The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-11-04
Single Copy, 3 Cents.

each, being llO feet, disable Width, 80 feet
deep and 1000 feet long, so that when the
great gates are open, one may look down a
concrete canyon over three thousand feet
long and more than eighty-five feet high.
Surprising as the fact may seem these enor-
nous locks can be filled and emptied in about
fifteen minutes. From two to three hours
are required for a vessel to pass through the
six sets of locks
The canal is lighted at night by self light
ing buoy system. Range and beacon lights
are set at angles on hills throughout the
length of the canal to guide mariners.
Approximately 210 million cubic yards of
material were eXcavated from the canal. The
dirt taken out would load three freight trains
reaching around the earth at the equator.
The total length of holes, dug for blasting
purposes, would aggregate more than 10000
miles. More than million cubic yards of
concrete were used in the construction of the
canal
Perhaps the most interesting part of the
canal is the Culebra cut which is nine miles
in length and $50 feet deep at Gold Hill,
which is the deepest portion.
The place which has caused the most
trouble is known as Cucuracha Slide the ma
ture of the SOIL being such that it has been
difficult to keep the channel clear at this
point.
The city of Colon is situated at the north
ern extremity of the Panama Canal, on the
Atlantic side, and Panama City at the south
ern extremity, on the Pacific side. Panama
City is the capital Of the Republic of Panama.
The old Spanish town of Nombre de Dios,
meaning, Name of God, is situated consider
able distance around the coast from Colon,
and is the oldest town founded by Europeans
upon the western hemisphere. Tradition
stated that the Spanish explorer Diego de
cIi ~, o11oIh
of three vessels, promised God during the
tempest, that if his life were spared, he would
found a city as a monument to His mercy
and bearing the name of the Host High. The
speaker said that while engaged in auxiliary
work, which was carried on at this point, he
was witness to an event, which strangely
confirmed this old tradition as historical
fact. One day dredge ran into an obstruc-
tion and for two or three days continued tear
ing through the hold of an old vessel. Later
in the season they ran into two other vessels
buried in the sand to depth of about 80 feet
and more than 300 feet from shore. From
these wrecks were taken old guns, bullets,
axes, slugs and various other kinds of quaint
and curious articles.
The finding of these vessels of the old ex-
plorer was made matter of record by Dea-
con DePew and published by the Isthmian
Canal Commission
of the most unhealthy spots on the face of
the earth. When the Panama railroad was
constructed in 1856, large numbers of the
workmen died of malaria and yellow fever.
When the French attempted, in 1879, to dig
the canal across the Isthmus, the laborers
died like flies of these deadly diseases. It
has since been discovered that malaria and
yellow fever are transmitted by mosquitoes.
The houses in the Canal Zone today are COW
cred with screens from caves to ground.
Over $20,O0O,OOO was spent in the Zone on
sanitation, and the Isthmus has been render
ed one of the most healthful places in the
world.
Any description of the Panama Canal
would be incomplete without some reference
to General George w. Goethals, who has late
ly been appointed by President Wilson as
chairman of the board to investigate the
workings of the eight-hour law.
Deacon DePew came in daily contact with
this truly wonderful man, and his impress
slons were gained at first hand
General Goethals possessed marvellous exc
cutive ability. With a mind that worked
with lightning rapidity, he could arrive very
quickly, at conclusions with almost absolute
accuracy. Difficult questions of far-reaching
Importance were often decided in a moments
time. 1t was this faculty which enabled him
TO handle, with apparent ease, one of the
greatest projects of modern times and govern
force OF $4,000 employees, made up from
all classes of West Indian Negroes and labor
ers from the whole of Asia and Europe.
Directly subject to his orders were the Ameri
cans, Which numbered less than one eighth
OF the total force employed and which con-
stltuted the vital governing power of the un-
dertaking.