Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-11

Is only one. and the waters of the lake
now extend from Pedro Miguel lock on
the south to Gatun locks on the north.
distance OF about thirty-three miles, APP
proximately two-thirds Of the canals
length.
Drills were at work on the dixie nearly
the whole month OF September. and it was
mined with over 1900 holes charged with
dynamite. The barrier contained about
10000 cubic yards Of material, or the
same number OF two-horse wagon loads.
Only once since it was built had 1t failed
In its purpose. This was during the big
freshet in the Chagres river Of November,
1900, when the water came so close to the
top, then at seventy one feet above sea
level, that It was deemed advisable to
open the sluce gates and fill the cut with
water, in order to avoid danger of heavy
washing. This was done, and for several
days all work was suspended and only
the tops Of the steam shovcls were stick
ing out of the water. Since that time
the overlapping OF the dixie was never
seriously threatened.
fifty feet in the latter part of 1917, the
dixie was widened to an average of fifty
feet by dumping clay on the side toward
the cut and raised to 1872 feet above sea
level.
Plans for the Opening.
PANAMA, October 10, - Preparations
were completed yesterday for the de-
struction Of Gamboa dixie, which separ-
ates the waters of Gatun lake from the
Culebra cut. The barrier was mined
from end to end, but out of 1.27I charges
planted only about 400 were fired at one
shot The others will be discharged
later.
Although today was not an official hol-
iday in the Canal Zone. every one who
can be spared from work went to the
scene.
Fourteen units of the Atlantic dredging
fleet were successfully passed through
Gatun locks Yesterday on their way to
the Gamboa dixie. The lockage took two
hours and half, some time being lost
through maneuvering the vessels into po-
sition The lock mechanism worked per-
fectly.
An Epoch in History.
LONDON. October 1o.-This DAY is
written down in the London press as one
which marks an epoch in history by
reason of the union of the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans to- be effected this after
noon by the removal of the last barrier
In the Panama canal. London editors
pay unstinted tribute TO the ability of
the American engineers i'm overcoming
the numerous obstacles OF the great ui,-
dcrtakng. and say that world wide re-
loicing over their success is well justi-
fled.
The Times in an article on the canal
adds:
The final stage today is an event in
the history of mankind of which the
whole human race has reason to be
proud
The Standard, referring to the propos-
ed toast when the blowing up of the
Gamboa dixie is ACCOMPLISHED SAYS:
in every country of the civilized world
glasses will be raised and enptied i'm
honor of the Panama canal and of those
who conceived one of the greatest en-
gineer'ing projects of this or any other
age, and of the men who now carried it
80 nearly to its completion. Something
in the nature of world wide rejoicing
over the event Is not only justified, but
SO appropriate that its omission would
be inexcusable, and while Americans
congratulate each other on what has
been achieved by their own enterprise
and energy. and on their splendid sue
cess i'm transforming failure into
triumph. there will certainly be no dis
position on this side of the Atlantic to
make light Of what they have done or
to begrudge them credit for it,.