The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-16

Colon, the Atlantic terminus of the
canal, will be struck by the unusual
activity visible in every direction ii
the harbor. His attention will first b.
directed to the long trestle already
stretching Stewards for over one and
half miles In q northeast direction
from TODD Lighthouse Point across the
harbor All along this trestle rock
and stones are being dumped to form
a. breakwater whose ultimate length
from shore viii be about two miles.
The estimated cost OF this breakwater
is SIS, 500, 900. 1t Is being built TO re-
duce to q minimum the silt that may
be washed into the chanel Of the ca
nal, and also to protect the inner basin
Of the harbor, which leads to the en-
trance of the canal from the norther-
ly gales which usually obtain here
from October to January and which
not infrequently do much damage to
the shipping and coastline.
The eye following the coastline will
soon be attracted towards the massive
piers which. begun about three months
ago and to cost ultimately several
million dollars, already stretch out for
nearly half mile into the harbor
from Cristobai point
These piers will be roomy enough
to permit several large liners to dock
simultaneously. Powerful tugs, each
towing large barges laden with sand
and rock for the locks from Porto
BeIIo (some twenty miles from Colon
aIong the eastern coast and now a
fairly large American settlement),
may possibly be in sight on their way
through the canal to Gatun, seven
nilea distant from Colon. IL the
above bespeaks activity around Colon
harbor, the activity will be seen to be
greater when Gatun is reached. 1t Is
here the canal ceases to be sea level
and reaches the three giant locks
which will lift all ships eighty 1--WE
feet and enable them to pass into the
Gatun lake, artifciaIly formed by q
monster dam which impounds the wa
tiers Of the river Chagres and It's tri-
butaries.
The steam shovels. OF which there
are several types and sizes, are eating
away the dirt from the mountain
slopes or digging deep down into the
earth with regularity that suggests
the swing OF a. pendulum or the beat
OF d pulse. Large buckets filled with
concrete are passing noiselessly over
head along the steel cables and depos-
iting their contents at the desired
spot. The whole scene Ia one well cali
culated to inspire admiration for the
manner in which the work ts being
performed.
what applies to Gatun applies also
to the other various sections along the
canal. ell tending TO convince the OBJ
server that the possibility Of opening
the canal before the date officially
fixed ID no empty boast.
What the sanitary department of
the canal commission has accom-
plished IN cleansing the canal zone Of
yellow fever and other disease is well
known. The progressive wonders that
have been attained in housing, feed
Ing and providing amusement and In
gfrnction to the army Of 10000 work
men ii less well known. The pesti-
ferrous jungle and swamp have been
into clean, smart looking.
healthful towns and villages to be
seen throughout the canal zone, all
full Of hustling activity and today the
pleasant rendezvous or an ever increas-
ln9 number OF American and other
tourists This Transformation has
cost millions, but they have been well
spent and the uninterrupted and sue
ressful digging or the canal ever since
has been rendered possible thereby.
Throughout the whole length of the
sanal clean comfortable houses have
been built for che married employees
ana their families Eighteen big boz
tells were also erected for the bachel- |
sra beaides numerous barracks. mess