In the original plans for the harbor of Cristobal a second breakwater was proposed to extend at an angle to the guard one, but the success of the former in breaking the force of the seas that are raised by the fierce northers that blow between October and January has been so great that this may never be needed. Its need is further obviated by the construction of the great mole of stone and concrete which juts out from the Cristobal shore for 3500 feet at right angles to the Canal. From this mole five massive piers will extend into the harbor, jutting out like fingers on a hand, each 1000 feet long and with the space between them 300 feet wide so that two 1000 foot ships may dock at one time in each slip. The new port of Cristobal starts out with pier facilities which New York had not prepared for the reception of great ships like the “Vaterland” and the “Aquitania” at the time of their launching. [Illustration: ENTRANCE TO GATUN LOCKS The rafts in the foreground carry pipes through which suction dredges discharge material removed] [Illustration: I. COLON: THESE PICTURES IN ORDER FORM A PANORAMA OF THE COLON WATER FRONT] [Illustration: II. COLON: PART OF THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT ON THE WATER FRONT] [Illustration: III. COLON: PANAMA RAILROAD AND ROYAL MAIL DOCKS] [Illustration: IV. COLON: THE DE LESSEPS HOUSE IN THE DISTANCE SHOWS LOCATION OF NEW DOCKS] From the shore of the bay to the first Gatun lock is a little less than four miles. The French dug a canal penetrating this section, a canal which forms today part of our harbor and which has been used to some extent for the transportation of material for the Gatun dam. Our engineers however abandoned it as part of our permanent line, and it is rapidly filling up or being over-grown by vegetation. At its best it was about fifteen miles long, 15 feet deep as far as Gatun, and 7 feet deep thence to the now vanished village of Bohio. The Canal from the seaboard to the Gatun locks was straightaway excavation, through land little higher than the water, with tidewater following so that the work could be done by floating dredges. No novel problems were presented to the engineer, nor are interesting achievements displayed to the tourist until the great dam itself is reached. [Illustration: _Photo by Underwood & Underwood_ SOUTH APPROACH WALL, GATUN LOCKS]