30/05/2019 - The MrT Podcast Studio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:24 — 33.3MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 11 A – Shortcuts Around the World (A) – the Suez and Panama Canals

Please note: Shortcuts Around the World (A) is the first part of the talk by Bruce Oelman. Once you have listened to this part please scroll down to part B.

In Shortcuts Around the World (A) Bruce tells us about the building of the Suez Canal and then starts on the story of the Panama Canal.

Bruce talks about Napoleon’s interest in building a canal. The project didn’t proceed because the French engineers got their sums wrong! We also learn of the canal built by the ancient Egyptians.

He talks about the difficulty Ferdinand de Lesseps had in getting permission from Turkey to build the canal. Much of this was due to the attitude of the British who wanted to protect the Empire. He covers the fact that de Lesseps used innovative money raising techniques for both canals!

This part of the talk ends at the start of the project to build the Panama Canal.

The presentation used at the talk is too large to load here. I have converted it into a series of images shown in the gallery below. Please click on one of the images as you listen to the talk and it will open the gallery.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording which I cannot remove.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 11 B – Shortcuts Around the World (B) – the Suez and Panama Canals

Please note: Shortcuts Around the World (B) is the second part of the talk by Bruce Oelman.

In Shortcuts Around the World (B) Bruce tells us about the building of the Panama Canal.

He covers the difficulties encountered by the French in their efforts. He also talks about the corruption case that ruined the reputation of Ferdinand de Lesseps. It appears that de Lesseps used innovative money raising techniques for both canals!

The USA bought out the project following the failure of the French efforts. They then brought in people who were capable of delivering the project and preventing the endemic disease issues. The Canal was build by the US Corps of Engineers and opened in 1914.