West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-11-18
Gatun Lake Created by Hand Of Man

engineers are taking place The inter.
esting features connected with this
man-conducted metamorphosis in the
lsthmian worlds surface. the crea-
ton of an inland sea. the drowning OF
tropical jungle. and the enforced mi
grafton or a swarm OF jungle life from
the valley bottoms to the hills-as de-
picted by George Shiras, 3rd., I'm a
communication TO the National Geo
graphic Society-is told I'm the follow
ing bulletin:
"Gatun Lake is not only the largest
fresh-water lake ever created by man
"a navigable viaduct almost bridge
ing the two oceans and reached by
terminal elevators in the form of
locks,-but, in addition, a vast reser-
voir for the adjoining watersheds, as
surfing throughout the year a sufi-
cient water supply for the operation
OF the locks. for electric power. for
the establishment of inland fisheries.
and for potable and other domestic
users. The lake. much larger than
the one that the French intended to
construct. also allows greater free
dom and speed TO the vessels using
the canal. and permits local navlga-
ton OF many of the jungle valleys.
When the long embankment at
the north end was closed, thus stop
ping the only gap that nature had left
| in the rim nf hilla l,,lo
began covering the lowlands, creep
| ing up the wild tangled valleys.
drowning the mighty forests and the
rank tropical Jungles, flooding out
native villages and destroying scat
tered plantations, marooning wild
creatures like the monkey. ocelot, pee
cary, armadillo. and the sloth on hill
tops unexpectedly converted into per-
manent islands, submerging the mud
Hats of the heron and the Ibis, driving
the deer, the jaguar, the tapir, igu-
anas, and monster snakes through the
rising waters to less hampered re-
treats. and opening up a new and lar
ger home for the swamp alligator and
the stream confined fish.
Here all the centuries-long process
OF the sinking OF the land and the ris-
ing OF the waters was enacted I'm a
fascinating nature-drama OF few
months. Gatun Lake, at a surface
| elevation of SO feet, is estimated to
cover l64 square miles, and extends
not merely over the previously exist
ing swampy ground of the Chagres
Valley, but II has risen so far above
the floor of the lowlands as to ex-
tend for miles between the hills.
forming estauries. lagoons, and ponds.
turning rapid, unnavigable streams
into deep, sluggish rivers, and con-
verting hilltops into beautiful islands,
some OF them miles in length, while
thousands of acres OK flooded and fall
en- timber. into which stretch or circle
narrow necks of land, practically defy
any accurate estimate OF the so-called
short line of the new lake.
No one yet accurately knows the
size and shape Of the new lake. Much
of its far-reaching, irregular surface
is veiled by whole forests which break
through its waters, a dying Jungle
barrier to knowledge of the inland
sea. When these obstructing forests
and bushes are at last destroyed by
the warm waters of the food and per-
manent fringes of bamboo and other
semi-aquatic growths mark the line
OF the shore, then the heretofore half
shrouded lake will glisten, near and
far in the tropic lights, while the sur
rounding shores. each bay and prom
ontory. and the islands, big and little
will stand out sharply defined. IL will
then be difficult to realize that this
lake is the work OF man.
"As the lake swelled from a pond
into sea, the Indians OF Panama saw
all their notions of inland navigation
swept by the board. They had been
accustomed to polling or padding in
the swiftest streams in their acyuca,
or dug-out. but they found that no one
among them knew how to handle the
CdhOe uHueT lne new conditions
brought about by the lake
"The Indians. however, we're the
least sufferers caused by the magic
appearance of the lake There are
forests of fine trees slowly dying, as
is luxurious mass OF jungle plant
life, On many of the trees are great
pendant-termite nests filled with rest
less ant-like creatures doomed to slow
starvation. And. besides many ami
mails have suffered the fate OF being
marooned and slowly starved. The
coming Of the lake has worked a con-
siderable damage upon the life that
was there before. but, unlike the
changes wrought in European geog-
raphy, this change will be permanent.
It's atility, its comfort to a readjusted
plant and animal world, and its tropi-
cal beauties. in all likelihood, will be
lasting on through many resrrsnge-
ments Of imperial boundaries"
| .----k7--
How Tommy Scored
charming, authenticated nurse
NAN a.