New Britain herald., 1924-02-09
TELLS OF PANAMA
 AND THE BIG CANAL
Irving PiZer Writes of ObserVa.
 tiOns While on ManeuVerS

Irving Pizer of 63 Oak street, who has been with the United States fleet during it's maneuYers in the Carib- bean sea, has written an interesting description of that part of the world and of his experiences and obserYa- tions. He is now home on a fur tough. which expires tomorrow, when he will report for duty at Philadel- phia and return to southern waters. His story follows:
 There isn't anything of any i'm portance to tell about our trip from San Pedro, Calif., to the Canal Zone that l know of. If 1 were on a bat tleship l could give the exact details Of the maneuvers. but l am on hos pital ship and l can only give the de- tails of the different places that I have visited. l will start with the Panama Canal.
 Tn 1855 an American company endeavored to connect the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, but failed, tinan- cially.
 From 1883 to 1899 a Frenchman by the name of de Lesseps tried to build q canal across the isthmus of Panama. but failed because Of the prevalence Of diseas and financial difficulties.
 In 1908 when Panama separated from Colombia, the United States bought the concession from French interests and started construction on the Panama canal.
 The first problem to be solved was the sanitation of the Canal Zone. This was accomplished and the re- zion changed from a swamp to one of the healthiest localities in the world.
 Tt was later decided to build a lock canal. about 52 miles long, with d minimum depth of 40 feet, and q minimum width of 800 feet. The course of the canal can better be fol- lowed from the Atlantic side. From Limon Bay Colon, channel extends for a distance of three miles to Gatun locks. Here is located Gatun dam.
 This large dam was constructed at Gatun to control the waters of the Chagres river. thus forming an arti- fieial lake. The lake Is S5 feet above sea level and provides channel about 25 miles long which runs from Gatun to Gamboa. From Gamboa to the Pacific ocean, the canal passes through Gaillard or Culobra cut at the continental divide. This section is very narrow, especially at the cut, where slides often occur, sometimes interfering with traffic through the al gfFt Faaa fsf was very costly and dangerous.
 At the Pacific end of the canal The waters are held back by the Pedro Miguel dam. Below Pedro Miguel lies Mirafores lake. This lake, too. is artificial and is 55 feet above the level Of the Sea, where a channel extends 10 the Bay Of Pan anna and to the Pacific ocean.
 "A vessel passing from the Atlantic to the Pacific is raised by series of three locks into Gatun lake. Upon arrival at the Pacific end Of the canal ! II is lowered through the Pedro ! Miguel and Miraaorcs locks.
 "Tho Panama canal was completed . about nine years ago at cost Of . si00, 0,000, ,O00. More than 20,000 ships have passed through the canal and have paid more than s7S,0OO,O00 for . tolls. July, 1923. was the greatest . month for the canal when 474 ships ! passed from ocean to ocean. Janu- . ary. is9i. surpassed this record set [ last July. chiefly because of the pas sage of the battle fleet and the fleet | base force from the Pacific 10 the \ Atlantic. l
 "The United States paid s10,0oo,- \ GOO for tho privilege Of using the l strip of land known as the Canal 1 Zone. and pays s25o. 900 annual rental { to the Republic of Panama.
 .tRy passinr through the Panama |