REPORT OF THE PANAMA RAILROAD COMPANY. eS

enlarged, and the engineer's quarters moved and repaired. The
passenger station has been remodeled to permit of a ticket-checking
system being used and a concrete platform built long enough to
accommodate the increased passenger train length. An 8-foot picket —
fence, 8,000 feet long, has been built around the entire yard to give
oreater security to freight and to cut down expense for watchmen.

CONSTRUCTION OF RELOCATED LINE.

The relocated line of the Panama Railroad was made necessary by
the plans of the Canal Commission for building an 85-foot level lock
canal. The old Panama Railroad will be used from Colon as far as
Mindi (5 miles), at which point the new location begins. From here
the Panama Railroad seeks its own location as far as Bas Obispo,
where it enters the Culebra Cut and is carried through this cut as far
as Pedro Miguel. From this point the line again finds its own loca-
tion and after passing through the Miraflores tunnel it connects with
the old Panama Railroad near the Cardenas River, a point near Coro-
zal. It is necessary to maintain the high level from Gatun to Pedro
Miguel, but after passing the lock site at Fedro Miguel the grade is
dropped about 30 feet, and after passing the tunnel of the ridge oppo-
site Miraflores locks the grade is dropped about. 40 feet to connect
with the old main line. The only grades, therefore, on the new line are
at either end; from Mindi to Gatun, where it rises practically from sea
level to elevation 95, and from Pedro Miguel to the old main line at
Cardenas River. The remainder of the road is practically a level
grade, 10 feet above the lake level. It is benched in on the side hills
on the eastern side of the Chagres Valley, from 2 to 3 miles from the
old Panama Railroad, on what will be the border of the Gatun Lake.
The relocated line is being built as a single track. ;

Construction work was begun in May and June of 1907, during which
time numerous connection tracks had been started from the operated
line to the relocated line to transfer men, equipment, and supplies
for grading purposes. During the months of July and August, 1907,
this work of preparation went on very rapidly. Many of the connec-
tion tracks were completed, and considerable grading was done at
certain points on the main line. In the latter part of August, how-
ever, orders were received to suspend operations, due to a lack of
appropriation for this work, and construction work on a general scale
was shut down. A definite policy was outlined to work only at the
following designated points, where the construction of the new line
would materially aid Canal Commission plans: |

1. From Mindi, through Gatun, to Tiger Hill, a distance of 44 miles. ©

2. At Gamboa, on the erection of the permanent steel bridge across
the Chagres River, at the northern end of the Culebra Cut.

3. Krom Gamboa north on the construction of, approximately, 2
miles of the relocated line.

4. At Miraflores, on the construction of the tunnel, and the two
large concrete arch culverts at Pedro Miguel and Caimitillo Rivers.

The construction of the relocated line at Gatun was necessary in
order to be able to vacate the old Panama Railroad tracks at that
point, which will interfere with the construction of the Gatun Dam.
The construction of the new Chagres River bridge and a few miles of