The Raymer enterprise., 1913-07-10

Colon. G. I'll am going to take you
through the completed Panama canal
on the first vessel to pass across the
isthmus from the Atlantic ocean to
the Pacific. True. the canal is not yet
completed, and will not be for year
or So but that shall not prevent our
making the trip now-on paper.
Let US imagine ourselves. then. on
an ocean liner approaching the Allan
tic or northern entrance Of the great
canal, prepared to enjoy this initial
trip and to wonder at the sights IN
store for US. In that word northern
lies the first surprise for many Of the
passengers who did not know that
the canal runs not from east to west.
but from northwest to southeast. This
seeming anomaly is due to the fact
that the Isthmus of Panama here
trends almost east and west.
1t is still early morning when a
watchful passenger shouts Land"
and all who are up rush to the port
rail to gaze upon the billy. jungly
coast of the isthmus between Porto
Bello and Colon. As the steamship
plows swiftly through the waters as
blue as ever were those of the .Medi-
terranean a cheer goes up from the
deck, for we have caught glimpse OF
the Stars and Stripes fluttering above
a fringe OF cocoanut palms. That
marks the location Of one Of the big
forts built to protect the canal In time
Of war and is on Margarlta island.
virtually a part Of the mainland.
Colon. fiat and unpicturesque, now
comes into view, and directly ahead
OF US an immense breakwater
stretches mile out from the shore
on the right. At Its land end. on
Toro point, is another fort whose
great guns are masked by the tropical
foliage.
Now we have virtually entered the
canal, for the 500.foot channel extends
far out from the shore line. At re-
duced speed we enter Colon harbor
and the Bay Of Limon and steam past
the pretentious Washington hotel. I'm.
Gle Sam. proprietor; the docks OF
Colon. crowded with shipping from
the United States. Europe and many
a port Of Latin America, and the
American town Of Cristobal on whose
water front stands the statue Of Co
lumbus sent over long years ago by
the Empress Eugene. Skipping about
the bay. looking like long. black water
beetles. are the cayukas or native dug.
outs. and moving lazlly before the sea
breeze are the little sailing craft in
which the queer San Bias Indians are
bringing their products to market.
Four miles and q half we steam
through Limon bay and the shores
narrow In on our 509foot channel.
still at tide level. Now look ahead
three miles and get glimpse Of the
Gatun locks. that tremendous flight Of
three water steps up which we are to
be lifted. In, q few minutes We reach
the towering dividing wall Of concrete.
our own power Is shut of and the
electric locomotives on the lock walls
take US In tow. Four of these power
full machines attach their hawsers to
our ship. two In front to pull 1t and two
astern to keep 1t steady and to bring
1t tc stop when entirely within the
lock chamber. The immense gates
close silently behind US and at once
the water begins to flow into the
chamber through culverts that have
their openings in the concrete floor.
Slowly the vessel rises until 1t is on
q level with the second chamber,
28 1.3 feet above sea level. when the
gate ahead is opened and the electric
mules move forward. this time up a
heavy grade by means Of the center
racks In the tracks. Twice this opera
ton is repeated. and now we are at
the summit. IS feet above the sea.
The last gate opens and the locomo-
tves pull US into Gatun lake.
As our propellers begin to turn
again and we steam out into this i'm.
mense artificial lake. q marvelously
beautiful landscape is spread before
US. The surface Of the lake 10 dotted
with islets. once the submits Of Tiger
hill, Lion hill and q dozen other emil.
nences; on both sides are steep pro-
montories. lovely little peninsulas and
deep bays and inlets where the water
has spread into the once jungle.flled
valleys.
Before we get too far from the
locks. let US step to the starboard rail
and have . look at the 0atun dam
enormous stretch Of rock, sand and
clay that has formed Gatun lako BY
impoundlng the waters Of the Chagres
river. It Is In reality q low ridge, one
and q half miles long. built across the
valley, and when we are told that I,
10 nearly half . mile wide at its base
400 feet wide at the water surface anc
100 feet wide at IT. crest. which Il
twenty feet above the level Of ths
lake, how utterly ridiculous seem tn,
fears OF those alarmists who predictec
the dam would be pushed over by th,
Chagrss IN time Of nood!