CCxlviii GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



canal one upon the route generally known as the Atrato 

 and Napipi; the other upon the Chepo route, and upon a line 

 nearly coinciding with that of the present Panama Railroad. 

 The first expedition, under the command of Lieutenant Fred- 

 erick Collins, U. S. N., formerly on Commander T. O. Sel- 

 fridge's staff on the Atrato, re-examined and completed the 

 survey of the route recommended by Commander Selfridge 

 in 1871 and 18*73. The party under Lieutenant Collins ran 

 a new line of survey from the Atrato to the Pacific, following 

 the Napipi Valley to its junction with the Doguado River, 

 thence to its head-waters, and thence, crossing the divide at 

 an elevation of 778 feet, to Chiri-Chiri Bay. 



The direct distance is but 28 miles; the necessary curves 

 increase this to 30.2 miles. Plans for a canal by this route 

 will show a summit level of 143 feet above mean tide, a tuu- 

 nel of 3.5 miles, and the use of 22 locks. Estimated cost, in- 

 cluding twenty-five per cent, for contingencies, $100,000,000. 

 Lieutenant Collins reports, as a digest of the advantages 

 and disadvantages of this route, in substance as follows : 

 The character of much of the soil to be excavated is favor- 

 able for stable embankments and defense against loss by 

 leakage or infiltrations ; other advantages are the shortness 

 of the artificial channel, excellence of harbors on each side, 

 freedom of the location from terrestrial convulsion, abun- 

 dance of material for construction, comparative facility for 

 obtaining labor, and friendly disposition of the government 

 and of the natives. The heaviest work would be on the 

 Pacific side, which is more healthy and offers facilities for 

 transportation. 



The disadvantages lie chiefly in the necessity of a tunnel 

 (its expense of construction and want of adaptability for 

 commerce), the steep descent toward the Pacific requiring 

 (like the almost unused Caledonia Canal) the grouping of a 

 number of locks, limited water-supply during the dry sea- 

 son, dangers to constructions during the floods, shortness of 

 season available for work, and undeveloped state of the 

 country. x 



The expedition under Commander E. P. Lull, LTnited 

 States Navy, had for its objects the exploration of a route 

 across the Isthmus of Panama, and to make likewise such 

 examination of what has been known as the Chepo or Ba- 



