Evening star., 1933-02-05
ENGINEERS SEEK
%. TO HARNESS TIDES
II =
80
Cape Cod Canals Model in
':a e. Laboratory of Massa-
~
.ns ChusettS Tech.

By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass, February A.
The tides of the Atlantic Ocean which
harass navigators Of the Cape Cod
Canal have been duplicated in a lab
oratory at the Massachusetts, Institute
6f Technology, where engineers seek
means to curb their bad behavior
In a model of the canal the tide
e6bs and flows rs men erect lock or
Cam, to observe effects. The research
goes. on in the river hydraulic labora-
tory Of the institute.
1.-The complex problems presented in
the work are indicated by the fact that
the leverage rise and fall of the tide
tn Cape Cod Bay, sea-level waterway
is Select greater than in Buzzards Bay.
There also is tide time difference OF
three hours between the bays which the
canal connects. AS result, the tide
sea is still falling in Cape Cod Bay,
and the tide in Buzzards Bay begins
to ebb several hours before high water
at the opposite side OF the canal.
Under extraordinary conditions OF the
food tide driven by high winds maxi
mum differences in level of feet be-
tween the bays may occur, resulting in
fast rushing water in the canal. The
speed Of the water makes it difficult to
conIol vessels, and many captains OF
large ships avoid the canal and the risk
Of being driven ashore.
Canal to Be Widened.
Under plans recently completed. the
canal, now owned by the Federal Gov
GItpent, will be widened to $50 feet
and dredged to a maximum Of 80 feet.
kEZk to control the tidal currents Is
expected to make the waterway safer
pfacc for vessels.
In the miniature model the operation
Of the canal under control Of lock Is
expected to be accurately determined in
advance. The research is being carried
oP-sy Prof K. c. Reynolds and John B.
Drisko. instructor and member of the
reseerch staff.
lhe Cape Cod Canal is 100 feet wide
and 25 feet deep, with a total land
length of approximately 7l2 miles be-
tween Cape Cod and Buzzards Bays.
The laboratory model was built on a
scale of approximately 5la feet to the
mile
The model is constructed of concrete
blochs, which form channel accurately
reproducing the curving path of the
can0 across the cape. In tank, which
represents Buzzards Bay, are scientific
devices which reproduce in miniature
the3bb and flow of the tide. Various
fo0s arranged along the canal record
theHffects of currents and wave motion.
Motion of Gigantic Wave.
The scientists explain that although
the motion is imperceptible to the eye.
the rise and fall of the tide actually
is the motion of gigantic wave. Every
stage from the ripple to the storm tide
has been reproduced in the laboratory
canal.
Time as well as distances have been
shortened in the laboratory. The COM
pletk. cycle of the rise and fall of the
tide, which in nature requires IL hours,
may be reproduced in the miniature
scale in few minutes.
The research work is expected to re-
quire several months, but the scientists
nei' that the work will be well re-
warded and that the trip around the
Gsua, bane of mariners since the days
OF the early explorers, will be entirely
Unnecessary, and Cape Cod Canal will
take it's place among the better man
built waterways OF the world