IN "On This Day" recently, you stated that in 1904 work on the Panama Canal started. This is wildly inaccurate. Work was started in 1879 by the French; the engineer was M Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had recently constructed the Suez Canal. The venture was ill-fated, beset with tremendous obstacles, and the death of a large proportion of the work force by disease. An Englishman (I forget his name) discovered that the malaria parasite was transmitted by the Anofolene mosquito in the early 1900s. The USA bought out the French and, using steam shovel technology developed in building the Manchester Ship Canal, completed the canal using locks. de Lesseps' plan was a sea level canal, which was not practicable.
The primary job of the USA was to eliminate the mosquito breeding ponds, so dramatically reducing sickness of the workers.
Brian R Harfield
Woodland View
Bolton
The 'On This Day' section of Looking Back comes from the Press Association. We will pass on this letter to them. Editor.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article