The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-16
Is Not Likely Again To Be
Seriously ClOgged.
INVESTIGATORS MAKE REPORT
Rainfall of 81 Inches Yearly
Causes Trouble.
Time Not Far OF When Canal
viii Reopen.

not likely again to be seriously in
terrupted by slides, and realization of
the great purpose for winch the
waterway was constructed is assured
in the near future, according to the
finding of committee of scientists
appointed by the National Academy
of Sciences at the request OF PreSl-
dent Wilson to investigate the prob
lem. While the committee realizes
that slides may be considerable
maintenance charge upon the canal
for a number of years, it believes
there will be little trouble after pres
ent difficulties have been overcome.
A summary of a preliminary report
by the committee was made public
today at the White House. No time
was set when the canal can be opened
for navigation, but it was said that
this time is not far off"
Excessive rainfall was found to be
one of the chief causes for the slides
and control of the falling water was
the most important remedy suggested.
The committee made detailed recon-
mendations for the prevention of
slides in the future.
Scientists Comprise Board.
Although the committees final re-
port will not be ready until April,
William H. WEIGH, president of the
AGA denny, has transmitted to President
Wilson a preliminary report of the
committee prepared by Charles r.
of Wisconsin, chairman; General H.
L. Abbott, corps of engineers United
States army; John c. Branner, geolo-
gist and former president of Stan
ford university; Whitman Cross, geol-
ogist in the United States Geological
Survey; r. c. Carpenter, professor of
mechanical engineering in Cornell
university; Arthur p. Davis, chief of
the reclamation service, Washington;
John r. Freeman, constructing en-
/ Gin IDr~f1T Il rlr-1
dean of the College of Engineering,
Northwestern university; Harry Field
ing Reid, professor of Engineering,
Johns Hopkins university.
THE committee looks to the future
of the canal with confidence" the re-
| port declares. 1T is not unmindful of
| the labor necessary to deal with the
present slides, and it realizes that
slides may be a considerable, but not
an unreaSonably large maintenance
charge upon the canal for a number of
| years; it also realizes that trouble in
| the Culebra district may possibly
| again close the canal There is abb
| solutely no justification for the state
| ment that traffic will be repeatedly
interrupted during long periods for
years to come.
Million Yards Removed.
| ''An slide material which reaches
| the canal must, of course, be removed
at certain expense and inconven-
J fences. The engineers estimate that
about 100000 cubic yards will have
/ to be removed between the two Guile
bra slides; and the dredges can re-
move 100000 cubic yards a month.
| But it must not be supposed that the
canal will remain closed for nine
months; as soon as the channel has
been sufficiently deepened and the
movement of the slides become so low
| that the dredges even when inter-
| rupted by the passage of ships, can
| more than keep pace with them, the
canal may be opened for navigation.
/ This time is probably not far off
1.-The committee believes that some
sliding ground will continue to enter
4 the canal for several years to come,
| though in diminishing amounts. Any
relatively inexpensive measures which
/ tend to arrest the present active Slides
or which promise to reduce the charge
against maintenance of the canal in
the future are therefore fully war
ranted.
1.-The composition of the rocks, their
structural weakness and earthquakes
are all instrumental in producing the
| slides, are beyond the control of man.
/ but partial control of ground and
rain water and the relief of pressure
| by unloading certain areas are feas-
/ ible, and the committee confines its
remedial suggestions to those meas
ures."
Tropical Rainfall Terrific.
I'm the Culebra district the average
rainfall since 1874 has been S7.6S
inches per annum, of which about so
inches falls in the rainy season of
about eight months. Where nearly
seven feet of water falls upon the sur
face of the country within eight
months of the year, it is not surprising
that there is difficulty in controlling
the underground seepage. The move
ment of the underground water is so
slow that even in the dry season the
water table is not far from the surface
| in the level country.
"A consideration of the earthquakes
felt in the canal zone since the end of
1908 dispel fear of serious damage to
the canal or its accessories by earth
quakes. There is no evidence that any
of the slides have been started or in
creased by earthquakes.
I'm addition to the danger of the
slides, is there danger that the canal
may be blocked by the fall of the hills
of Culebra district? These hills are
composed of intrusive bodies of
basalt. SO far as can be judged from
present exposures, they do not rest on
the soft Cucaracha formation. but ex-
tend far into the earth. Rock may
slough off from them, but there is no
evidence that they will collapse
The committee believes that every
available and practicable device
should be used to turn the water fall
ing as rain from ground that is slid
ing and prevent its entering adjacent
ground, and it suggests the following
measures:
Suggest Remedies.
| 1. Covering slopes with vegetation.
2. Closing peripheral cracks.
| 8. Drainage of undisturbed and
| threatened areas
4. Drainage of the great slides
| 5. Drainage by tunnels.
| g. Sluicing
J In summing up the history of the