The construction of the Panama Canal represents one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century. A massive terrain engineering wonder, the canal took about a decade to finish once the U.S. gained control of the project (after unsuccessful attempts by the Spanish and French) at a cost of approximately $387 million, a final tally that was more than $20 million under the anticipated budget (History Overview 1). While the canal was not completed and officially operating until August 15, 1914, the U.S. government has deployed a regiment under Lieutenant Menocal to survey a Nicaragua for a canal site as early as 1887 (A Short History 1). The idea for a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was an idea that was actually entertained as early in history as 1534, when Charles I of Spain ordered a survey of a proposed canal route in Panama. It would take more than 300 years before the initial construction was started, but it would be the French who would undertake the massive mission of excavating an estimated 143 million cu. M of earth (Encarta 2).
From a construction and engineering point of view, the Panama Canal presented three significant challenges to engineers and others involved in its construction: engineering; sanitation; organization. The U.S. would see the resignation of the first two chief engineers assigned to the project. The first, John F. Wallace, complained of the slow arrival of needed equipment and materials, not too mention being caught in one of the worst outbreaks of yellow fever in the area. The second, John Stevens, admitted to President Roosevelt that he was no longer anxious to continue working on the canal project. Roosevelt accepted his resignation and replaced him with Army Lieutenant George Washington Goethals. From this point forward the construction of the canal would fall under the auspices of the U.S. Army. Some of the most challenging engineering problems of all time faced...