The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-04-14

that functions of the different parts
Of the machinery follow one an
other in ordered succession. The
danger of accident is thus pracu-
callv and automatically eliminated
for the gates cannot be opened
even should the operator so desire
until the water is at the same le'el
at both sides, nor can the heaVy
fender chains, which prevent the
shins entering the locks from run
ming into the gates, be lowered un-
til the gates have been opened
These chains, by the way are so
constructed that should ship fall
TO answer her own speed contro'
in time to prevent running into
them, they will pay out gradually
and bring her to any easy stop De-
fore reaching the gates, insteae OF
damaging the bow Of the ship by
their rigidity.
The controller handles an all No
Gated on the board, directly oppo-
site the indicating devices of the
machinery which they operate
Taking a ship Through Canal.
The canal and locks will accom-
modate the largest vessels. The fact
that the control board is working
miniature of the lock which 1t OPP
crates. shows the operator the ac-
tual condition of the gates, helghI
of water and rapidity of rise. dhe
operator receives his information as
to the movement of the vessel from
the towing master. The engineer IN
charge of the towing locomotive can
seen the position of the gates put
he position of the fender chains are
indicated TO him by semaphore sig
nails on the lock walls.
The vessel then proceeds into the
lock forebay, either under its own
mower or that of a tug and comes
to a full stop. 1t is then attacheo
by chains to four electric locomo-
tiyes two on each side, at the bow
and stern. This arrangement keeps
the vessel absolutely under control
and in the exact center of the canal
After it has come to a full stop III
the foreboy its position is gwen by
! the towing master to the sWltch-
board attendant, who, by moving
control switch lever, causes the ZEN
der chains to be lowered the NINA
ture chains on the switchboard th'
same time duplicating the movement
after the lock gate has been opehe1
and the water is at the proper leVeI
Under Control Of Locomotives
The shin now advances into the
lIocl, under the control Of the cleo
tric locomotives, two of them pull
ing II forward, and the two at th'
stern pulling back slightly to ac
as retarding force and a. chec'
on its momentum. Then the fende
chain is raised and the lock gates
close these movements again belnt
indicated on the control board, an(
the valves opened, allowing the wa
ter to flow down from above an'
raise the level of the locks
In order to eliminate any danso
from the rush of water the flow i
carried into the locks, not through
the gates, but through culverts un
.deneath the canal itself which dis
charge upwards through the bottom
of the canal through numerous open
ings thus insuring an even rise
without a rush of water from on
end of the lock TO the other Nhe
.,he wafer in tie lock has reacho
the level Of that above the gate
are openel and the vessel is the
flowed into the next lock or throug
'tbe next section Of the canal, a
the case ay De. After reach'n
the lake she proceeds under he
own power again along the chann'
4 marked ont by huoys and nght
which turn night into day in Ion
r line across the vast lake, which no
covers what was once the Chagre
valley. until it reaches the othC
, section of the canal on the othC