Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-14

depth In the canal channel OF forty
Eve feet throughout. Another dam
would prevent the lake so formed from
spilling down the Pacific slope. Thus
all but about fifteen miles Of the canal
would be made by an inland, artificial
lake, 1874 square miles In extent
But even in a lock type there would
have to be an impressive amount Of
excavation. Not only would the sea
level channels approaching this lake
on either side of the isthmus have tc
be dredged. but the mountain barrier.
running lengthwise with the isthmus.
would have to be pierced with chan
mel 80 as to permit the waters Of the
Gatun lake to reach the point on the
Pacific side where the locks would
afford the descent to the ocean.
The area to be excavated In this lake
channel, thirty-two miles long. was
from Gatun to Obispo. following the
Chagres river in general and requiring
only about 100000 cubic yards to be
removed in twenty-three miles. Then
the mountains began, forty-6ve feet
above sea level. and reached their
highest point, in the center line Of the
canal, at Gold hill. 312 feet above sea
level, thence sloping toward the Pa
cific to the proposed lock site at Pedro
Miguel. distance Of nine miles. The
average depth Of the cut would be l2O
feet throughout the nine miles, and the
deepest point Of excavation at Gold hill
would require going down 272 feet.
The Culebra cut, as this channel
through the mountains was called. was
to be 200 feet wide. In 1880 the
French had begun work there. and
they removed 1S,646.0O0 cubic yards
that were useful to the Americans.
Their machinery was used the first
year Of our occupation.
At Gatun. on the Atlantic side OF the
proposed lake. there would be locks to
lift ships to the lake. and Mt Pedro
Miguel and La Boca, on the Pacific
side, the locks would lower the ships
to sea level again.
The Americans came to the canal
zone in 1904 with the question of the
kind Of canal to be built unsettled
They were to be there more than two
years before the violently discussed Is
sue was to be settled. Meanwhile.
however. 1t was recognized that there
was a vast amount Of pioneer and
preparatory work to be accomplished
that would absorb the activities OF the
organization pending the solution OF
this problem.
What kind of country as to tenn
perature. rainfall. vegetable aud AMI
NAL life and healthfulness had We Sc
cured? AS to the first characteristic.
Panama is only nine degrees from the
equator. But 1t is far from being as
hot as that proximity might suggest.
Throughout the year the temperature
averages about S5 degrees. The high
est recorded temperature In the canal
zone Is only 81 degrees. At night the
atmosphere falls sharply until, usual.
ly, light covering Is required on beds.
and the hot. sweltering nights Of Amer
lean cities in the summer are unknown
The northern mind, too, considerably
has overestimated the effects OF the
rainy season at Panama. During
January, February. March and April
there Is practically No rainfall. BY
the 1st Of May ignt showers occur
daily or every few days and through
June, with an occasional gusher
From then on to December the rains
become more frequent and heavier and
have q way Of coming up about the
same time every day. sometimes In
the afternoons. sometimes In the morn
ings. Construction operations have to
be suspended during the violent rains.
On the Atlantic side the rainfall av'
erages between 1870 and l40 inches an
nually, on the Pacific side from 60 to
10 inches. At times 1t rains so furl,
ously that 1t appears to be one continu-
GUS sheet of water falling. For one
hour the record fall Is 5.S6 inches: for
one day, ut Porto Bello, 1905 inches;
In three minutes 2.46 inches fell ut
tho same place. and at Panama on
May IL, 1912, 6 inches fell in two
hours The years 1906 and 1909 were
the wettest since the American occIl
patton and 1912 the driest
The heavy precipitation makes the
rivers of Panama torrential streams.
The Chagres river has risen twenty
FIVE feet In twenty-four hours. During
every season the records left by the