Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1912-11-14

The following concerning the
Panama Canal now in course OF
constructions, will be OF interest.
This is the most gigantic nndertak-
ing ever contemplated and its prob
able completion year ahead OF
scheduled time is due to American
terprise This feat at one time was
claimed to be an impossibility and
the authorities of the United States
were said to be crazy in even sug-
gcsting it:
The entire length of the Canal
from deep water to deep water is 81
miles. From shore line to shore
line its length is about 40 miles.
In passing from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, a vessel will steam
through ] miles OF channel with
bottom width OF 500 feet to Gatun.
where it will enter a series Of thre'
locks in flight and be lifted IS feet
TO the level of Gatun Lake. 1t may
steam at full speed through this lake
in a channel varying from 500 to
1000 feet in width, for distance OF
about "a miles. where 1t will enter
Culebra Gut This cut is 9 miles
long 45O feet high at the highest
point and has bottom width of 800
feet.
The maximum tidal oscillation on
the Atlantic is 21l feet, while on the
Pacific it is q feet.
The depth of canal including its
course through the lake varies from
As to IS feet The bottom width
varies from 800 in Culcbra Cut to
from 500 to 1000 feet IN the lake.
The Gatun Dam, which will form
Gatun Lake by impounding the
waters OF the Charles River and its
tributaries. will be nearly ll2 miles
long. = mile wide at its base, about
400 feet thick at normal water Level
and its crest will be rs feet above
sea level.
This lake will furnish the water
for lockage. the locks being filed
by gravity flow through conduits in
the concrete walls OF the locks and
thence percolating through holes III
bottom OF the locks. 1t Is estimated
that the lake will furnish enough
water OF make a passages daily
through the locks, using Them at full
length. or about So lockages day,
when partial length is used. The
locks are 1000 feet long. llO feet
wide and As feet deep, and are in
double sets, so that one ship can
be ascending while another is de-
cending.
The gates Of these locks will be
steel structures ! feet thick by o.
feet long. and from A. to 80 feet
high. They will weigh from 300 to
900 tons each.
Electricity will be used to tow all
vessels into and through the locks
and 70 operate all gates and valves.
power being generated by water tur-
bjncs from the head created by
Gatun Lake, the power-house beng
located in the spilway. This power
will also be used TO light the canal
and indicate the position OF vessels.
Vessels will not be permitted to en-
ter or pass through the locks under
their own power. but will be towed
through BY electric locomotives run
ming on cog rails laid on top of the
lock walls. The number of loco
motives vii vary with the size OF the
vessel, the uesua number. howevet.
will be four, two ahead to tow the
vessel. and two astern to hold IT IN
a central position and bring it to a
stop.
The time required to pass yes
sci through all the locks rs estimated
at 3 hours. and the time consumed
in passage from deep water to deep
water will be from 10 to Il hours,
according to how fast the vessel
travels under its own steam.
For the purpose of protecting tho
lock gates from ship that may be
out Of control, fender chains have
been placed across the canal at the
lake entrance. If as ship is ap-