Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-12
BACK FROM PANAMA.
he Big Often n, 4. appears Nov "a
, DurlingtoDian.

BurInStoblan'
Mr.. and Mrs T. ). Adsit and Mrs c. l.
Soule returned sunday night from
months cruise through the West indies
and to Panama canal Like all other"
who have seen the canal, Nh Adsl vas
impressed with the magnitude OF tne w
dertaking and the results a'conI'shuu
70 a Free Press man he said
February q was a great day lol me as
our ship, the Victoria Louise. was to lana
at Colon or Crstob1l. where Uncle sam
We a now concrete pier .overed over
nearly l.2o0 feet long, with railroad
track running the whole length On this
track stood coaches enough to accommo.
date 500 passengers, together with proNi-
sions. and our ships stewards
Thus equipped, at 500 a. IN. this train
started from Cristobal for days
outing. We were to stop first at Gatun
locks distance of seven miles. AT TINS
point is the great dam, the three locks
(Which raise the vessels up into the lake,
and the spillway and the emergency dams
We were allowed 80 minutes to examine
this place and, as everything was near
the time was sufficient, although | heard
one man say that he did rot have time to
see the dam at all. The facts were it was
all dam; the slope was so gradual the
work so large, that he could not compre-
bend it. The dam is built across the end
of the lake with the locks at one side ana
the spllyay near the center OF the great
concrete locks, with their double gates at
either end. some were filled with water
others empty and we could look down
into them and see the holes through which
the water came into them when being
filled. They have walks across each VI
them, with wide cem..nt walks on each
side. We walked out to the end where
one could see the Atlantic ocean seven
miles away. Turning around a por-
ton of the lake was visible.
through which they have made a
hannel of about twenty-four miles, not
straight, but marked with lighthouses and
buoys, to make navigation safe. We saw
many huoys ready to be placed at Is
point. Like Niagara Falls, one is not apt
to take in the magnitude of the work, as
it is done on so large a scale, and with
such perfect proportions.
The emergency dam is of iron, hung on
a pivot that swings over the lock and
slides down to the bottom, fitting into
slots in the concrete, with iron plates that
can be slid down and stop the waters, in
case of accident.
Boarding the train we rode along the
lake across hays, on trestles, following
the very irregular shore. to the Chasres
river, which is also the commencement of
the Culebra cut. nine miles long. The
Chagres river at this season of the year,
IS about the size of the Winooski, but at
times IT. rises 40 feet, and the water comes
down in torrents
TO take care of this water, they have
created or enlarged a lake of l0i squire
miles. We had a guide on the train who
explained the canal to anyone who cared
to ask questions. The railroad takes us
hehind the mountain or hill. while the
canal runs through them. We went
around to Mirafores lake, where our train
was backed across the canal, and hack up
the other side of the Culebra cut to a
point where they are having trouble with
slides At this point, we got out of the
train and walked a few rods. where we
| could see the work OF dredging out the
dirt that had sid in. ] should say that
the present slide was nearly all out, with
some nine or ten dredges working Some
which they lift the dirt and put on scows
to be towed away; others work with a
system Of pipes which suck the mud and
wafer out; stu others wcrk with the hv-
drauli" system. These dredges together
with the tugs and scows. way down m the
NJ deep cat made tn me a magnificent
'Tht hhrunt hanks rise several hundred
feet high, with red clay nd cruInhlv rock
" 'ers.
Il think they will have trouble with
slides for some time yet, but eventual
ly they will conquer them. The cana,
could be used now, il 1t we're neces-
sary, but there is quite n little work
to be done to complete it under
stand they are to try and put through
an armed cruiser in the near future
We saw several vessels of small ton
mage on the canal or lake, but they
expect to open II to the public Janu-
airy I, 1915.
After seeing Culebra cut we went
back to Pedro Miguel Lock, which is
at the Pacific end of the Culebra cut
where vessels pass down into the Mira
flores lake. a very small lake, at the
mouth of which are situated two more
locks. that put vessels down to the
level of the Pacific ocean Then five
miles of anal takes you to Panama
where we arrived at 10 noon. Panama
is very good town, surprisingly clear
and modern They were having theil
Mardi Gras A young woman cam,
along with a bag of confetti and threw
II all over me. Another squirted per.
fumery In my face They seemed very
happy We went to the Tivoli Hote
In carriages and We're served to +
lunch, waited upon by our steward,
from the ship. who in fact kent n,
flled with good things to eat and drinl
all the way up and back. We dranl
out OF a souvenir aluminium Gun which
they gave US early on our trip.
The thermometer was around o,
degrees; some men were In their shir
sleeves. all in light clothes and per
spring. but with the boys to We.
upon us, the ice cola water, SAM
witches. boiled eggs, cold meats, an,
above all the sight of the biggest un
I'LL