The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-30

such as the railroad men determined to
construct. is pre-eminently the one that
should have been built, and that to have
adopted the so-called sea-level type
would have been a calamitous error. in
that 1t would have cost millions of dol
lars more than the present waterway
and would not now be more than half
completed, while it would in the end be
far more difficult of navigation, accord
ing to the author.
Referring to the resignation Of Mr..
Shonts after two years of efficient serv-
ice and to the subsequent appointment
of Col. Goethals to assume control, Mr..
Pepperman says:
1T was the concentration OF supreme
authority in one man that has enabled
Col Goethals, as head of the military
regime at Panama to carry on and COM
plete in such manner as to command the
wonder and admiration of the world the
work planned and begun under the rail-
road regime, as II enabled Mr. Shonts
encouraged by the unfaiiing support of
President Roosevelt and sustained by the
loyal cooperation of the other members
of the commission to accomplish such
vast results on the isthmus in SO short
a time"
Human mosquitoes" is the term which
Mr.. Pepperman applies to those persons
zine writers-who disseminated broadcast
tales of alleged graft and mIsmanage-
ment concerning the canal project. He
devotes an entire chapter to a study of
the activities of these human mos
quitoes.'
1t may be noted" he SAYS, how ex-
actly parallel to the activities of the
mosquito in disseminating disease have
been the ignorant or dishonest perform
of i1rtr icte g.,
suspicionfi. and trouble in connection with
Panama Canal affairs.
Just the former alights on a dis
eased integument and obtains and carries
away the virus which may infect a
whole healthy community, so the latter,
by giving publicity to morbid and ma
lignant rumors initiated by those suf-
ferinE from pecuniary disappointment,
ignorance. or disillusioned ambitions.
have been able to infect public opinion
throughout the country to a serious ex
tent. And the chronological parallel
holds true especially when we consider
the extreme disproportion of cause and
effect, and take note of the immense
amount of mischief done by agents of alb
solute insigniicance in themselves. These
pests may well be called human
mosquitoes "
Bunau yarilla's Regime.
One of the closing chapters is devoted to
Philippe Bunau-Varilla, the Frenchman.
who. at the age of H6, was supreme
director of the French company at Pan
anna, and who. after strenuous efforts
to save the project to France when
the administration of its affairs became
a national scandal, not only fought
with incredible energy and almost single
handed the battle in the United States,
whereby the Nicaragua canal project was
defeated in favor Of the present route. but
also personally directed the conduct of
the revolution that created the Republic
of Panama and made the canal possible.
The canal itself is described in detail by
the author. who graphically explains the
intricate mechanism in a popular and
appealing way. He points out that the
canal does not. as is quite generally be-
lieved, cross the isthmus from east to
west Its general direction is from
northwest to southeast, the Pacific en-
trance near Panama City being twenty
two and half miles east of the Atlantic
entrance near Colon.
1t is a lake canal as well as a lock
canal. its dominating feature being
Gatun Lake. an artificial body OF water
covering about 1s4 square miles and oc-
cupying the northern half Of that portion
of the isthrus through which the canal
passes. This lake is an elevated body
of water. with the surface level main
tanned from about eighty-fve to eighty
seven feet above sea level by the Gatun
dam and locks on the Atlantic side, and
by the Pedro Miguel locks and dam on
the Pacific side. The Culebra Cut is
really an arm of the lake. On both At
lantic and Pacific sides there is an APP
proach channel, which is an outlet OF the
sea, extending from deep water in the
sea up to the foot of the locks. which |
lift vessels to the level of the lake.
through which they pass.
NO ship says Mr.. Pepperman, lis
allowed to pass through the locks under |
its own power. but is lowed through by |
electric locomotives operating on tracks !!
on the lock walls The system of towing |
provides for the passage through the |
locks of a ship at the rate of two miles |
an hour. The number of locomotives will |
vary with the size of the vessel. The |
usual number required will he four, two |
ahead, one on each wall, imparting mo. |
ton TO the vessel and two astern, one |
on each wall, to aid in keeping the vessel |
in a central position and to bring 1t to |
rest when entirely within the lock cham
Der
They are equipped with slip drum, |
towing windlass. and hawser which will |
permit the towing line to he taken in
or paid out without actual motion Of the
n
tives run on a level except when. in pass
ing from one lock to another. they ascend
and descend heavy grades. There are
two systems of tracks, one for towing
and the other for the return OF the loco
motive when not towing"
Coss of Canal Project.
Referring to the cost of the project.
The author says:
AT the last public reckoning. May
Il, 1914, we had paid out in the con-
truction of the canal little more than
1929, 500. 900 of the $375.000.000 that was
for that purpose by Con-
,ress. 1t is probable that the final
.ost will be not more than 100000
100. which attests not only the skill
md care with which the original esti-
mates were made. but the efficiency
With which the plans upon which they
we're based have been carried out"
Mr.. Pepperman explains that the COM
'letion of the canal more than doubles
he efficiency of the navy and will
,reatly stimulate American industries.
with the opening of the canal" he
avs, 1.-THE Atlantic and Pacific fleets
( the United Stas may be combined
lpon one or two weeks notice. It is
zen built but for these conditions as
he national anxiety when. during the
war, before the
racttcal application of wireless teles-
Apply. the fast battleship Oregon was
rdered from the Pacific to the At /,
antic. with the chance of being attack
d by a squadron of the enemy on the ,
nurney The Orepon left San Francis