THE PANAMA CANAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 37, 18 May 1916, Page 4

THE PANAMA CANAL.

The preliminary report of the committee of scientific men, it is stated, who were sent to examine into the cause, effect, and prevention of the slides at the Cnlebra Cut of the Panama Canal, may be regarded as reassuring as far as the permanent stability of the work is concerned; but there may be a. pretty long and expensive process of securing such stability, though incidental trouble will grow less and less with time. A great deal of rapid and effective work has been done since the last slide completely blocked the channel, back in August, and it is now announced that it will be open to general navigation again with a depth of thirty' feet by the middle of next month. It will take some time longer to clear out all the debris and restore the normal capacity, and there can be no absolute assurance that there never will be another interruption. It is almost certain that there will continue to be slides of greater or less volume. The cause of tiie trouble seems to be. sufficiently understood. The geographical structure of the Cnlebra backbone of the isthmus, which has been cut across, is far from solid. The underlying rock is much if its broken or loose shale mingled with earth, and tiie torrential rains of the region tend to disintegrate it. While the ridge' was continuous the effect was little’ observed except in the surface Hoods, ! but that deep cut presented the opportunity for a striking demonstration of its character. The water pressed into cracks and crevices with disintegrating force and the added weight

tended not only to shelve off the steep slides, but to raise up the bottom of the channel. The result of this process, with the dredging that follows, will be to reduce the slopes, but they need also to be made more firm and less vulnerable to the water attack. Among the proposals of the committee is covering the slopes with vegetation, which will hold together the surface and prevent the washing off of earth. It must also diminish the soaking in; but the principal device, suggested is that of drains and sluices, by surface cuts and underground tunnels, to carry off the water in volume instead of leaving it to soak through and dissolve the mountain structure. Tins implies a good deal of work yet to be done, and it. will probably be many, years before this great interoceanic Waterway can he considered immune’ from attacks of weakness in its structure and power in the tropical rains.