The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-08
1884.

tire confidence in the ultimate success of the I'M
dertaking, Work on the Panama canal is COM
para1vely at least two years ahead of the work
on the Suez' canal.
The total amount of excavation for the Suez
canal was 1900, 900 cubic metres. A liberal es-
innate for the Panama canal is no. 600, 900 cubic
metres
The total expenditure for the construction of
the Suez canal up TO the date it was opened for
traffic was $50, 900, 600 of which $50 900 600 was
for actual construction, and $25, 600 600 for all
other expenses. This would be at the rate of
81. 08 per cubic metre. The total time occupied
IN the work was ten years. The amount ezca-
waited at the end of the eighth year was only
one-third of the whole, the other two-thirds hav
ing been excavated in the last two years
At this rate the Panama canal will cost about
Bl2O, 00O, 600, and be completed within five years,
or certainly by Jan l. 1890 The work it is
now progressing at the rate Of 100000 cubic
metres per month The progressive increase
VIII Drlng this amount up to 10, 600 600 for 1889,
2OOO0 900 for 1856 and % 900 900 for 1887, leav-
ing "A, 200 900 to be excavated in the last three
years.
During the last two years on the Suez canal
00,OOO,OOO cubic metres were removed
Measured by the actual amount of work to be
done, the Panama canal is not a very much
greater undertaking than was the Suez canal.
The comparative disadvantages of climate and
greater cost OF labor are compensated for by ex-
perence gained in the earlier work, improved
machinery, and the greater efficiency of labor.
AltO iiOoieul prosecuted on inc Oenlfal American
sthmus differs from that presented at Suez in
only one essential feature At Suez there was
no rain, and, therefore no swollen rivers nor
streams nor torrents to contend with, there
are at Panama, where a single night of rain,
such as frequently falls at Colon, might destroy
the work of months The bed of sea level
canal must necessarily be below the bed Of every
natural water course of the country through
which 1t passes. In order to diminish the
excavation to the least possible amount the
line of lowest levels must necessarily be
the canal route, and tae line of lowest levels
must necessarily be, go to speak, the trunk line
of all the drainage. We can form some idea of
the amount of this drainage by the fact that lis
inches of rain fell at Colon during 1883. To pro
vide fer conveying this enormous volume of wa
ter to the sea- while excluding it from the canal,
is the greatest engineering feat that man has
ever undertaken. That it will be successfully
accomplished have no doubt, but the cost of
the work involved in its accomplishment is be-
You'd the power of man to estimate
The amount of money that has already been ex
pended on the work is guarantee of its success
full completion The French people cannot af
ford to lose the 500 000 900 already invested, and
no French government could exist an hour that
would hesitate at the critical moment to extend
its financial aid tocomplete the grandest achieve
ment of man in any age. and that man French
man. Whether NJ de Lesseps lives or dies, his
influence with his countrymen will insure the
result.