THE TYPE OF THE PANAMA CANAL 



421 



to see that the necessary surveys and data for determining the type of canal 

 have been completed and to bring the same to Washington to be laid before 

 the commission; and that the committee on engineering phms shall, if possible, 

 recommend to the commission, during March, various plans and estimates for 

 the several types of canal, so that the commission as a whole may determine 

 the same. 



The writer was a fourth member of the committee on engineering plans. 



In compliance with this resohition two members of the committee, 

 Professor Bnrr and ]\Ir. Parsons, went to the isthmus, where their 

 deliberations were participated in by General Davis, who by virtue of 

 his station on the isthmus was a member of all committees there in 

 session. Major Harrod did not accompany tlie other members of the 

 committee, because it was necessary to preserve a quorum of the com- 

 mission at Washington for the transaction of business. 



On February 23, 1905, the committee, having returned from the 

 isthmus, made a report, in which it recommended that the construc- 

 tion of a breakwater at the entrance of Limon Bay should be com- 

 menced at the earliest practicable date; that the harbor at Cristobal 

 should be deepened and otherwise improved; that, if a lock-canal be 

 constructed the summit level of the canal should not exceed 60 feet; 

 that Chagres Eiver should be controlled by a dam at Gamboa; and 

 that a plan for a sea-level canal, free from the restriction of locks 

 (except a tidal lock near the Pacific Ocean) should be adopted. The 

 committee included in its recommendations 150 feet as the least bot- 

 tom-width of the canal and 35 feet as the least dejith. suggesting, 

 however, that estimates be also made to cover a depth of 40 feet. The 

 committee also took up the question of the necessary lock dimensions, 

 if locks be required, and advocated a width of 100 feet and a usable 



Old French Ladder or Elevator Dredge deepeMiNG Entrance Channel in the 



Pacific near La Boca. This dredge is being served by two old French 



self-propeHing hopper barges, known as " clapets." 



