New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-24
GeoIoaists' Prediction Wrong.


Last year II was predicted by geolo-
gists that the slides had been con-
uuered and that little more activity
could be expected because all the loose
surface soil and stone had almost sllo
Off exposing great ridges OF sohu
basalt rock which would act as bar
riers to further earth movements. YET
when all was most promising and the
canal excavation had gotten within SIN
~ feet of the bottom of the cut on the
east side. the rocks broke under the
tremendous pressure and 100000 CUBIC
yards of material slid into and closed
up the cut.
Since then, the canal workers have
been digging away that material, and
though there have been several slides
steady progress was made. for not only
did giant dredges work on the lace
of the slides, but powerful hydrauhc
monitors. such as were extensively used
in hydraulic mining on the Pacific coast
were brought into play TO wash away
the treacherous hills from the rear
carrying the material into unused VAL
leys distant from the canal.
A great engineering problem was in
volved in the solution of the question OF
continuing the excavation of the canal by
steam shovels or by hydraulic dredges,
and Colonel Goethals for the first time
makes an official statement of the rea-
sons which impelled him to choose the
wet method. In brief, these were based
on the apprehension that the Gamboa
dixie would not be strong or high enough
to keep the water out of the cut as the
Gatun Lake rose inothe wet season. Also,
steam shovel operations would be retard-
ed by the seasonal rains, which would not
affect the operation of the dredges. and,
finally, the measure was one of economy.
1t would have been possible. with the
shovels, to have removed all Of the slides
by January /, 1914, except the Cucaracha
slide. which could not have been entirely
carried off before April, 1914.
Financial Operations Of Canal.
The financial operations OF the canal
are told in big figures: The disbursng
officer has paid out s2o524705 on pay rolls
alone. Congress so far has appropriated
s349. sos, 223 for canal construction, OF
which sl0676 $50 went for Notifications.
In great detail Colonel Goethals tells
the story of the engineers work during
the last year. and with particular salts
faction II is reported that the mechanism
of the vast locks and dams was tested
with perfect success. The gates at Ga
tun were swung in one minute and fifty
one seconds for each leaf. The heavy
iron chains which are depended on TO
prevent an unruly vessel from crashing
into the locks were raised and lowered
in ample time to meet any emergency
and demonstrated their ability TO check
or stop any vessel unless of very great
size and moving at excessive speed. The
locomotives which will tow the ships
through the locks were tried out and
proved their ability easily TO handle the
largest of vessels. The electric installa-
ton which will involve the use of cur
rent of 1900 volts pressure was COM
pletely successful.
Altogether the technical sections OF the
report seem to demonstrate the accuracy
Of Colonel Cocktails statement that prac-
tically nothing but the great slide al
Cucaracha remains to prevent the sue
cessful operation of the canal.