Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-09
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

sion and brings surprises even In
Panama
While there has never yet been
shortage of water from Gatun Lake,
even in the dryest season, embarrassing
to the lockage of vessels. yet as trafhc
increases there Is apparent possibility
that there might come very dry sea-
son which would limit the capacity OF
the locks in the daily demand. Ac-
cording TO the 1927 report OF the gov
ernor. NJ L. Walker, the situation Is
summed up as follows:
From the early days Of the canal the
need of additional storage of water has
been recognized in order that reserve
might be available in the event OF
long dry season. During approximately
eight months of the year much excess
water enters the lake and has 70 be
spilled into the sea. During the re-
naming four months the inflow is
wholly inadequate to meet the demands
for water which must be provided for
the lockage of ships. the generation OF
electric power and for municipal pur-
poses. in addition to the heavy losses
resulting from evaporation. The maxi
mum height to which Gatun Lake may
be filled is 81 feet plus. The minimum
lake elevation, permitting safe navigs-
ticn through Gailiard Cut. Is 80 feet
plus This gives a margin of 2 feet Of
storage available for drawing upon dur
ing the dry season. With the continued
increase of traffic, the time is approach
ing when this margin will not Sufiics
to provide safe transit through the cut
for heavy vessels toward the end Of a
dry season both extremely dry and I'M
usually prolonged.
BY the erection OF dam at Aha
iuela a second basin can be created
where surplus water can be stored in
the rainy season TO be drawn upon dur
ing the dry season to maintain the lsvel
OF Gatun Lake. Recent typographical
surveys show that 1t Is feasible to build
a dam about 10 feet in height which
will create reservoir covering about
az square miles and provide additional
storage OF about $4,000 .000. 900 cubic
feet. In addition. the reservoir would
be a means of control of the ChagreS
River during floods in the rainy season.
which are a possible menace TO navigs-
ton.
1T will probably require about five
years to complete this project from the
time appropriations become available.
and IL is highly desirable To proceed
with the construction a. an early date
The necessity for additional storage Is
but a matter of time in any event and
early construction will simplify present
operating problems and minimize the
possibilities of serious accidents or de-
lays to shipping"
Another project OF charging the
capacity Is that OF constructing a third
set of locks alongside of the double
locks now existing. The new locks
we're fnreseen by the engineers from
the beginning. but certain features now
as needed were not antici-
pated 20 years ago, While the present
locks are still large enough for all exist
ing ships. the third lock viii be proba-
bly, both longer and wider
The only ships today which en-
barraSs the locks are the plane-carrierS.
on account az their width. But what
will be the length and beam of the next
decades ieviathanSs So the new lpck
will probably be 1900 feet long with
increase Of width,
-
The canal Is now making net profit
suflcient to cover an interest account
IN the investment and leave a sinkinS
hlnd OF more than $4,000, 600 wear.
Et Ii good commercial investment,
aside from the estimated value of Its
national defense,
Much mas neen said OF the miracles
II health preservation achieved hy
science in the development OF Panama,
yet II Is difficult to comprehend What
has really been accomplished. In 1908
he death rate In Colon from all causes
vas si.4s per 1000, Since 1922 I'm the
,ity OF Colon II has never exceeded
AIT, and In 1928 II was only is.se
In the city OF Panama In 1908 the
ieath rate WAS $3.50, while for the past
our or fiee years II has been less
han 90.
FOR the entire Canal Zone. under
ABSOLUTE control by the United States.
re death rate In 1908 was 40 IS, and
I fell to 1898 only three years later.
O l0.si In 1915, and since ial7 II has
,ever reached as high as 10. the rate
n 1928 being ITO
In 1908 the death rate from malaria
due TO nosquitoeSl was 74S. Since
92i there has not been single death
rom malaria, except In 1917, when the
ate amounted to ~ per 200 among
i,62o employees The malaria deaths
lnee 1908 have been less than 1 per
600 annually, Great as are the envi-
leermG achievements ~ Panama, thay
re not greater than the sanitary
airaeles
IcepyHsh. iaes ~ Paul '. celfiaat