The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1914-04-30
Gli1npses Of a Trip
to the Panama Canal
By HON. THOMAS F. MARSHALL

greatly to the strength and stability of
the gates. At the upper end Of the
locks the gates are duplicated-for
safety. Intermediate gates are pro-
vided in each lock, so that the small
vessels can be locked through without
filling the whole lock, thereby saving
one-half Of the water and much time.
The locks are filled and emptied by
large openings or wells in the bottom,
the valves Of which are controlled by
electric machinery. In this way they
are filled and emptied very rapidly
and uniformly, thus affording stability
10 vessels. The gates are fitted with
hand rails on top and when closed
make excellent foot bridges across the
locks. Our little party had pictures
taken while standing on one Of the
gates and through the indulgence Of
the attendant experienced the novelty
OF riding out on the extreme end Of
one Of the gates when it was being
closed. This was the only free ride
We had on the trip.
The locks make excellent dry docks,
and feet Of eight torpedo boats were
dry docked in one Of the locks.
We saw one Of the locks which had
been just emptied, except for . few
inches Of water, and three or four
bare-legged jamaican negroes were
having great sport trying to kill the
fish with bamboo clubs. Most Of the
fish were too lively for them, how
ever, and escaped down the wells
and it was well for the fish.
As an element Of safety, immense
emergency bridges and dams, con-
structed Of hundreds Of tons Of steel,
ION the cantilevcr plan, stand along side
;of each set Of locks. In case Of any
accident to the locks, whereby the
gates might be destroyed or damaged,
these bridges can he swung almost in
stsntly across the locks and emergency
idaxz dropped from them, thus pre-
venting the escape Of the water from
1.-THE lakes and the destruction Of the
whole works.
Vessels will not be permitted to pass
through the locks under their own
power, but are towed through by what
are known rs electric mules. A cog
track is laid in cement the whole
length Of the locks, up and down the
inclines from one lock to another, and
the electric mules" pull themselves
along the cogged track, at the same
time towing the vessels. This is a
very novel feature and not used at any
other locks in the world. 1t is done
to insure the safety Of both the locks
and the ships. Electric mules" is GER
tainly pat name. My experience with
the mule teaches me that he is live
wire and that his hind legs are op-
Grated by electricity.
Safety Devices
Still another thing which makes for
safety Of both the vessels and locks,
are enormous chains strung across
the locks and held on either side by
huge capstans, SO they can be raised
or lowered 1T will, and when not in
use can be dropped into recesses at
the bottom of the locks.
Thus We have four features which
make for safety of the vessel and
the locks: Emergency dams, duplicate
gates, electric mules" for towing, and
massive iron cables. Other big locks
have some Of these devices, but no
other lock ever constructed has them
all.
Superiority of Government Work
There is this striking difference be-
tween work undertaken by individuals
or corporations and the government.
With individuals the question Of cost is
paramount. Cost is the one factor
that all other factors have to be pared
down to meet. With the government,
the opposite is true. Uncle Sam pic
lures what he wants and what will suit
his needs best, and plans are made
along those lines, the question of cost
being unthought Of. Having done this,
estimates of costs are made and funds
are provided. The government, like
the country boy with his girl at the
circus "does not care for expenses u
Once they decide on work, it will be
well done. Anxiety about expenses OF
where the money is to come from does
not keep the government engineers
and arhcitects awake nights, nor does
it loom up to such an extent that it
weakens their efficiency or dwarf their
plans, and results show it. There is
permanence, solidarity. q perfection,
. completeness, and withal 4 beauty
about government work that puts Il
IN . Glaze hv S<e>If Il env,o~1e q, .lI