The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-21

"Tbc lock cnnnl IL by fur the better.
II VIII be more permanent and more
economically
canal. No, the earthquakes arc not
frightening me ut all"
but are you not in the earthquake
belt?"
we have never had any great dis
turbance at Panama, although the belt
seems very pronounced In Costa Rlca.
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. 1t is
the widest. lowest and nearest hori-
zontal of any arch known TO archi-
lecture. IT is. perhaps, forty feet long
and consists of ono span without any
support except at the ends. That
arch is zoo years old, and il is stiil
firm, Notwithstanding most OF the
church is In ruins.
Il would say. however, tina, the
Panamnns have tradition that that
arch fell twice during its constructions
and that at last. in despair. the monk
who was the architect got down on
his knees and prayed TO the Lord 10
help him. In his prayer lie said that
he would build the arch once more.
and he begged the Lord TO cause IL
10 stand. although the rest OF the
IHuiSl UllIHt tlunlplS IN 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 church here on the zone
III that will mako the earth more firm
and strengthen Culotra | should bc
glad TO have them cover the hills Of
the cut with churches from one end
TO the other. Seriously speaking. /
do not think there Is any danger from
n h n l.
The Grcnt Dam md Like Gntuu.
But. colonel. arc you sure rs to the
Gatun Dam? VIII IL be strong enough
20 hold back that 1851 squire miles Of
Hatcr which viii be stored up III the
2akc?"
There is no doubt about the dam,
said Colonel Gocthals. 1t has been
made according to the regulations
which provided that il should be a
BARRIER which would convince beyond
doubt both Legislators ana laymen OF
its stability. | believe wc could have
made dam of less size for less money
which would have satisfied the en-
Einecrs, but the designers considered
his dam desirable, and it has heen
constructed The factor OF safety in
I is far beyond the absolute necessity
There has been IA great interest in the
dam, and il has ben given more
prominence among the engineering
features of the work than Is
warranted by its construction. 1t
IS nothing but hill built across
the valley with the spillway in
The middle. you understand how it Is
made. We have formed two great
dumps Of the waste material. mostly
the rock from Culebra. and the lock
site and Mindi on the outer lines Of
:he structure. and have iiilcd in the
space between these dumps with the
material from the hydraulic dredgcs
The spillway is so arranged that IL
controls the height OF the lake, and
At the same time gives lis electric
power sufficient for the machinery OF
the canal. including the locks. The
locks arc among the most interesting
features"
The Canal Cost 10 BE Less Than s3T5.-
100000.
What will be the probable cost Of
the canal when it is conpleted?"
That Will depend very much on the
accessories, such as dry-docks ter
mina!s. coaling stations and supply
houses. Ii will certainly be less than