MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 73 



that ocean from the heights south-east of Panama. The harbors 

 on both sides are good. This route was brought before the pub- 

 lic by Mr. Oliphant in a lecture before the British Geographical 

 Society. It was reconnoitred for F. M. Kelly, Esq., of New 

 York, in 1864, and, while having many favorable points, was re- 

 ported against on account of a proposed tunnel, the engineers 

 at the same time stating that they believed a better route could 

 be found. 



One of the great objections urged to this part of the Isthmus 

 has been supposed unhealthiness. Com. Selfridge reports that his 

 men had good health, and only one died. This from a crew num- 

 bering fully 600 men does not indicate a very unhealthy climate. 



As Com. Selfridge is to proceed again to the Isthmus next win- 

 ter, and we suppose not only make a thorough survey of the San 

 Bias, but also of the Panama route, some definite information may 

 at last be expected as to an American interoceanic canal. Then, 

 too, we notice that Congress is about to appropriate 35,000 dollars 

 for the survey of the Tehuantepec line. 



SUEZ CANAL. 



The report of M. de Lesseps, presented to the shareholders at 

 Paris, states that 1,600,000 dollars will be required this year to com- 

 plete or improve the works. The total number of vessels passed 

 through the canal, from the day of its opening to the 15th of March, 

 was 209. 



In the report of Captain Richards, R.N., and Lieut. Col. Clark, 

 C.B., sent by the English government to examine the canal, with 

 reference to the future utility of the same to the English marine, 

 we observe that by 52 accurate sections, taken at different points, 

 the canal is found to be essentially completed according to the 

 original, or rather modified, designs of the company, and '* is, at 

 the present moment, undeniably a navigable canal for vessels of 

 considerable draft and tonnage." 



It appears that the company intend, without delay, to reduce 

 the sharpness of certain curves, and widen the bed at these points 

 to 130 feet on the floor ; also to make the channel at Port Said 

 30 feet deep. This will require the removal of about 451,000 

 cubic yards of earth. 



It is also intended to mark the banks of the canal by conspic- 

 uous beacons at each mile, and to provide posts or bollards for 

 securing ships or heaving them off at every tenth of a mile, and 

 to mark the limits of 16 feet water on each side by buoys placed 

 about 400 yards apart. 



According to the same report, no difficulty is to be apprehended 

 in regard to the harbor of Port Said, either with reference to 

 keeping the channel open or in its approach by vessels. 



So, also, as to the silting up of the canal by drifting sand, the 

 permanence of the fresh-water canal, now 10 years old, is con- 

 clusive evidence upon this point. 



The authors of this report further conclude that the use of this 



