The Detroit times., 1913-11-27
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I navigating the high seas are less than
600 feet in length, and this has been
taken as the determining factor for
the location OF intermediate gates,
which are introduced In the design to
save both time and water. For the
protection OF the intermediate gates
against vessels using a smaller length
of chamber q chain barrier is to be
installed.
Guide piers are provided both up
stream and down, to which vessels
will tie before entering the locks.
Electric towing machines will be used
for towing vessels into and controlling
their passage through the locks by
means OF lines or gables attached to
what may be considered the four cor
ners OF the ship.
Even with all these precautions &C
cidents may happen. and emergency
dams are provided at the head OF each
fight OF locks, consisting OF swing
bridges. which can be thrown across
the locks In case OF an accident which
makes a connection between the top
level and the level below; wicket
Orders are let down from these swing
bridges, supported by a sill at the bot
tom and the horizontal truss work OF
the bridge at the top. These wicket
Orders act as runways for gates,
which are lowered and gradually stop
the flow.
In the Pacific division the work con-
sisted OF the construc ton OF duplicate
locks at Pedro Miguel, overcoming a
30-foot difference OF level, with the
fun t,, tnhf
also in duplicate. at Mirafores, con-
nec'ed with the adjacent hills by one
earth and one concrete dam: excavat-
Ing the channels between the locks to
the required depths, and the excava-
ton OF the channel TO proper width to
deep water in the PacInc
The Mirafiores locks are two in
fight, overcoming the difference In
level between Mirafiores Lake and
the sea level section. The maximum
lift for these locks is about 65 feet.
The relocated Panama railroad was
pushed forward SO as to keep pace
with canal construction work.
Under the SpoOner act the president
was authorized TO construct canal
through commission consisting OF
seven members. In January, 1905, the
secretary OF war, in a letter to the
president, called attention to this
faulty organization. In 1907 the pres
ident simplifled matters by combining
the duties OF chairman and chief engi-
neer In one person, and later the
secretary OF war vested the powers
OF the governor Of the Canal Zone in
the same party, thus eliminating the
friction that had previously existed
between these three functionaries. An
thorty was still further concentrated
by an executive order In January.
1908, and out OF which the final organ
ization resulted.
The chief engineers once was d.
vided into three divisions. The first
had charge OF designs OF masonry and
lock structures. including valves, lock
gates and protective devices, operat-
Ing machinery, movable dams and
spillway. The second had charge OF
the designs and construction of dry
docks and coaling stations, Of all
questions that arose concerning shops,
buildings. municipal improvements,
estimates, allotment Of funds, rates
OF pay and cost keeping. The third
had charge of meteorology, river n.y.
draulics, general surveys not pertain
ing to any of the construction divi-
sions, and special Investigations.
Reporting directly to the chairman
were the heads Of the departments Of