The Panama Canal Flashcards
Why did the Spanish abandon their plans for digging a canal in Panama?
the jungle was too dense
the weather was too severe
snakes, spiders, and other insects would be nuisances
Who was the Frenchman who built the Suez Canal?
Ferdinand de Lessups
What did the French believe caused the malaria that was so deadly in Panama?
Vapors
When did the French abandon the project and what was the amount of money lost?
1889
3 hundred million dollars
Who was Robert Dill?
a canal construction worker
104 years old
How did Teddy Roosevelt eventually secure the area of Panama?
He inspired a revolution
Who was the chief engineer of the project?
John Stevens
What problem did the extreme humidity cause for the workers?
Mold
How much money was a laborer paid each day?
9 cents
How much did meals cost?
9 cents
How much did Robert Dill make as a machinist?
38 cents
What were five methods employed by Dr. William Gorgas to rid Panama of malaria?
drain standing water cut swamp grass back insect screens sprayed oil on top of water insecticides
How did the dispensing of quinine show the segregation that existed between the workers in Panama?
Americans drank out of gold cups
Others drank out of silver cups
How was Gatun Lake created?
blocked up the Chageres River
What danger did the extreme heat cause with the dynamite?
It exploded prematurely and it was unstable.
