Some Engineering Problems Of The Panama Canal In Their Relation To Geology And Topography

_______ _____ 76 ____________________________________ ENGINEERING PROBLEMS OF PANAMA CANAL. evidence that adjustment here has progressed well on toward normal conditions of equilibrium. 4. The tensile strength of the majority of the rocks within the Canal Zone is rather low, and they would shear with comparative ease, thus preventing any relatively great accumulation of stress that might icsult m <i comparatively intonsø shock. Howcvor, exporionce teaches that where earthquakes happen the buildings suffering the maximum destructive effects are those built on loose and friable material. This consideration might therefore subtract a little from the saving benefits of the yielding and preventative qualities of the Canal Zone rocks. 5. Over 300 years of earthquake observation shows only two shocks of considerable magnitude, and there is every reason to believe that the severest of these would not have seriously damaged even the most delicate parts of the canal. That many small and harmless shocks will traverse the Canal Zone is certain, but that the canal is in any real danger from earthquakes is contrary to all the evidence. COST OF CONSTRUCTION.a DRY EXCAVATION IN ATLANTIC, CENTRAL, AND PACIFIC DIVISIONS. > The itemized cost of dry excavation in the Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Divisions for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1912, was as follows : Cost per cubic yard of dry excavation for prism, Atlantic, Central, and Pacific Divisions ______ for fiscal year ended June 30, 1912.____ Item. _____________________________________ Clearing................ Drilling................ Blasting................__ Loading................. Tracks__................. Transportation.......... Dumps................... Pumps................... Maintenance of equipment. Plant, arbitrary........ Division expense........ Total division cost.......... Administrative and general expenses Total cost................... ___________ ___________________ ______________ “ Total dry excavation, 424,872 cubic yards. b Total dry excavation, 16,917,662 cubic yards. c Total dry excavation, 864,475 cubic yards. Atlantic Division.*» Central Division.^ Pacific Division, c SO. 0001 $0.0027 $0.0174 . 0535 . 0825 . 04S4 .0622 . 0413 .0564 . 0492 .1116 .0487 .0885 .1359 . 1280 .0734 .0637 . 0043 .0202 . 0041 .0377 . 0754 .0843 .0740 .1814 .0394 .1762 .0183 .0145 .0228 . 5952 .5115 .7527 .0406 .0364 .0432 .6358 .5479 .7959 STONE FROM ANCON AND PORTO BELLO QUARRIES. Tho tables following give the itemized cost of the production of stone and crushed rock from both the Ancon and the Porto Bello quarries. It will bo noted that the cost of blasting, loading, and « I he cost figures given herein are taken largely from the annual reports of the Isthmian Canal Com- _______