Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-28

thiFiy-two miles and at an average
depth In the canal channel OF forty
FIVE feet throughout another dam
would prevent the lake so formed from
splitting down the Pacific slope. Thus
sll but about fifteen miles OF the canal
would be made by an inland. artificial
lake. 1914 square miles In extent. -
But even in q lock type there would
have TO be an impressive amount OF
excavation. Not only would the sea
level channels approaching this lake
on either side OF the iSthmus have TO
be dredged, but the mountain barrier.
running lengthwise with the ssthmus.
would have TO be pierced with a chan
mel SO as to permit the waters Of the
Gatun lake to reach the point on the
Pacific side where the locks would
afford the descent to the ocean.
The area to he excavated 10 this lake
channel thlrty-two miles long. was
from Gatun 10 0blspo. following the
Chagres river IN general and requiring
only about l3O00O0O cubic yards to be
removed In twenty-three miles. Then
the mountains began. forty.hSe feet
above sea level. and reached their
highest point. In the center line 0f the
canal. ut Gold HILL 3l2 feet above sea
level. thence sloping toward the Pa
eific to the proposed lock site at Pedro
Miguel. distance OF nine miles. The
average depth OF the cut would be 10
feet throughout the nine miles. and the
deepest point Of excavation at Gold hill
would require going down 212 feet.
The Culebra cut. as this channel
through the mountains was called. was
to be 200 feet wide In 1880 the
French had begun work there. aud
they removed lS.JiG.OO0 cubic yards
that We're useful to the Americans.
Their machinery was used the first
year OF our occupation.
At t;atun on the Atlantic side OF the
proposed lake. there would be locks to
lift ships to the lake. and at Pedro
Miguel and La Boca. on the Pacific
side. the locks would lower the ships
to sea level again.
The Americans came to the canal
zone In iD4 with the question Of The
lind OF canal to be built unsettled.
They were to be there more than two
years before the Violently discussed Is
sue wis to be settled Meanwhile.
however. 1t was recognized that there
was vast amount OF pioneer and
preparatory work to be accomplished
that would absorb The activities of the
organization pending the solutiun OF
this problem.
What kind Of country as to tenn
perature. rainfall. vegetable and anil
mai life and heaIthfulness had we We
cured: Az TO the first characteristic.
Panama Is only nine degrees from the
equator But 1t Is far from being as
hot MS that proximity might suggest.
Throughout the year the temperature
averages about s. degrees. The high
est recorded temperature In the canal
zone Is Only % degrees. AZ night the
atmosphere falls sharply until, usual
". light covering Is required on beds.
and the hot. sweltering nights az Amer
lean cities In the summer are unknown.
The nUrthern mind. too. considerably
has oyetestfmated the effects Of the
rainy season ut Panama During
January. February. Marrh aud April
there Is practically no rainfall. BY
the LIST OF May light showers occur
daily or every few days aud through
June. with an occasional gtisIler.
From then on to Derember the rims
become more frequent and heavier and
have a way of coming M abont The
same time every day. sometimes In
the afternoons. sometimes in the morn
iIgk Construction operations have to
be suspended during the violent rid. ]
on the Atlantic Side the rsIinfail a.
erages between 1870 aud l403lnchSs an
nuaiiy ON the Poetic side from Bq 10
20 Inches. At fines It rains So f1Ft-
ousiy that 1t appears to be one continu-
Gus sheet Of Matar faIIcs. For qre