Panama and the canal in picture and prose .. . rt of our canal line themarks of the French attainments are Limon Bay, at the Atlantic end of the canal,our engineers for some reason determined upon anentirely new line for our canal, instead of followingthe French waterway, which was dug for seven milesto a depth of fifteen feet, and for eight miles further,seven feet deep. This canal has been used very in 1911 values the physical property thus trans-ferred at $42,799,826. Bad luck, both comic and tragic, seemed to attendthe French endeavors. Count De Lesseps, with anational fondne
Panama and the canal in picture and prose .. . rt of our canal line themarks of the French attainments are Limon Bay, at the Atlantic end of the canal,our engineers for some reason determined upon anentirely new line for our canal, instead of followingthe French waterway, which was dug for seven milesto a depth of fifteen feet, and for eight miles further,seven feet deep. This canal has been used very in 1911 values the physical property thus trans-ferred at $42,799,826. Bad luck, both comic and tragic, seemed to attendthe French endeavors. Count De Lesseps, with anational fondness for the dramatic, arranged twoceremonies to properly dignify the actual beginningof w^ork upon the canal. The first was to be thebreaking of ground for the Pacific entrance, whichwas to be at the mouth of the Rio Grande River inthe Bay of Panama. A distinguished companygathered on the boat chartered for the occasion atPanama, and there was much feasting, speaking andtoasting. Every one was so imbued with enthusiasm Ii6 PANAMA AND THE CANAL. AN OLD SPANISH CHURCHThis edifice, still standing at Nata, is said to be the oldest church in Panama that no one thought of so material a thing as the the Pacific coast the tide rises and fahs twentyfeet or more, and while the guests were emptyingtheir glasses the receding tide was emptying thebay whither they were bound. When they arrivedthey found that nearly two miles of coral rock andmud flats separated them from the shore where the historic sod was to be turned. Ac-cordingly, excavation was begun proforma in a champagne box filled withearth on the deck of the ship. Thelittle daughter of De Lesseps dealtthe first blow of the pick, followedby representatives of Colombia. Tocomplete the ceremony the Bishopof Panama gravely blessed the workthus auspiciously begun, and thecanal builders steamed back toPanama. Later, the same party assembledto witness the first blast at Culebra—for the French made the first attackon that redoubta
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Keywords: ., bookauthorabbotwil, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1913
