The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-09-10

N|I|.... |N.I|.II HI.N| NJ hIhfI NOV
many persons who have not visited
the Zone really comprehend TO amy
8pnraCiablc extent the biEuess of the
uudcuasu l-WLat Do really means
on ,t- aUueudHu-ues- viewed ir0a the
standpoint of labor. of engineering
feats of dollars and cents. of benefits
o. Doe acCued2 TO merely describe it
as the greatest engineering under
taking ever attempted, since the build
ing Of the pyramids and their acces-
sor. of Egypt conveys but little
understanding
To attempt 10 induce a full, intel
igible realization Of the bigness Of the
undertaking to one who has not care
fully gone over the entire field of oper-
alton as well as studied the statistical
reports on file in Washington, would
be futile Nevertheless, a brief sur
vey of some of the big facts and
figures relative TO the undertaking,
attended by a keen, calculating imagi-
nation on the part Of the reader. may
result in at least a clearer under
standing than has heretofore been en-
joyed.
Period TO Complete.
The United States, securing control
OF a large portion Of the region com
monty termed the Canal Zone. began
actual operation toward the creation
of the Panama Canal on May 4. 1904
The work viii be completed and ready
for inspection. it is estimated, by Jan
uary I, 1915, which means that the
undertaking viii have required about
ten years and eight months to com
plete Control was secured by pur-
chase from the New Panama Canal
Company, and by a treaty with the
Republic OF Panama.
The Canal Route.
From deep water in the Atlantic
10 deep water in the Pacific, the length
Of the Canal is about 50 IL miles, 40
II miles OF which on land. In pass
ing through from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, a vessel will enter a channel
in Limon Bay with a bottom width
Of 500 feet Following this channel
for about seven miles. it will arrive
at Gatun, where II will begin an ascent
through a series Of three locks rising
IS feet, which will place it to the level
OF Gatun Lake Through this lake,
for a distance Of "a miles, it will sail
at full ocean speed in a channel vary
ing from 500 to 1000 feet in width,
arriving at Bias Obispo, where it will
enter the famous Culebra Cut It will
sail through the cut, which is about
nine miles long, In a channel with a
bottom width Of 300 feet to Pedro
Miguel, where it will enter a lock and
be lowered 30 10 feet to a small lake
"a % feet above sea level. Passing
through this lake for about / IL miles
it will arrive at mirahores, where il
will enter two more locks and be low
cred to sea level, after which it will
sail out into the Pacific through a
channel about ~ miles in length
with 2 bottom width of 500 feet. On
the Atlantic side, where the maximum
tidal oscillation is only I IL feet the
depth Of the approach channel at
mean tide will be Al feet and on the
Pacific side, where the maximum oscil
iaton is 20 feet, the mean tide depth
will be As feet.
The time required for the passage
of the vessel from the Atlantic to the
Pacific will vary, it is estimated, from
10 TO II hours, according 70 the size
of the vessel and its ordinary rate o
speed. OF this time, about hours will
be required for the passage through
the locks, ] ~ hours for each tn,
Atlantic and Pacific series.
No vessel will be permitted 10 ente
or pass through the locks under III
own power Instead, electricity vii
be used TO tow it into and through
them, as well as to operate all gate
and valves. The power will be gener
ated Dy water turbines from the heaC
created by Gatun Lake.
catun and Other Dams.
Gatun Dam, near the Atlantic side
which will create Gatun Lake by i'm
rounding the waters Of the Chagre
and ether streams, will be approx
mately ~ mile wide at its base, 40
feet wide at the water surface, an,
ANV lttA hlNN At TIC AODB anu lAH AlNb
will be at an elevation Of 1l5 fee
above mean sea level; or 30 feet aboy
the normal level of the lake. Tn
dams interior will be composed of
natural mixture Of clay and sand, oil
tanned from pits above and below tn
dam, and will be retained between tw
walls Of rock and miscellaneous mf
terlal, secured from excavations a
various points along the Canal. Tn
top and upstream side will be con
pletely riprapped
A spillway concrete lined, 1900 fee
long and 300 feet wide, taps the dar
near the center, TO discharge the waite
of the future lake until the construr
ton work shall have advanced su
iiclently to permit the formation @