The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-01-20

portation business should develop.
which is not expected, the road will
be electrically equipped.
The movement OF vessels through |
h locks will be by electricity, and
they are now putting up buildings in
the top OF the center walls from where |
n current will be controlled.
In each of these buildings one man
can sit and direct every operation
from the ocean to Gatun lake or from
the lake down to the sea. He can
open the gates or close them by
throwing a switch and can cause the
water to rise OF fall by the press Of a
button.
The machinery Of the locks is now
almost all in shape and it will take
| but a short time to polish the whole
and leave it complete. The men will
soon be removing the debris, and
within half a year these mammoth
constructions OF concrete will look
like monuments OF marble cut out
with a chisel. Today one can walk
along the tops OF the locks through
an avenue lined with concrete col
umns Of wonderful architectural beau
ty. They uphold the lights Of the
locks, which will make the whole
structure as bright at midnight as it
is at midday. On each side of these
columns are the cog-railroad tracks
upo which the towing locomotive
Will run; and between them is another
railroad for moving machinery back
n forth. Each vessel will have four
locomotives to move it from one lock
to another. Two will go ahead to
pull and two behind to hold back SO
that the vessel may be steady, while
moving. These towing locomotives
i, will run on a level, except when pass
: ing from lock to lock, at which time
they climb heavy grades. In coming
: back they take another track, made
especially Tor the return OF the cars
: after the towing.
locks nor the methods by which the
g ships are taken through the canal
r The most interesting thing just now is
the work going on at the terminals
8 l shall not attempt to describe the
s l ave written something Of that or
the Pacific side. One Of the striking
e features there is the red skeleton Of
e m administration building that il
now going up. This stands high I'D
on the AncOn hill, looking out owe,
& h Pacific ovean. The canal is il
e plain view at the right. At presen
e the structure is oniy a framework O
0 steel, but this will be clothed In con
crete blocks n plastered with stucco
The roof viii be OF dark tiles and tn,
Is floor space will cover almost two acres
II The cost OF the building win be 1915,
u 10 and it will be devoted entirei
1t to Offices and for storage of the rec
ords.
!e Not far from this building h.as bee,
Is laid out a town site where the employ
es Of ehe canal will live. They wi,
"a awe houses OF concrete formed afte
~ the same style as the administrative
a building. and their little city will b
m modern and artistically Planned. ]
Il. will have all the conveniences fo
OF | fr0n;no1 1iri.- nv - -
u wide pOrches and every opening b
n covered with a mesh OF fine wire. Til
TO principal public buildings will face
central avenue, and this will be cove.
r ed by a continuous roc 20 keep OIL
the sun and the rain. The town wi
ty nave its tennis courts. base ball field
a and oandstands, as we'll as it's clul
lis fhouses, concert hall, hotel and schoo
nd house.
q. There will be other settlements +;
ell. the Gatun locks. and also at the Mir
flores and Pedro Miguel, as we'll as
be CristOoai. at the Atlantic end Of Il
IT canal. The present structures af the.
points will probably BE left for son
to time 70 come but they will eventual
ler be replaced by buildings OF concre
Most OF the towns along the liz
or the channel viii be takeE dow
Tor and their building materials will
he hippcd to the other places as needle
he At present the towns along the cha,
nei remind one OF a JanAneS-iliao
Lal. Their houses have the same sor,a.
nd black and white character ana ~.
ere are quite "a airy and roony.
Yep As | came into the Bay OF Linn,
ma on the steamer Tenadores. fron, :,
ion isiand OF Jamaica, last werk -
ms see the great Tore breakwatsr -:
has been extended A,ur from -
be iantic end OF the channel Ts;s
DIN more than two miles in length ana
MS has a lighthouse at the end -