The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-05-09

dOus nicely with which everything has
been figured out.
a ship. going from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, arrives first ut the glorious
harbor of Colon. with its wonderful
breakwater. From Colon to Gatun
there is sea-level ditch. five miles
long. and about 200 feet wide Arriv-
ing at Gatun, the ship is taken in tow
by the powerful electric mules" two
at the bow and two at the stern,
which can start and stop the heaviest
ship atioat They tow the ship into the
lowest chamber. and in three locks, or
steps" the ship is raised to the level
of Gatun Lake.
PROCEED ON THEIR OWN POWER.
Now under her own power, the
steamer goes on for forty miles
through the beautiful artificial lake
which American genius conceived. ar
irving ut Pedro Miguel, called by Amer
leans in the zone Peter Mctsill." Here
there are two steps down. and Il
short run to MirafiOres. where the last
remaining STEP is taken. Now the
ship IL in the waters Of the Pacific, and
has only eight miles of sea-level canal
to travel before reaching the open sea.
1t Is u beautiful trip. and an inspir
Ing one, especially the enormous Guile
bra Cut, which literally staggers the
imagination. 1t is absolutely impossi-
| BILE to imagine that the mountains
| which rise on each side of the ship
were ever one hill. Here and there
little streams Of falling dirt and rocks
bear active testimony to the fact that
slides are not altogether thing Of the
past. Here we see the giant floating
cranes. that could, If need he, lift one
Of the enormous lock gates.
| THE POWER THAT IS USED.
The Panama Canal is an economical
place. The Chagres River and the
rainy season supply most Of the needs
Of the community, and the operation
of the canal. Electricity is the power
most common everywhere, and is con-
veyed to all parts Of the zone on 4
44OOO volt high tension line from the
hydro-electric station at the spillway
of the Gatun Dam. This sIillway, a
wonder in itself, provides the power
for running the great dynalnOs. which
run the lock machinery, the electric
mules. and light the whole zone. The
lake itself provides the power and
water to lift ships into itself.
The spillway. designed by Gen. Sci.
bert, then Colonel Of Engineers. il an
other of the wonders Of the world Ne
natural waterfall was ever half 40 i'm
posing as this artificial one when the
gates are wide open. Enormous greer
leap into spray against the huttresse.
at the bottom. The spillway Is eighty
five feet high, and l have often seer
the water again. leap up nearly to the
same level as the lake. The roar /.
deafening, and when the sun il shin
ing beautiful misty rainbows gleam IL
the spray.
THE CITY OF GATUN.
Gatun. a city of about 1000 civilians
1900 soldiers and 1000 negroes, mOstl!
from jamaica. is by far the most pict
uresque and interesting city in til,
zone. Here are the mammoth locks
the tremendous dam. the hydro-electri
station. and the main basin of Gatul
Lake. The civilians. practically all ELI
plOyed in the operation Of the canal
all being engaged in the same work
fraterilize a great deal, and are lik
one big happy family-all good disci
pies and employees Of Uncle Sam.
THE JAMAICAN NEGRO
The Jamaica negroes are an inter
: esting lot. One might think that on
Southern negroes in the States are th
most care-free and indolent people II
the world. hut Il Jamaican goes hil