PANAMA CANAL

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12803, 29 May 1914, Page 8

PANAMA CANAL

Interesting particulars concerning the Panama Canal are contained in a report made to his owners by Capt. Soares, master of the steamer Harlesden, who recently visited the locality. He states that the total length of the canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic is miles, and the average depth 37 feet. Approximately twelve hours will be occupied by vessels in passing through from ocean to ocean, three hours being taken up in passing through the locks, of which there are six. Forty miles of the canal are considered to be of sufficient width to allow of vessels proceeding at full speed, there being 15 miles of sea level channel, and 25 miles cf lako navigation, throughout which the minimum channel through the celebrated Culebra Cut, where the bottom is barely 30 feet in width, and consequently restricts vessels to slow speed. The remainder of the distance (1 V-> miles) is taken up by locks. Of the six locks three are at Gatun, near the Atlantic end, and are 85 feet above the Atlantic mean sea level, one at the Panama end, 30 feet above the level of the Miraflores Lakes, and two at Miraflores nearly 55 feet above the mean sea level of the Pacific. The locks are built in pairs, and allow vessels passing through them in opposite directions at the same time. Each has a length of 1000 feet, width of 110 ft. and depth of water on the sills of 40ft. In order to minimise the usual surging and swirling of water in the locks caused by side sluices, a novel method of lowering or raising the water has been adopted. It is transferred to or from the locks through huge tunnels ISft in diameter, passing lengthwise through the centre and side walls of the locks Smaller tunnels branch out at right angles under the floor up through which the water is carried. The average rate of ingress or egress is about two feet per minute. Steamers are to be prohibited from using their own power while passing through the locks, and electric locomotives are to be used for towing purposes. These will run on tracks and a centre cog rail close to each bank and it is proposed to_ employ four on each vessel, one pulling on each bow, and one hauling astern from each quarter to keep the vessel straight. Captain Soares investigated the general idea that the Pacific Ocean is higher than the Atlantic, and found that the mean sea level is the same, but that the tides varied greatly. On the Pacific side the average tide is 20ft, while on the Atlantic side it is 2t> inches. The exceedingly high tides on the Pacific, side are attributed to peculiarities in the formation of the Gulf of Panama, into which the Mexican and South Pacific currents flow.