The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-11

OF which is In the bed OF the lake and
only the leaves showing out. The
palms seem TO last longest. and there
are many buried IL the roots OF their
branches. the latter looking like
punches of gigantic ferns on the bed
OF the lake.
We often bump against logs as We
move through the canal channel. The
trees rot kuickly and great part OF
the lake is now covered with floating
timber. This will he gathered topcth
er and RATED to the spllway. before
the canal Is in active operation. 1t
will here be rolled over the dam and go
down to the ocean
Another striking feature OF Catun
lake is the floating plants which cover
Its waters. There are great beds of
water lettuce and masses of water hya-
cnths floating about. az we'll as spots
whore green plant like a scum COW
ers the surface. The water lettuce
has very short roots, and II Will not
| impede navigation. The hyacinths arc
different. Some of their roots arc ten
and twelve feet In length, and they
| will have to be destroyed before the
+! canal Is in use
| There are many aligators In parts of
Lake Gatun, although most of them
are small. Still they are so danger
GUS that the natives will not go swim
ming In the lake. and they are very
| careful To keep out of their way while
| fishing along the shores. There are
some tapirs on the banks of the lake.
and IL may be that a few may be found
upon the islands. We see many wild
birds and among others the white he
ron, from which the aigrettes for our
ladies hats come. There are also wild
ducks. and several pelicans fly up as
I we ride about among the floating is
- -.
i huge. heavy throated fowl, one of our
! party quotes the slangy and rather
course limerick concerning it:
y wise old bird is the pelican:
| His pouch holds as much as his belly
| He can stow in his leak enough food
4 for n week.
| / don't see how in the h-ll he can.
Just now. however. the pelicans
which have been getting their food
from Gatun lake are in bad way.
The decaying vegetation is creating
gases in the water which are destroy
ing the fish. and this, added to the
paint which is washing off Of the lock
gates. has sent hundreds of dead fish
and reptiles over the spillway. or
late the fish mortality has been de-
creasing, and when the water Is clear
ed of dead trees. as II Will be within
n short time after the lake assumes its
normal level, the number of fish will
rapidly increase
The big steamers Will be several
hours in crossing Lake Gatun. and
predict that the beauties of the voy-
age will be such that IL will make this
place one of the scenic marvels of the
world. The tropical islands, with their
palms and bamboos. their great fern
trees and their magnificent forest
giants, bound together with the lianas
will bo in plain view. The lake, which
is now slightly muddy from the vege-
tation and the floods, will then be as
clear rs crystal, and the tourist will
look over a mirror of oliver at the
emerald wonders of the tropics.
On to the south ms he nears the Gatun
| some claim to be a part of South America.
II Is. in fact. the beginning OF the Andes.
which here like ant-hills In comparison
with the giant volcanoes which wall The
! AS the ships cross the lake travellers Will
have n good sight of the dam and the locks
The dam is already becoming grnss- grown
and II will be little more than great
mound or windrow Of earth holding back the
water. At tho left hand is tho spiilway. CON
sisting OF ten great black stool gates which
move up aud down between structures OF
concrete. This spiiiway is in the shape OF
the segment of circle. IL has AN iron walk
on the top. One does not fcaizo Its i'm
menstiy untii he comes close TO It. but then
IL Is very impressive. s
There In n good-slzed island right In from,
OF tho dam, and In going from tho spillway
TO tho locks on the opposite side we sail be-
Tween the island and the dam. The dam has
4 y Wide approach or channel between con
" as + ~ S. b,