The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-07-31
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Colon, c. I'll am going to take ysu
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 80, 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 Q
watchful passenger shouts Land.
and all who are up rush to the port
rail to gaze upon the hilly, 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 fiuttering above
. 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 Margarita island.
virtually q part of the mainland.
Colon, fiat and unpicturesQue, now
comes into view, and directly ahead
Of US an immense breakwAter
stretches a mile out from the shore
on the right At it's land end. on
Toro point, IL another fort whose
great guns are masked by the tropical
foliage.
Now we have virtually entered the
canal. for the 5O0-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. Un.
Gle Sam, proprietor: the docks OF
Colon, crowded with shipping from
the United States, Europe and many
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 lastly before tho sea
breeze are the little sailing craft in
which the queer San Bias Indians are
bringing their products to market.
-Four miles and . half we steam
through Lanaon bay and the shores
narrow In on our 600foot channel.
still at tide level. Now look ahead
three miles and get glimpse Of the
0atun 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 10 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
It to stop when entirely within the
lock chamber. The immense gates
close silently behind us and At once
the water begins to how into tho
chamber through culverts that have
their openings In the concrete floor
Slowly the vessel rises until 1t is on
level with the second chamber,
% ID feet above sea level, when the
gate ahead IL opened and the electric
mules move forward. this time up
heavy grade by means Of the confer
racks in the tracks. Twice this opera.
ton 10 repeated, and now we are ut
the summit, So feet above the sea.
The last gate opens and the locomo-
lives pull US into Gatun lake.
AZ our propellers begin to turn
again and we steam out into this i'm.
msnse artificial lake. a marvelously
beautiful landscape IL spread before
~. The surface Of the lake 10 dotted
with islets, once the SUBMITS Of Tiger
hill. Lion hill and . dozen other emf
nsnces: on both sides are steep pro.
montorles, lovely little peninsulas ana
deep bays and inlsts where the water
has spread into the once Jungle-filled
valleys.
Before we get too far from the
locks. let ~ step to the starboard rail
and have look ut the Gatun dam.
enormous stretch Of rock, sand ana
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