History of California . the surface of Gatun Lake is accomplished bythree locks in flight. From Gatun to Gamboa, a dis-tance of miles, the channel lies in Gatun Lake,with a width varying from 1,000 to 500 feet. FromGamboa to Pedro Miguel, miles, the channel, withsurface still at the summit level of 85 feet above meantide, passes through the Culebra Cut, and was origi-nally planned with a bottom width of 300 feet for , and 200 feet for the rest of the way. This latterwidth was increased during construction to 300 Pedro Miguel a lock is placed to overcome the differ-ence
History of California . the surface of Gatun Lake is accomplished bythree locks in flight. From Gatun to Gamboa, a dis-tance of miles, the channel lies in Gatun Lake,with a width varying from 1,000 to 500 feet. FromGamboa to Pedro Miguel, miles, the channel, withsurface still at the summit level of 85 feet above meantide, passes through the Culebra Cut, and was origi-nally planned with a bottom width of 300 feet for , and 200 feet for the rest of the way. This latterwidth was increased during construction to 300 Pedro Miguel a lock is placed to overcome the differ-ence of 30J feet between the level in the Culebra Cutand the intermediate level next below, which is long and 54! feet above mean tide, and is formedby a lake impounded by a dam at Miraflores. A flightof two locks in this dam allows vessels to pass into thesea-level stretch below, which is miles long. In theintermediate level below Pedro Miguel and in the sea-level stretch extending to deep water in Panama Bay. THE PANAMA CANAL 537 the width is 500 feet. The least low-water depth is 41 %feet in fresh water and 40 feet in salt water, except inthe Pacific sea-level stretch where it is 35 feet. The dam below Pedro Miguel was originally plannedto close the valley of the Rio Grande near its mouth inPanama Bay. Because of difficulties which developedafter construction began, and because of militaryconsiderations, it was later moved inland to Miraflores. The canal alignment consists of a series of tangentswidened at the points where the direction changes. Ithas 22 angles with a total curvature of 6oo° 51, ofwhich 281 ° 10 are measured to the right, going south. The minority members of the consulting boardestimated the cost of the plan at $139,705,200 and thetime of construction at nine years. The report of the minority was indorsed favorablyby the Isthmian Canal Commission excepting one mem-ber, by the chief engineer of the commission, by theSecretary of War, and by the Pre
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectcalifornia, bookyear1
