The state herald., 1913-10-10

The final voyage through the canal Is
scheduled for some time during this
month. Within another month 1t is
expected the waters in Gatun lake
will have risen high enough to bring
the waters In the entire canal up to
the deep water level required for the
passage of the largest ships.
1t is said that as long ago as the
early part Of August, assurances were
given Washington officials that II the
emergency should arise, the entire
Atlantic battleship feet could be put
through the canal into Pacific waters
within 60 days from that date. The
work has been hurried with that end
in view, 1t is said, as no emergency
has existed, but this assurance is an
indication OF the belief OF the engi-
neers that their work is now practical
ly finished.
>cuiebra Cut Caused Trouble.
The excavation OF the Culebra cut,
into which the water has just been
turned. has been one of the engineer
ing feats connected with the building
OF the canal, and has caused the en-
gineers more trouble than any 9TH
er portion OF the big ditch" To
Col. d. d. Gaillard. the engineer of
the central division. is given the
credit for carrying this portion of the
work through to a successful termina-
ton.
The disastrous slides in the cut
were discouraging to the engineers.
multiplying in few hours the work Of
many weeks. but Col. Gaillard and his
assistants have kept untiringly at
their work. and at last have conquer.
ed the treacherous banks Of the deep
cut The engineers believe that the
danger OF slides will be eliminated
now that the water has been turned
into the cut.
A little more than q month ago the
giant steam shovels finished their
work In the Culebra cut Since that
time the workmen have been busy
removing the shovels. the railroad
tracks and other machinery used In
the excavation work. There Is still
some dirt TO be removed from the cut
before the channel is finished, but
this work will be done by suction
dredges floating on the waters OF the
canal. and will not interfere with nav
igation OF the waterway by such boats
as may be allowed to pass through.
Immense Artificial Lake Created.
Gatun lake. the waters OF which are
now flowing into the Culebra cut, is
the pivotal point about which the en-
tire canal system revolves. and the
creation OF this lake. together with the
construction OF Gatun dam, consti-
tuted another great engineering feat
In the construction OF the canal. Cat.
un lake is an artificial body OF water
covering about l6i square miles OF
territory and was created by the
building OF the Immense Gatun dam
and the impouading OF the Wild wa.
ters OF chagres river. Beneath the
waters OF Gatun lake lies what few
months ago was the valley OF the
Chagres. dotted with native villages
and plantations The channel OF the
canal passes through this lake for \
distance OF "a miles with width vary.
Ing from 500 to 1000 feet.
At the northern end OF the lake
IL the Gatun dam. which In In reality
nm artificial ridge more than n mile
and n half long Figures alone give
an adequate idea OF the magnitude o,
this dam Nearly half mile wide at
its base. about 400 feet wide Mt tho
water surface. and 100 feet wide nt
the top. the dixie which many on,
gineern predicted would never with
stand the rush OF the chagres wa
ters. ia admitted now TO be NO strong
that nothing short OF nm earthquak.
such an has never been known In the
Central American region can harm
H. The Gatun dam. Gatun lake and
tho culobra cut. 30 gigantic arc tho
proportions OF each, dwarf tho othor
engineering works OF tho canal that
In themselves have challenged tho ad
miration OF tho world.
World oives oosthsls Credit.
To Col George Gocthais. chairman
OF tho lsthmian canal commission
chief engineer OF the commission and
governor OF tho canal sone, the world
} will give the credit for the successful
} completion OF tho Panama canal. Col
Ooothala could not have accomplish