Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-07
CHAPTER *.


@1pITH CoRTLANDT was not
r. the sort to permit delay. At
@ lunch she introduced Kirk TO
g the master Of transportation
oftbe Panama railroad. saying:
-ur Ruunels has offered 10 take you
cat through the cut this afternoon and
srnlatn the work 10 you"
Rurnels was a straight. well set up.
serious young man. Anthony was
d-.vn 10 him instantly. for there was
10 a1ectation about him
shes wonderful" he remarked a
,,oueut later. as he and Kirk descend
ID the hotel steps together. she told
Colonel Iolson he'd just have TO End
rou = position. and I have been dele
e1ted 20 show you about"
The Cortlandts seem to have consid-
cable influence for outsiders. thought
I'd have 10 begin at the bottom"
Runuels glanced ut his companion
quickly.
Outsiders. You don't call them out
sssers: She knows everybody and ev-
e-yfhin= In this country. she's the
whole diplomatic service Take the
Colombian trouble. for instance
What trouble:"
When Panama seeded. She manIp-
ulaied that. or NJ least Steve Cortlandt
Cd under her direction IL was one OF
the cieverest exploits on record. Co
6ubia wouldn't let Us build the canal.
50 Panama seeded War was declared.
but the United States interfered in
tine 10 prevent bloodshed- BY the time
the excitement had died out we had
te=un digging. She knows Central
America Ike the palm Of her hand.
When she SlyS Kirk Anthony wants a
position. we hirelin=s jump about and
see that be gets IL. oh. you'll have any
iob you want"
The two passed through the railroad
Ezies and took their places in the lit
lie car. When they were under way
Runneis went on: Il am supposed TO |
slow you this end Of the work and tell /
you what Il all means The ditch |
WI be about fifty miles long. and. !
roughly speaking the work j. in three l
Fzrts-the dredging and harbor build |
t,g 70 sea level on each end OF the !
anal. the lock work and the excava-
tons on the upper Levels That dam /
yol sav building IT Gatun wiz form
a lake about thirty miles long-culte
ashpOnd. en-: When 4 westbound ship
arrives. for instance. Il will be raised
through the Gatun locks. three Of them
and then sail along eiEhty-hve feet
'boTe the ocean. across the lake and
ITO channel dug right through the
his until IL reaches the locks at
Pedro Miguel. Then Il will be lowered
to smaller lake FIVE miles long. then
down again 70 the level OF the Pacific. /
An eastbOund ship viii reverse the
'rocess- Get the idea:'
Sure Il sounds easy"
-fou will start IN with the T. r. r.,
lr Anthony. under my despOtic sway"
: know a little about railroadinG."
50 much the better There's a big
abroad man by your name In. the
iaies- Are you reiated:"
J believe So" Kirk answered quiet
J. Go ahead with the lesson.
The canal zone IS a strip OF land
p niles wide running across the
an American colony.
% know. for we govern II. police Il
"a al that As for the work itself.
Isl' the fellows at the two ends OF
se canal are dredging night and day
complete their part. the lock build
= are laying concrete Ike mad TO I
2 their share done nrst. the chaps in
= big cut are boring through the hills
ke moles and breaking steam shovel
ecorcs every week. while we railroad
zen take care Of the whole shooting
-ateh. OF course. there are other de
! ftrnents-sanitary. engineering. com
-issary. and 50 fortb-all doing their
--fe' Jut that g. the general scheme
'e-f-9dr D. ting % break records