210 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



53,399.368 



-29,908.000—1 



Quantify Remaining 

 Feb Man. 



Taken out 

 by French 



3i.858.i22 All Divisions of Panama Canal 



Total taken out last fiscal year. 



DIAGRAM TO SHOW PROPORTION OP EXCAVATION OP CANAL ALREADY COMPETED 



The quantity remaining to be excavated may, however, be considerably increased by slides 

 into Culebra Cut (see pp. 167 and 173). The figures are cubic yards 



among the canal workers strikes forcibly 

 every one who visits the Isthmus, and 

 convinces the doubting that the canal 

 will be built. 



The time required for completing the 

 lock type of canal was estimated by the 

 Board of 1905, which made its report 

 in January, 1906, at 9 years, in accord- 

 ance with which the work should be 

 completed by January 1, 191 5, and this 

 is still retained as the date for the offi- 

 cial opening. The expectation that the 

 locks will be completed by June 1, 19 13, 

 is dependent on the gate contract and 

 has already been noted, which leaves 

 Culebra Cut as the doubtful factor. 



THE SLIDES IN CUIvEBRA CUT ARE THE 

 ONE DOUBTPUE PACTOR 



Assuming that all the material will 

 slide into the cut that was estimated in 

 June last, so that all of it will have to be 

 removed, it is estimated that this part of 

 the cut will be finished by September 1, 

 191 3. It is well within possibility — in- 

 deed, it is probable — that other slides or 

 breaks will develop, and it may be more 

 economical to admit the water, thus get- 

 ting the advantage of the back pressure, 

 and remove the remainder by dredges, 

 which will then be available and which 

 can be passed through the locks when 

 completed. This will be done if need 

 be, but in any event there is nothing that 

 can be foreseen at present which will 

 postpone the date fixed for the official 

 opening, with ample time to spare for 

 tuning up the operating machinery and 

 to organize and train a force for the 

 operation and maintenance of the canal 

 by January 1, 19 15. 



With concrete work in the locks com- 

 ing to a close in the early part of 1912, 

 steps must be taken to disband the pres- 

 ent organization. The time has arrived 

 for outlining an organization for the op- 

 eration and maintenance of the canal. 

 The tuning up of the machinery and the 

 training of an organization will require 

 the actual use of the canal. It is stated 

 on reliable authority that at least i& 

 months will be required for shipping to 

 adjust itself to the new conditions that 

 will exist when the canal is ready for 

 use. Such readjustment, however, will 

 not be attempted until some definite an- 

 nouncement is made of the tolls that are 

 to be charged and the basis for such 

 tolls. 



THE CANAI, IS WORTH THE $375,000,00© 

 INVESTED 



Much has been said and predicted as 

 to the commercial value of the canal to- 

 the United States. In this connection it 

 must be remembered that the commer- 

 cial shipping of this country never re- 

 quired the canal. The trip of the Ore- 

 gon in 1898 settled the question of the 

 advisability of constructing an Isthmian 

 Canal, and had the canal been built at 

 that time, thereby saving that trip- 

 around the Horn, there is no question 

 that it would have been agreed generally 

 that the canal, even at an expenditure of 

 $375,000,000, was worth while. 



In whatever light the Panama Canal is- 

 viewed, it will have paid for itself if in 

 time of war or threatened war a concen- 

 tration of the fleet is effected without 

 that long, tedious, uncertain route fol- 

 lowed by the Oregon. 



