The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-10-18
PANAMA CANAL IS OPENED

Panama, October 10-The Gamboa dixie exploded at 2O2
O'Clock this afternoon The destruction Of the dixie was successful
in every way.
Washington, October 10 -Exactly at 2 o'clock Eastern time
this afternoon President Wilson. pressing a button in the White
House, sent an electric current flashing more than 1000 miles over
land and under seas to blow up the Gamboa dixie in the Panama
canal and remove the last practical obstacle in the great interoceanic
waterway.
The little electric spark ignited the immense charges OF dyna-
mite and practically cleared the Panama canal. Electrical experts
calculated that within four seconds after the initial impulse the cur
rent threw a small switch at the Gamboa dixie which, In turn, set
in motion other apparatus, furnishing the current which exploded
the charges.
The Atlantic and Pacific oceans we're not actually united to-day
when the Gamboa dixie was destroyed and the water of Gatun lake
were allowed to flow into Culebra GU, as lake and cut are, at the
normal surface of the water, IS feet above the level of the sea
The destruction of the dixie, however, removed the last obstruc-
ton to the navigation of the greater part of the canal by light draf'
vessels and opens up direct connection between the great Gatun lake
which is already practically ready to discharge vessels into the At
lantic through the Gatun locks, and the Pacific division The
v aters of the lake, rushing through the broken dixie at Gamboa,
sweep through Culebra cut until they reach the great locks at Pedro
Miguel which mark the beginning of the descent from the top level
Of the canal to the Pacific.
The first craft to enter will be the great steam dredges, whose
work is to clear and deepen the channel. The presence of small
craft in portions of the canal, however, does not as yet mean ocean
to-ocean navigation. This will be first possible when each link in
the canal has sufficient depth of water and all the locks ar work
ing.
Gamboa dixie was built in 1908 to hold the Chagres river in
check during its turbulent periods and to prevent its waters from
entering the nine-mile section of Culebra cut and delaying the work
O. the steam shoves.
Brief History Of Waterway
Facts about Panama canal:
Cost, $375,000O00.
Length, AZ IL miles.
Dirt excavated, 242, 100000 cubic yards.
Channel, 300 to 1000 wide; from Al to GIG feet deep.
Locks, 100 feet long and ITO feet wide, disable.
Summit, So feet above sea level.
Passage will require 10 to IL hours.
Isthmian Canal Commission, chairman and chief engineer, Col
onel George W.. Goethals.
Engineers. Colonies q. F. Hodges and 3. E. Rousseau. Lieu
tenant Colonel d. d. Gailard, Lieutenant-Colonel William L. Sibert
Sanitary Officer. Colonel W. Georges.
Civil Administrator, Maurice Fl. Thatcher.
Gatun dam-Length along crest, 5000 feet, including spillway;
greatest width, 2100 feet; crest of dam, lis feet above sea level,
leaving a 30-foot margin above the normal height of canal; crest 100
feet wide; concrete in Gatun locks, 100000 cubic yards.
Cost includes s2O,O5 900 for sanitation. 81, 3S2, 900 for civil ad-
ministration and $50, 100000 paid to the new French Canal Com
pany and to the Republic of Panama for property and franchises
Earlier attempts to build-Spain authorized canal in 1914
but does not act; Accessory Transit Company, an American concern,
began operation of railroad in 1852, but did not use its canal fran
chise.
Actual construction of canal began in 1882 by French company
of spectators and promoters, headed by Count Ferdinand de Les
seps, builder of Suez canal. Wild fnanciering and ~ineficiency
and extravaganza put the company into hands of a receiver in 1889.
Under receivers direction a new company was formed in 1898; it
was offered $40, 1000, 900 for canal rights. Deal with America con-
cluded after Panama United States treaty in 1904 Work on present