The Panama Canal

Chapter 3: I. INTRODUCTION

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Engineering & Technology History - Modern (1750+)

About This Book

The thesis examines proposals and the long history of efforts to build an interoceanic canal across the Isthmus, surveying alternate routes and comparing natural harbors, seismic and volcanic risk, climate, curvature, and hydrology to support a chosen alignment and canal type. It summarizes engineering trade-offs between lock and sea-level designs, sets out location, dimensions and plan, and describes organization and methods for constructing the canal prism, locks and dams. The work also addresses sanitation and social conditions during construction and outlines anticipated economic importance and maintenance considerations.

I. INTRODUCTION

The building of a canal across the American Isthmus has occupied the attention of the world for four hundred years. While yet the sailors who crossed the sea with Columbus were living in all the vigor of mature manhood, a Spanish engineer drew the plans for an artificial waterway across the Isthmus and submitted them to the King of Spain. From that time to this the building of an Isthmian Canal has been a fascinating project in the minds of progressive men. Attempts to build it have resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and the squandering of millions of treasure; and this “dream of the centuries” is still unrealized.

PROPOSED ROUTES
FOR AN
ISTHMIAN CANAL.

FIG. 1.