They are making no mistakes, step
by step proving their work by ex
perimenting, before the real work is
done. Taking no risks, testing every
problem in advance. The French, un
der De Lesseps, proposed an inlana
lake of 31 square miles, which was
increased by our engineers to 114
square miles, and when the army took
control, it was found impracticable,
and Col. Goethals enlarged it to 184
square miles, also changing the site
of the dam from Bohio, to Gatun,
some nine miles nearer Colon, thus
obviating the digging of nine miles
of canal and enlarging the lake the
better to care for the overflow of the
Chagres river. By placing the three
lock dam !at Gatun. allows the sea
going dredges easy work dredging,
and short distance to haul the spoil
tor deep water dumpinggraund. Th«
work is well along so that niaterial
caii now cHsar to
GSitin by ttigr Wffl IfgHters
when required. That part of the work
has not begun yet.
Why, the great hue and cry in op
position to the present plans of Col.
Goethals. Who is at the bottom of
the siea level canal, and now see their
l^st chance to delay the work by ad
vocating sea level. First it is in one
paper, then another, kind of spon
taneous. Now is the time to damn
the Gatun dam or never. The sea
level plan is an impossibility, as
there must be locks arid a dam to
overcome the difference in tides at
Colon and Panama, of some 20 feet.
A lock arid dam must be provided any
way.
