will take on
new alignment after the completion
of the canal is more than probable.
Today Galveston outranks Boston
in volume of business as port.
The ports and harbors OF the West
| Indies will take on new life, the Pa
cific will be accessible, and expansion
will naturally follow. #%%
Experience gained in sanitation and
practically demonstrated in 4 Cuba,
Panama and elsewhere by the Ameri-
cans, greatly enlarges the habitaple
portions Of the tropics.
/ Next to sanitation for health the
freedom from disease and plague, is
the moral sanitation developed by the
American navy in the exercise OF pol
lev power over the unruly and bell1g'
Grant minorities who infest the trop-
les.
It all unfolds to one in the study
Of failure in the past, and prospective
success of the future.
1t is all a part of the game in open
ing up a new highway for commerce
| across the continent.
To a theorist, the task of building
the Panama canal should be easy. II
sea level canal i. desired, issue an
| ukass and let the water flow from
ocean to ocean.
But the Pacific shore tide rises over
fourteen feet while the Atlantic Is
but fourteen inches. A lock canal
would be necessary In any event on
| account of unequal tides. 80
Nature has not done much for Colon
| which is situated on the edge OF a
! marsh while Colon harbor Is expos
ed to waves ensuing from north
| winds, hence, according to the latest
plans, breakwaters will be built to
protect the harbor and mouth Of the
canal. These breakwaters will ex-
tend out from Manzanfllo Island on
dpe side and Toro Point on the other,
and when built by American engineers
will be effective in making a shelter
ed harbor. MI
Good maps of the canal zone are
hard to secure but l have one, like
wise pamphlet of March is, 1909,
by Colonel Goerhals, chairman and
chief engineer of the Isthmian Canal
Commission. .-.
The canal, as now under construc-
ton, will be 500 feet wide and forty
five feet deep from deep water in the
Caribbean sea to Gatun, about six
miles, or three miles from shore Here
at Gatun the dam is being built, TO.
gether with a duplicate flight Of three
locks OF 1000 feet each In length,
10 feet wide, and lift of 281s' feet
will carry vessels up to lake eighty
five feet above sea level The level
OF this lake will be maintained by the
Chargers river and held by the Ga
tun dam, which will be about 100
feet long, one-half mile wide at the
base, 100 feet wide at the top, con.
| structed to 1O5 feet above mean tide
The lake formed by this dam will be
III square miles in extent. VA
told It will require five years for the
Charges river to All. this lake, flowing
at the rate Of 800 cubic feet per sec
ond. e.. Y&t.8@. sas
This lake will submerge the present
railroad location. hence q new rAil-
| road has been constructed higher M
east of the. locks. The new railroad
Twill be ninety-fve feet above the Level
of the sea, or ten feet shove the nor
NAL surface Of the lake. Exceptfnl
| for getting down to sea level at each