The state herald., 1913-10-10
WORK ON PANAMA
CANAL NEAR END
Waters of Gatun Lake Turned
Into the Culebra Cut.
BIG Dixie IS TO BE REMOVED
This VIII Mark the Practical Compile
ton Of the Big Waterway After
Nine Years Of Labor by an
Army Of Men.

Colon, Panama, Oct 1.-The Pan
anna canal stands today virtually CON-
plete.
The preliminary steps toward the
destruction OF the Gamboa dixie. which
until the present time, has held the
waters OF Gatun lake out OF the Gu
Zebra cut, were taken today when the
valves In four great 26-inch pipes
which pierce the dixie were opened
and the waters OF the lake began
flowing into the Culebra cut Within
. few days. 1t is expected. enough wa
ter will have flowed into the cut to
form q cushion and prevent the dam
age that might be done II the dixie
were were blown up and the waters al
lowed to rush into the empty cut.
The Anal destruction OF the big dixie
is scheduled for October 10. when
charges OF dynamite placed in holes
already drilled In the dixie will be ex-
ploded. The explosion OF these
charges will not completely destroy
the dixie. but will weaken II and loos.
on the dirt SO that the force OF the
waters from Gatuan lake will carry II
away. Steam shovels will remove the
remnants OF the dixie. leaving an open
passageway from ocean to ocean.
Canal Really Complete Now.
Although the canal will not be ON.
cially declared completed for some
time. and the formal opening OF the
waterway to the commerce OF the
world more than q year distant. the
canal engineers look upon the de.
struction OF the Gamboa dixie as mark.
Ing the real completion OF the canal.
The big engineering feats have all
been accomplished, the excavation
work practically has been completed.
and the great locks have been con.
structed. The work that remains TO
be done 10 largely detail. and is but
child's play as compared with that
which has been done. More dirt is
TO be removed from the channel, but
this VIII be done with suction dredges
floating upon the waters OF the canal.
There still remain some finishing
touches to be placed upon the locks,
but this work will take comparatively
little time and presents no engineer.
ing difficulties such as have been en-.
countered In the past.
Tho fact that the canal stands prac,
tically complete more than year be
fore the time originally set as tho
date for It's completion IL one OF tho
remarkable features OF the work
When Count de Lessops. the grea,
French engineer. abandoned his ef
forts TO build the Panama canal afte,
eight years OF labor. he had scarcely
made beginning upon the gigantic
task. In nine years. the American On
gineers. starting almost Mt the sam,
point as dc Lcasops. for the latter,
work was Of little value TO tho Amer
leans. have virtually completed tn,
undertaking. When tho work wa,
started tho world soofYod Mt tho ider
that II would be completed within IN,
umo limit set. but hats are now of
10 tho American army engineers whs
have more than KEEP, their word, dc
spite unforeseen difficulties that hay,
besst thom at every hand.
oosthsls to Make Final Test.
Tho first vessel to pass through In,
canal probably will be n boat Of III,
lsthmian canal commission. Col
George w. 0octhais. chairman OF tn,
commission and chief engineer OF III,
canal. and his principal assistants