The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-10-27
Splendid Progress
Made On Canal
Following Description a Good One
ofConditions In the zone-Canal
to be Opened IN 1913.

Magnificent is the word which
might fttingly describe the pro-
gress made on the construction Of
the Panama canal. The statement
of Colonel George w. Goethals,
chief engineer of the canal, that
the canal would be finished in
September, 1913, or over one year
before the date previously an
nounced for its Inauguration, was
at first received with some hesita-
tion. Now, however, an examina-
tion of the colossal work that is
being rushed to completion in
MiraAores, Pedro Miguel aud
Gatun, and the surprising way the
Culebra cut is advanced has con-
vienced the most incredulous that
Colonel Geothal's estimate of com.
pletion in 1913 will be borne out.
The point which seems to offer
the greatest difficulties throughout
the whole canal is the cut in the
Culebra Hills and this, not on ac-
count of engineering problems,
but because of the many slides
occurring from the loose earth.
These slides confuse estimates as
to the number of cubic yards to be
ultimately excavated. The en-
gineers, however, in charge Of the
work are confident that these
difficulties are by no means in
superabls and will, in no way,
retard the date set for opening the
canal.
Even before disembarking, the
stranger to the Isthmus on arriv-
) ing at Colon, the Atlantic terminus
of the canal, will be struck by the
unusual activity visible in every
direction in the harbor. His at
tention will first be directed to the
long trestle already stretching
seawards for over one and a half
miles in a northeast direction from
Todo Lighthouse Point across the
harbor. All along this trestle
rock and stones are being dumped
to form a breakwater whose ultl-
mate length from shore will be
about two miles. The estimated
cost of this breakwater is $780,
600. It is being built to reduce
to a minimum the silt that may be
washed into the channal of the
canal, and also to
protect the inner basin of the
harbof, which leads to the en-
trance of the canal, from the
northerly gales which usually
obtain here from October to
January and which not infre-
quently do much damage to the
shipping and ooast'ine.
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
q mile into the harbor from Cristo.
bal point.
y These piers will he roomy
enough to permit several large
liners to dock simultaneously
Powerful tugs, each towing large
arges laden with sand and rock
!: for the locks from Porto Belle
(some twenty miles from Colon
along the eastern coast and now q
lairly large American settlement),
may possibly be 10 sight on theil
way through the canal to Gatun
seven miles distant from Colon
H the above bespeaks activity
around Colon harbor, the activity
will be seen 70 be greater when
Gatun is reached. Il is hsre the
canal ceases to be sea level and
reaches the three giant locks
which will lift all ships eighty tiye
@ feet and BE them to pass int
tho laatnn lake, artifcially formed
IL III b monster dam which impoundl
the waters Of the river Charges
= 49, kG,s ". - - M