Liberty Equality Fraternity

A great cheer could be heard by the collected group of workers, delegates, reprentatives, and local officials, as Ferdinand de Lesseps swung a ceremonial shovel and lifted out a patch of dirt. Although the amount carried out was miniscule, it was the first cut on the start of the Panama Canal, that would one day link the Pacific and the Atlantic, as a symbol of the glory of France and the progress of civilization. Like the French Empire, the vast oceans would be mingled and would become one, in the name of progress.

After the concession of the Panama Canal from the Colombian Government, there had been of course the outbreak of war between the French Republic, and its Grand Coalition, and the Conservative Coalition. This had not however, disrupted French progress on the canal. Despite invasion scares stemming from Swedish Caribbean fleet movements, ultimately work had proceeded as normal. This had in fact, given extra time to plan out the proposed canal, and to establish French institutions for its support in Colombia.

To start with, the idea of a lock-less canal had been abandoned. It was realized by the engineers assigned to the project that while the direct cut was theoretically possible, the geography, including mountains and lakes, simply meant that the cost involved would be far too expensive. Instead, the canal would incorporate locks, lifting ships up to to a lake in the middle - to be named Lake Vauban after the famous French military engineer of the 17th century - before on the other side setting them down into the waters of the Pacific. Geological exploration had been much more extensive than previously, and there had been continual efforts to deal with the threat of jungle diseases after initial studies showed the vulnerability of work forces in the area. Thus, when construction began in 1874, France was far prepared than it would be otherwise.

As a result, when the first cut was made, there was extensive preparation already in place. Workers, equipped with the newest in machinery, with hospitals set up to support them, good and well maintained quarters, and operating off well planned construction programs, were ready to go to work. A network of supporting trade and logistics was ready to go into action. Engineers and geologists had combed the routes, and the French company associated with the canal had been financially backed up by the French government, officially declaring it a matter of National Prestige. In effect, with this announcement, France had guaranteed that the canal would be built, barring any expense. To fail to do so was to fail France itself, and that could not be accepted.