Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-18

I'VE do find,'. they say, "in the de-
tailed designs that have been adopted
or that are under consideration some
matters where other arrangement:
than these now considered seen
worthy of study. AS these proposed
changes are of tentative nature ant
do not in any case affect the mair
questions herein discussed, they are
not taken up in this report.
They declare that most practica
question in the construction of tn,
Gatun dam is the possible slipping ant
and in the body of the DAM" In regart
to this question they have reached the
conclusion that the design upor
which the work is now being prose
cuted substantially fulfills the re.
quired degree of stability and goes fal
beyond the limits of what would be
regarded as sufficient and safe In any
less important structure.
In regard to the slips which havs
occurred at several times, they asser
that they are "of no serious conse-
quence, either in the practical eXecu-
ton OF the work, or in the ultimate
stability of the structures
Having considered the proper height
for the crest of the Gatun dam, they
concluded that lit could be safely re
duced twenty feet from that original
ly proposed; namely to an elevation O
lis feet above sea level, or thirty fee.
above the normal level of the waite
against the DAM
This change, they say, will facilitat,
the work of construction and will re-
uuce somewhat the cost of the pro-
posed work.
AS to the change of the lower locks
or the Pacific end of the canal fro1.
La Bean, on the shore OF Panama la,
to MlrafioreS, about four miles inland
they report that the settlements which
occurred as a result OF the change
caused no reason to doubt the ability
OF the proposed DAM This chang,
having been made because ''sobjectioi
might be made from military poinn
of the hay, exposed to guns of hostil
Ships" the board of engineers est
mate that it will increase the cost BIZ
about $l0,oO0,000. but that it will great
ly lessen the cost of Notifications.
Another change, that of increasing
the minimum width Of the bottom
the canal for about A. miles in tn,
Culcbra cut, they estimate will in
crease the cost of the work by abou
$l3,0O0,oO0 but they say 1t Will not de
lay the completion of the canal, that
will permit ships to pass ana anothe.
at this portion Of the cana1 and will
otherwise facilitate navigation. Ii
slides occur after the completion OF tn,
canal, they say 1.-The wider canal i.
not as likely to be blocked as a mar
mower one"
They approve the change in the pro
posed location of the breakwater a,
the Atlantic end of the canal.
Their estimate of the complete cos
of the canal is $360,OO0, 900 They sa.
it is incorrect to state that the origi.
nal estimate of cost was $4,000 900 a:
this did not include sanitation an,
zone government" They estimate tho
expense of sanitation and zone gov
eminent at $27,000,00O while payment
to the republic of Panama and to tn,
new Panama Canal Company amour
to $50,0O0,0O0 which would make tn,
difference between the present est
mate and the previous estmat,
with cost of sanitation and zont
government and payments added onl.
$4,000 600. "Of this amount" the.
say, nearly one half can be accounte,
for by the changes in the canal an,
works already referred t,
and the remainder is to be attribute,
mainly to the higher unit cost of tn,
of
Commcndation is expressed at tn.
present condition of the work, and tn
engineers voice the belief that IN nc
other great construction work has S,
much been done for employees in tn
way OF furnishing necessities, com
forts and Injuries of life at the cost O
the work as has been done in thi
work. This is one reason for the higl
cost of the canal
In their opinion 1.-THE work is wei
organized and is being conducted en-
crgetically and WELL" They common.
the medical and sanitary department
for its success in eXterminating yei
low fever and controlling malaria"
I'VE see no reason" they add, "wh,
the canal should not be completed a:
estimated by the chief engineer by
January 1, 1915: in fact, it seems tina
1t somewhat earlier date is probable
all goes we'll"
Considering the cost and time
construction of a sea level as com
Pared with the lock type, they hole
that most of the factors which hav,
operated to increase the cost of TIL,
lock canal would operate with similar
effect to increase the cost or sea leve
canal, and at the present time there
are additional factors of even greater
importance to he considered as affect
ing the time of completion and cost of
a sea level canal"
One Of these they find in the Gmaboa
dam, if work on which were to be
started as soon as possible, they de-
clare if ''could not be completed I'M
til after the time required for the
completion of the lock CANAL
Further than this they say that "a
change in the type would result in
abandoning work which represents
large expenditures"
They claim that by the change the
river Charges and the rivers on the
istnmus tributary thereto 'instead OF
being allies of would be enemies of the
canal and floods in them wOuld greatly