THE PANAMA CANAL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 97, 4 September 1908, Page 2

THE PANAMA CANAL.

According to a correspondent of the "Times," the Panama Canal engineers are now engaged in the formation of a huge lake, covering 220 square miles, for the reception of the flood waters of the River Chagres. The isthmus 1b subject fo great tropical downpours at irregular intervals, and the waters, concentrating in the river which forms part of the canal, would constitute a grave danger to navigation. ■' Out of various tentative propoals the present eh. me has been evolved for making i the water of great floods dispose of itself iiistead of attempting to create ' artificial channels. A lake with-* puri'ace id" U:h) square miles takes a great deal oi water to raise its level to atay dangerous extent. It is calculated that the greatest flood ever known wouldnot raise the level more than two feat. There is the incidental advantage mat ships can steam much more rabidly through a lake than through a canal thus shortening the time of transit from ocean to ocean. There has been much controversy concerning the Gabiin dam which is to form the lake. It is alleged that the foundations of the dam will be insecure, and it is obvious fhat the failure of thejdam would involve an enormous loss oftrwrs and money. The dam will wbe mile and a half long on top. IJ; will lie half a mile thick at the base, and 135 feet high, so that it will take a good deal to move it, and an overflow wefti -Will provide a kind of safety valve. It may take years to fill the lake, but water will bo let in as the dam is built, -a margin of ten feet being allowed f6t possible floods. The surface of the lake will ultimately be 85 feet above the level of the Atlantic. Ships entering the canal wlil be raised by a series of locks. After passing through the lake and a stretch of canal they will be lowered thirty feet to a smaller lake, 0Q and then fifty-three feet into the J dredged channel five miles from the Pacific Ocean. <•: