PANAMA CANAL, THE Part 2

Description

The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The Panama Canal was built by the U.S. It cost $375,000,000 and is forty-four miles long.” “Panama Canal was officially opened August 15, 1914. Landslides caused the closing of the canal at different periods up to April 15, 1916.” Map showing Panama Canal - stick pointing out route of canal - pointing out different cities, locks, and rivers along canal. “The Rio Chagres supplies water for the canal.” View of river from boat, native huts on shore. “Cristobal, near Colon is the important port at the Atlantic end of the Canal.” Panoramic view of harbor at Cristobal. “On the Pacific is Balboa, near the city of Panama. Here are dry docks and repair shops.” View of city from hill - panoramic view of harbor, cranes, buildings, etc. “The locks in the Panama Canal.” Animated diagram showing ship going through different locks of canal, water levels in locks changing. “The locks hold the largest ocean vessels.” Large ship moving through canal. “Powerful electric locomotives pull the boats through the locks.” Large ship in lock being pulled by locomotive - lock opening, ship proceeding out of lock. “Emergency dams are pivoted parallel to the locks for use in case of accident to the gates.” View of dam. “Emergency dam swinging into place.” Dam moving on pivot. “Lowering the wicket girder, a part of emergency dam.” Girder being lowered into water. “Metal plates slide into place against the wicket girder to form a dam to hold back the water.” Plates being lowered into water. “The water not needed in the canal flows over the Gatun Dam. This spillway regulates the water level of Gatun Lake.” Views of water flowing over spillway. “The Gaillard Cut at Culebra is the greatest excavation in the canal.” View of ship moving through narrow cut. “Landslides have been frequent at Culebra. It is being widened by blasting and dredging.” View of waterspout from dynamite exploding in water. “It is a ten hour trip through the Panama Canal.” Panoramic view of canal - ship moving through canal. “The Panama railroad follows the canal.” View from front of moving train, passing over bridge. “Panama City is the capital of the little Republic of Panama. Along the city’s waterfront.” Views of fishing boats in harbor. “The Precidencea, the home of Panama’s president.” Views of house, pedestrian and vehicular traffic passing. “The National Institute of Education built with the money paid Panama by the U.S. for the Canal Zone.” Views of Institute, people entering. “Panama’s historic sea wall.” View of wall and tower-like structure and corner. “The Avenida Centrale is Panama’s finest street.” Views of street, pedestrian and vehicular traffic. “The main street has many shops, over which the shop keepers live.” Different views of shops and streets. “The overhanging balconies are of Spanish design.” View of narrow street with overhanging balconies, children in street. “The hot sun makes the natives indolent.” Man sleeping in back of horse-drawn cart, someone waking him, man sitting up. “Housework is very simple as washing --” Woman washing clothes in stream. “-- cooking --” Native man grinding meal with pestle - view of woman cooking in outdoor oven. “Fruits and yams are the principal foods.” View of street market lined with stalls, people buying and selling. “The Panamanian village along the canal consists of rude huts.” Native huts from boat in canal - close-up of huts in village. “The bamboo huts are thatched with heavy palm leaves.” Close-up of thatched but. “Inside a hut there is not much protection from insects or heavy rains.” View of hut interior. “It is through the country of these simple natives that the Panama Canal has been built to shorten the trade route between the two oceans.” View of shore from moving boat in canal. “We start on ocean trip from New York to San Francisco.” Map of North and South America showing ‘old route - distance 13,135 miles’ and the route through the canal, ‘new route - distance 5,262 miles.’ “The Panama Canal has shortened the trip 25 days.” View of same map. “The End.” “Ford Educational Library.” [1922]

Collection

Ford Motor Company Collection

Series

Motion Picture Films Relating to the Ford Motor Company, the Henry Ford Family, Noted Personalities, Industry, and Numerous Americana and Other Subjects