Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-21
GLG WGoekhaZs

why the ground should not De firm for
all time to come. Besides slides OF this
Kind move very slowly and the proba-
bility Is that any that may occur can
easily be handled by the dredges so as
10 keep the canal clear. I would say also
earth binders in the shape OF various
grasses and plants. They will soon be
covered with Jungle and this will further
lessen the danger.
No Fear of Earthquakes.
But how about earthquakes asked
We have also considered that possibil-
ity." replied Colonel Goethals. I'VE have
seismographs here by which We keep
records Of the earths tremors and We
also have reports of such machines the
world over. We have records Of the
earthquake at San Francisco. and Of the
shakes which occurred then at ST. Louis
and otherwheres. We find that we have
here about the same trembling OF the
earth as occurs at such times in Wash
ington city, and have decided that II
is only when l hear that the national
capitol has fallen that shall need TO
have any great alarm about the canal.
No. the earthquakes are not frightening
me at ALL"
But are you not in the earthquake
beit?"
We have never had any great disturb
ances at Panama, although the belt seems
very pronounced in Costa Rica Just north
OF here. As an evidence OF the stability
of construction on the isthmus you must
have seen the arch In the old church at
Panama. II Is the widest, lowest and
nearest horizontal OF any arch known to
architecture. II Is, perhaps. forty feet
long, and consists OF one span without
any support except at the ends. That
arch is 800 years old and II is still firm
Notwithstanding most OF the church Is In
ruins. ] would say. however that the
Panamans have a tradition that that
arch fell twice during its construction.
and that at last. in despair, the mon,
who was the architect got down on his
knees and prayed TO the Lord TO HELM
him. In his prayer he said that he would
build the arch once more. and he begged
the Lord to cause II to stand although
the rest OF the church might crumbIe to
atoms. Many of the natives believe that
prayer is the cause OF the stability Of the
arch. Some Of our Catholic friends are
now erecting a church here on the zone.
II that will make the earth more firm
and strengthen Culebra should be glad
to have them cover the hills of the cut
with churches from one end to the other.
Seriously speaking, I do not think there
is any danger from earthquakes"
The Great Dam and Lake Gatun.
But colonel. are you sure as to the
Gatun dam? Will 1t be strong enough to
hold back that l64 square miles Of water
which will be stored up in the lake,"
There is no doubt about the dam"
said Colonel Goethals. 1T has been made
according TO the regulations which pro-
vided that it should be a barrier which
would convince beyond doubt both Iegis-
lators and laymen OF its stability. I be-
lieve we could have made a dam of less
size for less money which would have
satisfied the engineers. but the designers
considered this dam desirable and It has
been constructed. The factor Of safety
in II is far beyond the absolute necessity
There has been q great interest in the
dam and II has been given more prom
inence among the engineering features
OF the work than is warranted by its
construction. 1t Is nothing but a hill
built across the valley with the spillwsv
in the middle. You understand how Z, Is
made. We have formed two great dumps
OF the waste material. mostly the rock
from Culebra, and the lock site and Mind
on the outer lines Of the structure. and
have filled in the space between these
dumps with the material from the nv
draulic dredges. The spilway is 50 ar
ranged that it controls the height Of the
lake. and at the same time gives US elec-
tric power sufficient for the machinery NJ
the canal, including the locks. The locks
are among the most interesting features e.,
Cost Less Than 1876, 200, 900.
What will be the probable cost Of the
canal when it is eompleted?"
That will depend very much on .ba
accessories, such as dry COCKS. terr,t-
nails. coaling stations and supply houses
It will certainly be less than S75 on edo
At the present time we are expecting
to save from s15.Oo00oo to 100000 on
the estimated cost"
How can you make such calculations
as to a job Of these mighty dimension?
1t Is very simple" said Colonel Goe-
hals. We make our measurements and
estimate the quantity. Then from the