South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-25
l-o-natIanll News Service .

international News Service:
WASHINGTON. March 24-Pan-
anna canal slides are caused Dy ex-
cessive rainfall. the most important
remedies for which are drainage.
and sluicing. according to a report
submitted to Pres't Wilson today by
the committee OF eminent engineers
and scientists which recently com
pleted an investigation on the 18TH
mus. William II. Welch. president
Of the National Academy OF Science.
is chairman Of the committee.
Despite the 9,OOO.O 900 cubic yards
of earth vet 10 be removed can be
dredged out only at the rate Of l.
600. 900 cubic yards a month. the
president is informed that the canal
will not be closed for a period Of
nine months. but that il can be
opened as soon as the channel is
sufficiently deepened and the slides
become 80 low that dredges, even
when interrupted by the passage Of
ships. can keep ahead OF the move
mentP OF earth.
Slides in Culebra cut will continue
to cause considerable expense to the
nation for a number of years, the
committee declares. and the pos
sibility OF further trouble at Culebra
is pointed out. The report says 1t is
the firm belief Of the committee that
after the present difficulties have
been overcome navigation through
the canal Ia not likely again TO be
seriously interrupted. There is de-
clared TO be absolutely no justifica-
ton for statements that traffic will
be repeatedly interrupted for long
periods in years 10 come. The canal
will serve the great purpose for
which II was constructed and the
realization Of that purpose in the
future is assured. the report says.
Discussing the remedy for present
conditions. the committee declared
that every available and practicable
device should be used to turn the
water falling as rains from all
ground that is sliding and TO prevent
il from entering adjacent ground.
The following remedial measures
are suggested by the committee:
Covering slopes bordering the
slides with vegetation: closing of
peripheral cracks, which exist for a
long time before earth movements
begin: drainage of undisturbed and
threatened areas by means Of sur
face and tile drainage; drainage OF
the great slides by establishing COM
pIete system OF open drains: drain
no
tried with caution and extended only
IN cases which promise results com
mensurvate with the cost; that a cut
made by sluicing in the east Culebra
slide. starting at an appropriate
point on the canal and divergirg
from IL diagonally in a general
southeasterly direction in zone OF
gentle slopes The committee rec
ommends affecting chiefly the Guile
bra district, since :he three great
slides are all in this district. which
is the principal area of danger"
The president is informed that
sliding ground Will continue TO enter
the canal for several years to come,
though in diminishing amounts but
ir - suggested that relatively mex
IfEElNt lllEtt0 lAA - " lAANlA NNlAu ~ ~
rest the present active slides. or
which promise 10 reduce the charge
against maintenance of the canal in
the future are warranted.
The composition Of the rocks
their structural weakness and earth
cuakes all instrumental in produc-
ing the slides are beyond the con-
troll OF mar. but a partial control OF
ground and rain water and the ,eliet
of pressure by unloading certain
areas are feasible. and the commit
tee confines its remedial suggestion
20 these measures the report
states.
The slides in the canal zone are
essentially ike many in other parts
or the world: they are due 70 the in
ability OF the earth or rock 10 sup
port the weight OF everything mate
rial Slow processes OF natural eros
ION. rapid cutting by flooded streams
and excavations by man frequently
lead 20 landslides Much OF the
canal is cut through weak rocks.
end in the CuIebra district the prism
is exceptionally deep
The rocks OF Culehra district are
30 two kinds -stratifed and massive
The chief material involved in the