The Panama Canal and Los Angeles Aqueduct were two massive engineering projects in the early 20th century that transformed transportation and water delivery in the American West. The Panama Canal, completed in 1914, cuts through the Isthmus of Panama and connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, reducing travel time between the US east and west coasts. Over 27,000 workers and 48 miles of canal were needed to link the two oceans. The Los Angeles Aqueduct, finished in 1913, is a 223-mile system that uses gravity to deliver water from the Owens River in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Los Angeles, fueling the city's growth into a major metropolis. Both projects required thousands of workers and overcame tremendous engineering challenges

1. Panama & Los Angeles: The Waterworks That Made the American West Jacqueline Mougel

2. Panama Canal 1534- Charles V, King of Spain: survey a route through Panama to ease ship travel to & from Spain & Peru President Roosevelt bought out French for $40 million Began on May 1940 John Frank Stevens- Chief Engineer 1905 to 1907- dams & locks Eliminated disease of area

3. Panama Canal 1907: George Washington Goethals became Chief Engineer Ellicott Dredges: built cutter dredges 1914: canal completed August 15, 1914: SS Ancon WWI began in Europe Advances in hygiene= low death rate while building

4. Panama Canal Total Death toll: 27,000 workers 48 miles of ship canal Joins the Atlantic Ocean & Pacific Ocean Key conduit for international maritime trade Annual traffic of 1,000 ships in beginning Today: 14,702 in 2008 Weighs 309.6 million tons

5. Panama Canal Was one of the largest & most difficult engineering projects ever undertake Cut the travel from New York to San Francisco in half 3 locks up, 3 down per transit, all two lanes

6. Los Angeles aqueduct Owens Valley aqueduct Operated by Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Designed by William Mullholland Delivers water from Owens River (Sierra Nevada Mountains) to the city of Los Angeles

7. Los Angeles aqueduct Began 1908 Budget: $24.5 million 5,000 workers Finished in 1913 223 miles of steep pipe, 120 miles of railroad track, 2 hydroelectric plants, 170 miles of telephone line, a cement plant, 500 miles of roads

8. Los Angeles aqueduct Uses gravity to carry water: autonomous & cost-efficient 1928- St. Francis Dam failure: flooded Santa Clarita Valley Sabotage by displaced Owens Valley farmers Ended Owens Valley as a farming community Devastated the ecosystems of Owens Lake

9. Los Angeles aqueduct Bilateral monopoly: LA water Board & Owens Valley Irrigation District Farmer received equal value for land $ 4.00 per acre LA forced some farmer out using violence LA grow into a metropolis