Panama and the canal in picture and prose .. . lected. A sea-level canal could not exist with thelake; a lock canal could not have been built withoutit. The meanderings of the Chagres, crossing andrecrossing the only practicable line for the Canal, andits passionate outbursts in the rainy season made itan impossible obstacle to a sea-level canal, and all theplans for a canal of that type contemplated dammingthe stream at some point above Gatun—at Bohio,Gamboa or Alhajuela—and diverting its outflowinto the Pacific. On the other hand the lock canalcould not be built without some great reservoir
Panama and the canal in picture and prose .. . lected. A sea-level canal could not exist with thelake; a lock canal could not have been built withoutit. The meanderings of the Chagres, crossing andrecrossing the only practicable line for the Canal, andits passionate outbursts in the rainy season made itan impossible obstacle to a sea-level canal, and all theplans for a canal of that type contemplated dammingthe stream at some point above Gatun—at Bohio,Gamboa or Alhajuela—and diverting its outflowinto the Pacific. On the other hand the lock canalcould not be built without some great reservoir ofwater to repeatedly fill its locks, and to supply thewaterpower whereby to operate them. HenceGatun Lake was essential to the type of canal weadopted. The lay reader will probably be surprised whenhe hears how carefully the area of the Chagreswatershed and the average rainfall were studied,and the height of the dam and the spillway adjustedto make certain a sufficient supply of water for the. THE CHAGRES, SHOWING OBSERVER S ( \KFrom the swinging car the observer measures the crest of the flood and rapidity of the current i87 PANAMA AND THE CANAL
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Keywords: ., bookauthorabbotwil, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1913
