New Britain herald., 1925-08-01

mama Canal and some of the phases of life in the canal zone are describ- ed in letter received from Donald McDougall a New Britain boy, who Is in the |. S. motor transport sorv- i've In the Canal Zone.
 The letter follows: Donald McDougall. Motor Transport Co.,, SS, Gatun Canal Zone,
 Panama.
 "July p, 1925.
 Sir:
 T am taking chance on you re- ceiving this letter. I am local boy from New Britain stationed in the Canal Zone with the United States army.
 have been here two years and six months and think l can give a little news of Panama, the canal and canal zone, which will be of interest 10 you and all who may read same. First of all l will start with the canal.
 "On entering the hreakwater at Colon at a place called Limon bay. on the Atlantic coast, a ship pro- ceeds up sea level channel seven miles long to Gatun Locks where 1t is lifted height of S5 feet by means of flight of three sets of locks.
 There are three chambers in Gatun Locks. each one measuring 1000 feet long and 110 feet wide. Gatun is the largest set of locks in the Canal and is the only one on the Atlantic side.
 "A ship takes one hour and seven minutes from the time 1t enters the north approach wall until 1t clears the south end of Gatun Locks. There it enters the Gatun Lake which is the largest artifcialy cre- ated sheet of water in the world.
 This lake measures 164 square miles in area. The canal has made Panama one of if not the greatest cross roads in the world.
 "On the left of Gatun locks is a tennis court, Gatun railroad station, belonging to the Panama railroad company and the town or village of Gatun with it's beautiful palm ave- nues and the canal zone club house, which is for American people only, and where lots of entertainment can be had. both for civilians and sailors.
 "On the right of these locks is the Gatun golf club which has a wonderful lS hole course, known as The Million Dollar golf course.'
 "A little beyond this golf course is the Gatun spillway and hydro electric plant. The spilway, when in operation, is capab ble of discharg- ing between 150,OO0 and 160, ,000 cubic feet of water. per second from the lake into the dam.
 There are 12 gates and these must all be open to discharge the amount of watsr as stated above. I believe these gates are tested once a week but could not verify this statement.
 "The hydro electric plant can pro- duce enough power and light for the entire canal, canal zone and Re- public of Panama.
 A steady flow of ships use the canal daily and climb through Its wonderful locks, passing safely from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans in between seven and a half and eight hours.
 Distance from deep water in the Atlantic to deep water in the Pacific Is 5Oa miles.
 "Culebra cut. now known as the famous GaiIlard cut, which is be- tween Gatum and the place called Pedro- Miguel, where the hardest part of the work was encountered in the early construction days of the canal, has bottom width of 800 feet. Even today Gaillard cut Is very dangerous on account of land slides which occur at times during the wet seasons. The last serious landslide here was early in 1924 when ships were unable to proceed through the canal for two days. At the same time four miles of track over Gatum Lake railway bridge was washed out.
 "On account of the canal and rail- road being blocked up hundreds of people, both business and pleasure seekers, were unable to cross the lsthmus of Panama, as there is no road. The only transportation from Colon to Panama City is by boat Boat fare from Colon to Panama City is $1o. Train fare for civilians IS S2,5O and s1.25 for all officers and men of the United States army and navy.
 The next set of locks after leav- ing Gaillard cut is Pedro Miguel, where there is only one chamber. A ship takes from 24 to 30 minutes to go through Pedro Miguel locks.
 On the left of the canal, little north from the locks is the dredg- ing division at a place called Paraiso, where the dredging cranes are. There is also small golf course at Pedro Miguel locks. Also at this locks there is a ferry and barge which transports traffic across the canal, mostly truck loads of army supplies for the 42nd infantry, Porto Rican regiment, at Camp Gaillard and for the wagon and pack train companies stationed at Empire, which is bout 10 miles from Pedro Miguel.
 Beyond Empire are the villages of Paja and Las Cascades, where the natives are, away out in the jungle.
 When ship leaves the Pedro, Miguel locks it enters Mirafores lake, which is about four square miles in area. Ii then goes into NTi-