The Panama Canal and Its Makers

"An exhaustive and interesting account, not only of the turbulent history of this country but of her present conditions and seeming prospects."--Westminster Gazette.

"Will be found attractive and useful reading by the student of history, the geographer, the naturalist, and last, but assuredly not least, the British merchant."--Scotsman.

VOL. II.

PERU

Its Former and Present Civilisation, Topography and Natural Resources, History and Political Conditions, Commerce and General Development. By C. Reginald Enock, F.R.G.S., Author of "The Andes and the Amazon." With an Introduction by Martin Hume, a Map, and numerous Illustrations.

"An important work.... The writer possesses a quick eye and a keen intelligence; is many-sided in his interests, and on certain subjects speaks as an expert. The volume deals fully with the development of the country, and is written in the same facile and graphic style as before. Illustrated by a large number of excellent photographs."--The Times.

"A magnificent collection of information on this interesting country. The author's vivid and eloquent description invests it for us with some of the glamour it possessed for the Conquistadores of the sixteenth century; and on closing the book the reader feels tempted to set out at once for Peru."--Yorkshire Observer.

IN PREPARATION

VOL. III.

MEXICO

By C. Reginald Enock

LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN

[Illustration: MAKERS OF THE CANAL.]

THE PANAMA CANAL AND ITS MAKERS.

By VAUGHAN CORNISH

Doctor of Science (Manchester Univ.), Fellow of the Royal Geographical, Geological, and Chemical Societies of London, Member of the Japan Society

WITH MAP, PLANS, AND PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY THE AUTHOR

T. FISHER UNWIN LONDON: ADELPHI TERRACE LEIPSIC: INSELSTRASSE 20

1909

(All rights reserved.)

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED

TO

THE REVEREND CHARLES JOHN CORNISH, M.A. (OXON), OF FLEET, HANTS, AND SALCOMBE REGIS, DEVON,

BY

HIS AFFECTIONATE SON,

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE

I AM indebted to many persons for advice and information in connection with my study of the Panama Canal, and wish to thank particularly His Excellency the Rt. Hon. James Bryce, the Rt. Hon. Lord Avebury, Mr. Claude Mallet, C.M.G., Colonel George E. Church, Colonel George W. Goethals, chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and his colleagues, Colonel W.C. Gorgas, M.D., Major D.D. Gaillard, Major William L. Sibert, Mr. Jackson Smith, and Mr. Bucklin Bishop. Also Major Chester Harding, Mr. Arango, Mr. G.R. Shanton, Chief of Police, Mr. William Gerig (formerly in charge of the Gatun Dam), Mr. Mason W. Mitchell, and Mr. Tracy Robinson.

VAUGHAN CORNISH.

November, 1908.

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION 15

CHAPTER I HISTORICAL REVIEW 23

CHAPTER II ON THE CANAL AS IT IS TO BE 45

CHAPTER III ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE CULEBRA CUT, AND ON THE METHODS EMPLOYED FOR EXCAVATION AND DISPOSAL OF THE SPOIL 79

CHAPTER IV THE MEN ON THE ISTHMUS 99

CHAPTER V HEALTH ON THE ISTHMUS AND THE FUTURE OF THE WHITE RACE IN THE TROPICS 119

CHAPTER VI ON THE SHORTENING OF DISTANCES BY SEA, AND ON THE STEAMSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR CANAL TRANSIT 151

CHAPTER VII THE COST OF THE CANAL 171

INDEX 179

ILLUSTRATIONS

MAKERS OF THE CANAL Frontispiece

TO FACE PAGE

STATUE OF COLUMBUS, CHRISTOBAL, COLON 18

CHRISTCHURCH, COLON 18

LOCK AND DAM SITE, GATUN 26 (The house is on the crest-line of the dam, which will extend to the hills on the right)

EXCAVATING FOR THE DOUBLE FLIGHT OF THREE LOCKS AT GATUN 26 (In fine-grained argillaceous sandstone rock)

RE-LOCATION OF RAILWAY ABOVE GATUN DAM 30 (The trestle embankment will run as a causeway across a bay of the lake)

MOTOR TROLLEY FOR INSPECTION OF WORKS 30 (In the background are screened houses of employees)

TROPICAL FOREST, WITH HEAVY GROWTH OF PARASITIC PLANTS 36