1 54 Book of Engineering 



depth, the liner and warship most certainly 

 would. 



Therefore a minimum depth of 35 feet was 

 determined upon with a minimum width at 

 the bottom of 150 feet. At every turn in 

 the course of the canal it was decided that 

 widening on the usual minimum should be 

 undertaken in order that the ships could be 

 steered more easily and without endanger- 

 ing themselves or the banks of the canal. 

 A waterway 50 miles in length was neces- 

 sary though the width of the isthmus at 

 its narrowest point is considerably less than 

 that. From the Atlantic the canal pursues 

 an even bed for some miles. 



Then come the Gates of Gatun, where 

 the ship must ascend 85 feet for the next 

 stage of her trip through the waterway. 

 Here is a very fine engineering achievement, 

 involving three successive locks for this big 

 difference in levels. In view of the very 

 serious damage which would result if a 

 ship collided with the sides of the lock, and 

 a possible block as the result, all vessels 

 must be towed through the locks by electric 



