The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-03-19

thirds feet above the Pacific ocean.
and a mile farther on there is a fight
of two locks, which lowers vessels to
sea level on the Pacific side. about
seven miles from the ocean. An the
locks are in duplicate.
Vessels can easily make the transit
from ocean to ocean through canal.
locks. lake and again through locks
and canal in ten or eleven hours.
The CuIebra Cut.
The Cordilleras. which form the
backbone of the continent, extend
through the center of the isthmus.
They reach their highest point at Gold
hill, rising there in q sharp peak to an
elevation Of 534 feet. The French
there began their excavations and re-
duced 1t to an altitude of 312 feet
above sea level. 1t is through this
point that the Culebra cut extends for
q distance OF nine miles. This cut is
%excavated so that there is 4 channel
at the base 300 feet wldes The width
at the top of the cut varies with the
conformation of the ground and in
some places is fully half a mile wide.
The twelve locks are the largest that
have ever been designed. 1t is eSti-
mated that in their construction 5,OOO.-
OW yards of concrete have been used.
AS explained above, the locks are in
pairs, so that vessels can pass at the
same time going in opposite directions.
Three pairs are at Gatun, one pair at
Pedro Miguel and two pairs at Mira
flores.
They are all similar in design. The
locks are 40 feet wide and have usa-
bic lengths of 1000 feet. 1t is difficult
to describe the locks SO their construc-
ton will be understood by the lay
reader, but an effort will be made to
explain their construction in the sim
plesr manner possible. 1t should be
remembered that the object of the lock-
is to receive water. so that it will raise
or lower q vessel 1000 feet long from
twenty-foUr to thirty feet. The lock is
an immense receptacle of concrete, of
course in pairs. The outside walls are
forty-tive 10 fifty feet wide. ei"hty-one
feet high on the inner face; the outer
face rises in steps, 1nprring in width
about twenty-five feet above the base
until they are eight feet wide ut the
top. These outer walls are $50 feet
apart; midway between them is erect
Ell Il middle wall. which is sixty feet
wide and eiGhty-one feet high. In this
wall near the top is first IL tunnel or
l'a>>agcWay for the operators. Below
This there is 4 gallery 10 carry the cleo
lllc wires to operate the gates and
valve machinery and below this anoth-
er gallery for drainage.
At each end of the lock there is Il
steel gate seven feet thick. ~siXty-tve
feet long and from forty-seven to
cighty-two feet high. They will weigh
from 300 to GOO tons each. The gates
are constructed of steel sheets riyeted
10 a steel framework. In the center OF
each lock there is an Intermediates gate
TO lock small vessels, the gates being
so placed that they can divide the locks
into two chambers 600 and 400 feet
long respectively. AS % per cent of
the vessels at sea are less thar GOO
feet long, it is seen at a glance what 4
saving in time and water there is by
employing the immediate gates.
Electricity is used to tow all vessels
into and through the locks and to OBJ
crate all gates and valves. Vessels
) will not be permitted to enter or pass