<P> Goethals divided the project into three divisions: Atlantic, Central and Pacific . The Atlantic Division, under Major William L. Sibert, was responsible for construction of the breakwater at the entrance to Limon Bay, the Gatún locks and their 5.6 km (3.5 mi) approach channel, and the Gatun Dam . The Pacific Division (under Sydney B. Williamson, the only civilian division head) was responsible for the Pacific entrance to the canal, including a 4.8 km (3.0 mi) breakwater in Panama Bay, the approach channel, and the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks and their associated dams . The Central Division, under Major David du Bose Gaillard, was responsible for everything in between . It had arguably the project's greatest challenge: excavating the Culebra Cut (known as the Gaillard Cut from 1915 to 2000), which involved cutting 8 miles (13 km) through the continental divide down to 12 meters (40 ft) above sea level . </P> <P> By August 1907, 765,000 m3 (1,000,000 cubic yards) per month was being excavated; this set a record for the rainy season; soon afterwards this doubled, before increasing again . At the peak of production, 2,300,000 m3 (3,000,000 cubic yards) were being excavated per month (the equivalent of digging a Channel Tunnel every 31⁄2 months). </P> <P> One of the greatest barriers to a canal was the continental divide, which originally rose to 110 metres (360.9 ft) above sea level at its highest point . The effort to cut through this barrier of rock was one of the greatest challenges faced by the project . </P> <P> Goethals arrived at the canal with Major David du Bose Gaillard of the US Army Corps of Engineers . Gaillard was placed in charge of the canal's Central Division, which stretched from the Pedro Miguel locks to the Gatun Dam, and dedicated himself to getting the Culebra Cut (as it was then known) excavated . </P>

Who built the panama canal first did they succeed why or why not