Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-11-22
PANAMA CANAL.
Review Of Fast Years Work On tAs
BiR Ditch.

- -
HiR Disca.
Tbs great mechacioal problems 'con-
nectsd with TIE construction OF the Pana-
mn canal, which ID 70 b opened to the
government In January, 1915, pass in ~
view In the annual report OF the Isthminn
canal commission just made public. The
record Of the years achievements in the
gigantic task that II being worked ont BY
the Warrington govsrnment, under con-
sressional appropriations that 80 far az
greasts t2ea, 81, -, includes:
Completion OF Almost three-qusrtefs OF
Culebra cut. Total excavation OF ma
terAi from Cuiebra during the year,
16-21,6z cubic yards q taverags. cost OF
6s.s cents per yard.
Big plans laid for canal terminals, In
Guiding storage OF fuel, fresh water ana
other supplies, repair facilities, ETC. r.
cine terminal to have dry dock, store
houses and coaiinR stations-
Ffscticai competition OF pians OF Al
locks.
Eiaooiese scneme tor lighting the canal.
safeguarding Of tns canal against pig
iAndshoss.
Inc report treats tns phystcai aspects OF
the dig wessr~sy with minute detail.
2osstions OF soilss form Of government
ana cnarectsr ana extent OF population 20
% permitsed N the CANAL zone nave pesn
reported upon 10 edvaecs ensses OF the ~
pofs earsedy maoe p0ouc.
Inc locks nave ossn great pfooiem.
Dssisns iof the approech waiis OF ~
locks, exceps cns, nave Dssn prepared.
Consrsces an force q the beginning q the
nscai ysef wsrs practically ccmpssesd ana
new contracts entered into ssor vast
amount OF frames, valves, gates and other
psraphsrnsiiA nssdsd to pat the canal
INTO opsrasson. Aoss tnsn % tons OF
CASTINGS wsss MADE o. the isthmus.
6ohdihg OF the sfsas lock gates, each lsaf
Of wnicn 70 nHy-toor tsss, eight inches
nign-was expedited. A each lock en-
trance strong fender chains attached to
powerful springs VIII b Installed 70 Pre-.
vent shfps from bateerinR down the locks.
A noattng caisscn gate u being installed
for NE IN closing lock 20 - to enable
wofkmen TO repair the permanent locks
and the bottom siuices.
Anai illumination WIZ De provided by
range lights for establishing the direction
OF vessels on the longer tangsnts, and by
side nights mile apart marking each side
Of the channel. booys and lighted oea-
cons, ouiit OF reinforced concrete, viii
abound.
Famous Cuieors cut 10 ten miles long
ana deep enough 10 receive the United
STATES eap'toi, dome ana al. From this
CUT, despite tne enormous excavation DUR
ing the year, on July !, last, there re-
manned S,SS,l4o cubic yards to b re-
moved. Estimates OF excavation neces-
safy IN TINS cut nave been largely In
creased 20 allow ior the great earth siides'
AAst year THESE slides thst nad 70 Be re-
moved rom tne canal cutting after II had
been practically complete was 4,SDsSS
yards or over - per cent. OF AL tho ma
teriai removed from the cut.
Thess slides have occurred where the
material sxcavatsd vas LETT on . slops
sleeper than sne permanent incline viii
b, and the trouble y expected to cease
when the natural siope OF the canal banks
y restored.
Breaks have occurred on both sides Of
tho cut where tn underlying rock d OF
poor quality and = broken up from the
sides, interrupting the drainaxs and COW
ering mp the raiiroad tracks. 10 meet
this condition, intsrnediats branches
have been cnt along tbs slope TO diserib-
ute the top weight and reduce the
amount Of material TO b removed. Il 70
dslared that when tbs bottom grade Of the
canal Il reached no further trouble need b
anticipated, - greater stability will BE-
given BY the water. "With both slides
and hreaks," the commission says, 1.-THE
question u one Of ultimate amount Of
excavation. and whatever the feeling else
where, there IL NO spprshsnsion ON the
isthmus y TO the Anal outcome among
thone acouainfad With thu facfs Tha