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First thought of canal from altantic to pacific.
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American men start to survey panama to find a possible route for canal
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french get a plan approved for building of panama canal
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french start construction
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epidemic of yellow fever and malaria, slowly kills off the french workers
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french run out of money and the US takes over
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First steam shovel is brough in. excavation speeds up
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towns start surrounding the canal work site, with schools and cookhouses.
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By the end of the year, over 37 million cubic yards of earth have been excavated, half the amount the French accomplished in 17 years.
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Over a million cubic yards are added to the Gatún Dam each month as it slowly builds up in height and strength.
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After a final push of excavation, an unbroken waterway connects the Atlantic to the Pacific.
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The Gatún Dam is complete. The spillway gates are closed, and the new lake fills to its full height.
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The Panama Canal officially opens. The toll to cross is 90 cents per cargo ton.
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canal is used widely to supply troops during korean war