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

10 only one, and the waters Of the lake
now extend frem Pedre Miguel lock on
the south to GAtun locks on the north. a
distance OF about thirty-three miles. ap-
length.
Drills were at work on the dixie nearly
the whole month OF September, and 1t was
mined with over !, 200 holes charged with
0a000 cubic yards OF material, or the
tame number OF two horse wagon loads.
Only once since ii was built had 1t failed
in its purpose. This was during the big
freshet IN the Chagres river of November,
100. when the water came so close to the
top. then at seventy -one feet above sea
level that 1t was deemed advisable to
open the sfuice gates and fill the cut with
water. In order 10 avoid danger Of heavy
washing. This was done, and for several
days all work was suspended and only
the tops Of the steam shovels were stick
ing out Of the water Since that time
seriously threatened.
When Gatun lake rose to a height of
fifty feet In the latter part of 1912. 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 1277 charges
planted only about 400 were fired at one
shot. The others win be discharged
later
Although today was not an official hol-
iday In the Canal Zone, every one who
he INT IN
scene.
Fourteen units Of the Atlantic dredging
fleet were successfully passed through
tsatun locks yesterday on their way to
the GAmboa dixie. The loekage took two
hours and a half, some time being lost
through maneuvering the vessels into po-
sition. The lock mechanism worked per-
fectly.
An Epoch In History.
LONDON. October l0-This day is
written down In the London press as one
which marks an epoch In history by
reason Of the union or 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 10 the ability or
the American engineers in overcoming
the numerous obstacles OF the great UNI
dertaking. and say that worldwide re-
ioicans over their success is well JUST.
fed.
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:
I'm every country Of the civilized world
glasses will be raised and emptied In
honor OF the Panama canal and OF those
who conceived one OF the greatest en-
cheering. projects of this or any other
age. and of the men. who now carried II
80 nearly to Its completion. Something
In the nature OF worldly wide rejoicing
over the event 10 not only justified, but
so appropriate that its omission would
be inexcusabae. and while Americans
congratulate each other on what has
been achieved by their own. enterprise
and energy, and on their splendid sue
cess in 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,