1. Tadd Mannino History 141, Spring 2011 Palomar College Panama & LA:The Waterworks That made the American West
2. A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama!The French Attempt 1879 - French envision a sea level canal Success seems assured after 110 mile Suez Canal, 1869 1880 - Ferdinand de Lessups begins work Visionary, but no engineer experience Jules Verne: “He has the genius of will” Plagued by rain, mudslides, 120° temp Typhoid, Malaria, Small Pox, Yellow Fever De Lessups undeterred “When problems arise, men of genius will solve them. Science will find a way.” Frenchmen volunteer out of national pride 1889 – project fails due to finances, 75% mortality rate (22,000), with only 1/3 complete
3. A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama!American Interest 1901 – Theodore Roosevelt takes office Envisions US dominance of Americas Panama Canal will ensure naval dominance 1903 – Treaty ceding canal zone to US from Columbia signed Not ratified by Columbia “Columbian Revolution” – Panamanian separatists seize control With backing of US business men and a US gunboat 1904 – Work begins on US project
4. A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama!The Big Ditch John Frank Stevens ends sea level plans Dammed rivers/lakes and locks more feasible Ships raised 85 ft., transit and return to sea level First built infrastructure needed Railroads, housing, medical facilities, proper sanitation Disease, especially Yellow Fever gone by 1905 American engineers innovative, French computational Machinery used on massive scale Locomotives, steam shovels, cranes, rock crushers, cement mixers, dredges, pneumatic power drills all new technology Culebra Cut, Gatun Dam finished Provides hydro electric power to operate Canal
5. A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama! US effort brought together knowledge/experience of: Railroad technology, hygiene, electrical engineering Canal saves 8000 miles of sea transit An Engineering marvel, even today Much original eqpt. still in use 15,000 ships/year US Cedes Canal to Panama 12/31/1999
6. Mulholland’s Dream Wm. Mullholland, Director of LA Dept. of Water Vision to “Develop the rivers & water supply for the benefit of the people.” LA growth impeded by lack of water Views Owens Lake/River as LA water supply 108 sq. mi. lake some 250 miles from LA Gravity feed to LA, downhill all the way 1905 – LA Water Dept. begins acquiring land Controversy to this day over how land rights acquired LA Times publishers, LA bigwigs aware of project buy up land Many Owen’s Valley farmers paid well for land Wm. Mullholland
7. Mulholland’s Dream LA voters approve $23 million bond 1908 – Construction begins 5000 workers Many ethnic groups - Greek, Bulgarian, Serb, Montenegrin, Swiss, and Mexican flock to good wages, long term work Workers received shelter, food and medical care Hard, grueling work 226 mi. of aqueduct, 120 mi. railroad, two dams w/ hydroelectric, 170 mi. power lines, 240 mi. telephone line, a cement plant, and 500 mi of roads Six million pounds of TNT used w/only 5 fatalities
8. Mulholland’s Dream 11/5/1913 – Opening of LA Aqueduct Ahead of schedule, under budget 30,000 people gather at Cascades “This rude platform is an altar, and on it we are here consecrating this water supply and dedicating the Aqueduct to you and your children and your children’s children-for all time.” Wm. Mullholland Gates opened, water flows, hundreds race to dip cups and drink from the flow 1920s – LA grows 11X faster than NYC
9. Mulholland’s Dream Unforeseen consequences Owens Lake dry by 1924 Farming impossible, migratory birds lose flyover, dust Some Owens Valley residents try to reverse project Some sabotage, all unsuccessful 1928 – St. Francis dam fails, 450 killed Worst engineering disaster of 20th century Mullholland resigns in disgrace His vision and aqueduct influenced Ca. like no other public works project
