New-York tribune., 1910-11-21

Of the last parts Of the work completed
and special means must be provided TO per
nit its construction during the rising in
the lake. Colonel Goethals says.
Investigation of the expenditure Of water
from Gatin Lake. as affected by the design
adopted for the locks indicates that in ordi-
nary ynars there will he a considerable
surplus Of water even in the dry season
and tFiat-the water supply OF the worst
known DIV season for the last nineteen
wears. that Of 1905. would he sufficient to
maintain through the canal an average
daily number Of passages three or four
times as great as the average number now
passing the Suez Canal. after making rea-
sonabIe deductions for evaporation, leakage
power supply and loCkageS- The arrange
ment Of the lifts III flights at Gatun and
Mira flores increases somewhat the expendi-
ture Of water over what il would be were
the locks separated into single lifts. The
tidal effect at Mirafiores also increases
the expenditure considerably at that place
Nevert heIess. the water supply is ample for
the canal as planned
The work of excavating the Gatun locks
was continued by steam Sh0Vels and 10 some
extent by dredges, resulting in the removal
in lock chanb bars Of 3 965, ,699 cubic yards in
the dry and 435, 17S cubic yards in the wet
The excavation IN the upper locks was
! completed, including the trenching for the
curtain walls and for the lateral culverts
| IN that portion. where these culyerts were
below the excavated area With the OK
ception OF the trenching required for the
| lateral culverts. the excavation for the in
| termediate locks was completed. The eX-
| cavation for the lower locks, exclusive of
| the approach walls, was also undertaken,
| and $4,000 cubic wards remain to he re-
! moved The anchOrages in the upper locks
| for tying the concrete to the natural rock.
where the plans contemplated their use.
| were completed. as we'll as the filing with
concrete Of the curtain wall trenches around
the upper part OF the upper locks.
/ At the close Of the fiscal year 1893 the un-
! loading cableways were in partial opera
ton and the erection IN progress of the
remainder Of the plant. The entire plant
was completed in time to permit laying of
concrete on August "A
Progress in Cuebra Cut.
In the fiscal year 1t92I,750 cubic yards Of
material Were excavated from the Culebra
cut. leaving "a. .SS3.53l cubic yards TO be re-
moved in order 10 complete this section
of the canal. The remaining amount IL
rludes an increase Of Cos, $50 cubic yards
over the estimate made in September. 1905
/ This increase Is due TO widening the canal
north of Pedro Miguel lock so as to form a
basin. adding thereby 932,572 cubic yards.
and TO allowing 5,476.9SS cubic yards fo~
slides and breaks.
The total amount removed from the
! Chagres section from the beginning of Op-
erations in 1907 TO the close of the last
fiscal year was 9.497 So cubic yards. leaving
I still to be excavated an estimated amount
OF 3, 1854 cubic yards.
The principal work in the Pacific division
consists of the construction of the LOCKS
and dam at Pedro Miguel the locks and
dams at Mirafores, and excavatfng a chan
mel between the locks and below Miraffores
! locks to deep water in the Pacific The
/ largest amount of concrete in the division
/ is 10 be laid at Mirafiores
Reports from various points along the
line show that the cost Of excavation var
ried from "a cents cubic yard at one place
10 as high as 81 81 at another There is no
such divergence OF price in the cost Of q,
orhi, ward Of concrete work the lowest
average being 81 10 and the highest e. ea
More than 700.OoC cubic yards Of concrete
| were laid.
Economy in Operations.
Economy has been sought by the com
.tssion in various directions ",To radrc.
| .o a minimum delays on account of break
| dov-r OF machinery. plant and eauIpment
a,bich are reflected largely in the cost of
.he work" says Colonel Goethals .and ~
! facilities