THE LAST BARRIER DOWN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3461, 13 October 1913, Page 5

THE LAST BARRIER DOWN.

WATER IN THE PANAMA CANAL. * CHANNEL NOW BEINC DEEP* ENED. I GREAT AMERICAN CELEBRATIONS. [UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYEIGHT.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 8. President Wilson pressed an electric button at "White House and exploded a huge charge of dynamite under the Gamboa dyke four thousand miles ' away, allowing the waters of the Gatun Lake to flow into the Culebra Cut. Light draught vessels are now able to navigate the greater part of the Panama Canal. Steam dredges have started the work of deepening the channel. Pacific Coast cities celebrated the blowing up of the dyke with bells, sirens, whistles, and stoppages of car services. The waters of tho Pacific and Atlantic are not actually united yet, as the Culebra Cut is 85ft. over the sea level, hut the waters of the Gatun Lake extend from the Pedro Miguel lock to the Gatun locks, approximately two-thirds of the entire length of tho canal. (Received Oct. 12, 5.5 p.m.) While the Panama celebrations were proceeding, Colonel Galliard, director of the Culebra Cut excavations, lay lying in (hospital frojn breakdown, due to his long labors in the canal zone. It is stated that President Wilson will ask Congress to abandon discrimination for American shipping in the canal. CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON. (Received Oct. 12, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON Oct. 12. Many Americans assembled at the Savoy Hotel celebrated the removal of the last barrier in the Panama Canal separating the Atlantic from the Pacific, and toasted the success of the canal.