The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-07
Panama
Canal.

~ the instance OF Colonel Gocthals.
me army engineer officer in charge of
JUST made q visit 90 the isthmus TO
inspect the work done and to consult
WIN MN on the gruuud as 60 certain
problems which are likely TO arise in
Work if most satisfactory. ar no UNI
expected obstacle presents itself. the
eSnai VII oe completed well within
me time fixed by Colonel Gocthals. 20
VIZ. January r. lils. and within the
estimate cost 90 1895. 10000.
- t.ee REPORTS nave reached the
United states from time Co time giving
accounts OF slides of earth OF very
iafEr rardnEc i'm the Culehra cut and
ei-rNt re along the line. from which
mi-nt Pc inferred that the work has
been much retarded and that the time
oL completion has been necessarily
postponed.
The report of Dr. Hayes Of the geo
.oBical survey. whom . -ont within the
last month Co the isthmus To- make an
. lnNcsllsaIon. shows thar this section
or ine canal zone is composed OF sndf-
meniary rocks OF rather weak structure
ana SUBJECT Co almost immediate dis
lnJ esratlon when exposed TO the knife.
eenlilenle. ignc9us rocks. harder and
more durable. have been thrust into
/ them, and being cold at the time of
tnetr intrusion united but fndfffcrenffv
with the sedimentarv rock af ne com
Z facts. The result Of these conditions
J. lnat as tnc cut is deepened. causing
D n
sides II the CUE have occurred.
These arc in pa "a due % the 0ov-iur
or surface soil and deCompOsad rrdI-
nlen lafl rocks upon inclined surfaces
or tle uud"rlyinE undcromuoscd rock
ana ln part hT the crushing OF sfrlIc-
turaIly weak beds under eNcessf,-o
pressure. These slides occur on one
side on tHc other ~ The cut through
distance of four or five miles. and
now that their character fe understood
allowance has been made in the caI-
cuIaLious OF yardawc FOR the amount
OF slides which will have To- be- re-
moved and The greater elopo that viii
nave Co bc Eiveu tp the bank I'm many
places Tn order fu prevent their re-
cufrcncc. such allowance does not exc
c"eo l"unN.NoN yards. Considering that
fre number of N1ris removed from This
cue on am average OF each month
through the year is 100000. and that
me total remaining to bc eVcavafod.
including slides. o. about 30.u0u-
yards. if ig seen fhrf this addition Co
ih" exec walton does not offer any great
reason Tor DELAY.
While this feature OF the material
| 20 De- eNcavatcd in thc cut win not see
ripusIN delay or ohsfruct the coustrlIc-
ton OF o canal of She lock type. the
I increase ~ excavation due to such
/ slides in the Cut made 50 feet deeper
] f"r H sea lowell canal would certainly
I have been ao great as to DELAY its COM
I pletion to "a time beyond the patience
I Of che American people.
Among questions arising for present
I solution u The decision whether che
/ canal shall bc fortified. have already
] stated Co the tuugreas that strongly
| favor fortificatiou and D now rcfterate
1 THIS opinion and ask your considera
I ton OF the subject iu the light 81 the
report already before you. made by q
competent board
] If. iu our discretion. we believe mod.
/ "rn forufcati0rs tp Do necessary Cd
I the adequate protection and policing of
] the canal then 10 is our dufv to cons
I struct them. eve have built fno ca
I nal To 81 Uur property. Isv cuuvsn-
fiou we have indicated our desire Tor
and indeed undertaken. its universal and
I equal use. ~ o. also wei known that
I one OF che cuief objects in the con.
I efru~ftrr ri the canal hue been fo in.
/ crease Che military effectiveness of out
] navy.
FafIrc Co foriffv the canal would
. leave Tho attainment o. both these aim,
. iu tire position Of rights and ohffua.