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France Begins
The French government approved De Lesseps' plan to build a 40-meter dam at Gamboa to contain the Chagres River and a 24-meter wide area through the Culebra Cut, which will supposedly cost $240,000,000. -
France Continues
Excavation begins of the canal begins. France is behind schedule; 660,000 cubic meters of spoil have been extracted from the ground so far, and 5,000,000 cubic meters were supposed to be dug at this piont in time. Yellow fever speads throughout the workers. Now dysentery is affecting 30% of the work force. War in Colombia is spreading into Panama and disrupting the work, and Natives and Jamacans have a fight rusulting in all of the jamacan workers leaving their jobs. -
France Quits
France is getting further and further behind. The team sends a report back to France saying that it needs additional money to complete a sea level canal. Gustav Eiffel is hired to make temporary locks while excavation continues. De Lesseps has no more funds, and he and his son are guilty of maladministration and fraud. -
The U.S. Attemps
Theodore Roosevelt decides he must build a canal through Panama. The Canal Treaty that states that the U.S. can build the Panama Canal in exchance for an anual fee of $250,000. The U.S. begins working on the canal and decreasing the death rate. A Bucyrus steam shovel is sent to Colón and excavates five cubic yards of dirt in one scoop. Yellow Fever once again begins to spread. Wallace, the engenier, resigns. -
The Stevens Years
Stevens becomes the new head enginer. He repairs the railraod to make carting away the spoil easier. Copper screens are ordered to protect workers from malaria and yellow fever causing misquitos. A lock canal is the new plan versus a sea-level canal. It is decided that the workers will create the largest man made lake in history; Gatún Lake. Desiese is s still a huge issue and 75 men are entering hospitals daily. Now, 64 Bucyrus steam shovels are in Panama. Stevens resigns as engenier. -
The Goethals Years
The Sosa Locks' construction is stopped and Miraflores is elected a better site for the locks. Construction of the Gatún Dam begins while 2,000 men are fired due to less excavation work left to do. William Taft become the new U.S. president. Construction begins on the Gatún upper basin and
Pedro Miguel locks' assembly begins. Limón Bay construction begins and Gatún Dam continues to be constructed. The Pedro Miguel locks are finished. 15,000 vistors come to the canal by the end of 1911. -
Construction Ends pt. 1
The Culebra Cut is completed as is the Gatún Dam. THe Miraflores locks are assembled and the dike between them and the Pacific Ocean is blown up. The Alexandre La Valley; a French boat is the first to pass through the canal. On August 14, 1914, the canal officially opens. Lighting is installed throughout the canal so it can be used 24-7. Now approximately 15,000 ships pass through the canal annually. In 1999 Panama gains control over the canal from the U.S. -
Construction Ends pt. 2
37% of ships cannot fit into the canal by 2007, an expansion project begins, sceduled to take 7 years.