Panama Canal 3
It didn't take long for the world to realize that Panama is the narrowest strip of land between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. From the early sixteenth century, explorers, conquerors, treasure seekers, settlers, the military and engineers have descended on Panama to find a route that would join the two oceans. A modern day Panamanian anthropologist says, " A road, a railroad, or a canal; they didn't concern themselves with the rest. That's been the story here for hundreds of years." The eventual completion of this waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific came about from strong presidential influence and advancements in engineering. In 1502 Christopher Columbus was searching for a water route to India when he anchored off the Atlantic coast of Panama. While exploring the island Columbus climbed a mountain, gazed to the south and then fell to his knees in prayer. He had sighted the Pacific Ocean, from this point on the world, not to mention Panama, would never be the same again. About twenty years after the arrival of Columbus the Spanish completed a seven foot wide road across Panama. This road was known as the Royal Road, over which they transported thousands of tons of gold and silver that they go
Considering, that a passageway across Central America would shorten the sailing distance between the east and west coasts of the United states by almost eight thousand miles, it was just a matter of time before the U.S. would notice the significance and difficulty of constructing such a canal. The turning point for the United States came with the discovery of gold in California. Many gold rushers sailed to the Atlantic coast of Panama where they trekked across the old Royal Road. Rain, heat, humidity, mud, wild animals and most importantly sickness were present along the Royal Road. One man wrote back to his family, "I say in fear of God and love of man, to one and all, for no consideration come this route." Despite the dangerous journey the gold rushers continued to sail to Panama in such numbers that businessmen in New York decided that a railroad would be very profitable. By 1850, workers most of whom were from the West Indies began to tear through the jungle. Right from the beginning of his presidency, Teddy Roosevelt wanted a canal in Panama that would join the Atlantic and the Pacific. He described the importance of the canal stating "no single great material work which remains to be undertaken on this continent is of such consequence to the America people." Roosevelt put the full force of his presidential powers to begin the construction of the canal. The United States in 1903 were finally given permission to build a canal in Panama through a zone ten miles wide. The United States would receive as much authority over the canal as if it were built in the U.S. When plans were finally getting underway, John Findley Wallace was hired as chief engineer. At age fifty-one Wallace was a respected civil engineer who had won national honors. Even with these honors, many felt him incapable to fulfill such a huge project. President Roosevelt immediately appointed John Frank Stevens as the new chief engineer. Like Wallace Stevens was a railroad engineer, but unlike Wallace, he was a rugged wilderness man. He built his way up from a track hand to one of the
Some common words found in the essay are:
Canal Roosevelt, Atlantic Pacific, Engineer Wallace, Wallace Stevens, Central America, Royal Road, Findley Wallace, Christopher Columbus, Taft Commission, President Roosevelt, chief engineer, president roosevelt, royal road, atlantic pacific, john findley, atlantic coast panama, teddy roosevelt, canal route, canal panama, left country, central america, chief engineer wallace, john findley wallace,
Approximate Word count = 1407
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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