Super Structures of the World - Panama Canal

[Lunican]

http://www.hulu.com/embed/vgX4Gi59bgLJzCS6EW0Xcg

http://www.hulu.com/watch/114769/super-structures-of-the-world-panama-canal

[CS Foltz]

Lunican............know it well I do! Lived there for 16 years ......Ft Kobe, Balboa then 15th Navel District! I remember watching them build the "Bridge of the America's"........ferry used to go back and forth right on that route.......wonderfull time to be a kid back then!

[heights unknown]

And...America was the Queen and Princess Darling of the world back then.

"HU"

[CS Foltz]

HU.......have no idea! Panama Canal Zone was another world. I do remember Dwight D Eisonhower coming down there because I waved to him and he waved back! That made my day......but like I said.....that was another world and time! US of A was number one in the world back then!

[Ocklawaha]

The whole thing seems an awful waste to me. Few know that a SEA LEVEL canal is possible in Northern Colombia. It's a project talked about, surveyed and engineered for nearly 100 years. In the Library at one of the Universitys in Medellin, I found some major large books, with all of the design drawings, Meter by Meter.

But of course, Panama was a breakaway province of Colombia, led by an anti-government political party. The Colombian army smashed their resistance movement and they ran into the northern most territory. As luck would have it, it was just at that time the good ol USA was taking over building the ditch from the failed French effort. As Colombia, attempted to force a settlement to the long fight, Uncle Sam got into the mix on the side of the REBELS! Why? Because according to Washington in 1901, EVERY citizen of the America's has the right of self determination. IE: Everyone EXCEPT South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Alabama...etc... With the US Navy off shore and US Marines as an invasion/occupation force, Colombia was FORCED to cut Panama loose.

Today Colombia is our best friend in the region with recent agreements for 7 US Military Bases within it's borders.
Hopefully with our closer relationship, someone will find those old books and blow the dust off... And YES CS, I do have some interest as a consultant... You see we have a plan in hand to extend rails to any new canal site.

OCKLAWAHA

[CS Foltz]

Knowing your penchant for rail ( which I happen to agree with)and of your ties down Columbia way and I happen to agree with the that idea! A sea level canal could be done in several places through Central America, Columbia is not the only candidate that has been talked about for years! Sea level canal will be needed to supplement the Canal in Panama just plain due to volumns of shipping that will be coming up the pike! Besides the competition would be good for business........I can see a mutual understanding coming into play if that were to be built between Panama and whomever built one!