The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-11-18

here again the engineers were con-
fronted with new difficulties. owing
10 the peculiar climatic conditions
on the Isthmus. with tropical heat
and etreme humidity. and the deter
i"rating effect ot these. conditions on,
tho Insulation OF electrical machinery
the ordinary insulation proved unre-
liable. and theengiucers found II n.S-
'ssary 10 make a great number u
"Npef iments. no less than Is sample
motors being pitt- against on. an
other u was AN awful Test for dvnu-
mo and motor builders 60 have their
machines required TO oprrat. for a
P'iipd OF ten days an II building filied
win steam AZ a smI-eraturD Of so
degrees c,ntigrade and having the
motor cases fillcd with water Tor n,...
hours al 30 degrees. But finally tho
American motor builders y spondrd
and suitable apparatus Is being IN
stalled.
The Canal.
Thus electric motors under tests
are now swinging the great gates OF
the canal each weighing very MANY
tons and as tall and broad as n great
skyscraping building Ia the remark
able time Of one minute and forty
eight seconds. Incidentally II appears
that 10 make these gates. tho iron
workers must drive and head INIT
900 riveis. The pivOts Of these great
locks are being made OF special
grade OF steel and bronze. not only
for strength. but to prevent them
against corrosion. very necessary
precaution In view OF the fact tina.
they viii always be submerged in sea
water after the canal j. open To
- fr.aT
rings are also placed on the bronze
bushings
To supply the power 10 operate The
gates and sluice valves IN The locks.
and furnish current for the monster
electric locomotives which are 20 tow
the steamships through tho locks. a
great hydroelectric station - being
erected adjacent 10 the splllwav in
Gatun dam. There are three 1880
kilowat' generators with suitable *.
citers and other auxiliaries There
viii be enough available water from
the storage In Lake Gatun to warrant
he installation of 5000 kilowatiz.
though In the dry season 81 VIII b.
necessary 10 draw upon tine storage.
Altogether IL IS figured that for thf.
electric work seven per CEN % the
MINIMUM Nhtfl - 0IfII OF IIe canal
VIII be required 4 part Of the cleo
tricity IS 90 be used for lighting the
line OF the canal. There will be con
cret" lamp posts 100 feet apart
throughout the entire length ~ each
lock wall. Altogether :. 1000 lamps will
be Installed az the locks
Outside Of the canal proper. the re-
port shows that work has been going
on rapidly In preparing harbors for
IN" shelter % ships a. each end Of
The waterway. The work Of fortified.
Ton has also been progressing we'll
nearly half million Yards Of concrete
having been placed iu the mortar pits
ana gun emplacrments during the last
year The sanitation ~ the isthmus
alsp has been maintained af the hfeh
level set by col rilliam q. Georpas
th" chief sanitary officer. from the De-.
ginning.
CONTRARY 70 the common IMPRESSION
the sanitary work loo the way AZ clear
ing land does not extend over THE en-
tire zone bur less than zoo ~ tho
ZtN.NiS acres in the tract are kent
clear for sanitary purposes and al
most ~" entire zone is in ifs original
condition a. regards brush aud jungle.