38o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



although much improved ; but the future is full of promise. In filling 

 out this record, America, I believe, will do her full share, and thus aid 

 in the solution of the great problems now before us. 



I have endeavored to define clearly the different periods in the his- 

 tory of paleontology. If I may venture, in conclusion, to characterize 

 the present period in all departments of science, its main feature 

 would be a belief in universal laws. The reign of Law, first recog- 

 nized in the physical world, has now been extended to Life as well. 

 In return, Life has given to inanimate Nature the key to her pro- 

 founder mysteries — Evolution, which embraces the universe. 



What is to be the main characteristic of the next period ? No one 

 now can tell. But, if we are permitted to continue in imagination the 

 rapidly converging lines of research pursued to-day, they seem to meet 

 at the point where organic and inorganic nature become one. That 

 this point will yet be reached, I can not doubt. 



INTEROCEANIC CANAL EOUTES.* 



By CHAELES DE FOURCY, C. E. 



INSTEAD of delaying the discussion by a series of resolutions, I 

 ask your permission to develop, at some length, the question as it 

 strikes me in its entirety ; and, that you may know the drift of my 

 argument, I will begin by stating the conclusion at which I have 

 arrived, viz., that the Interoceanic Canal should be constructed in 

 the Isthmus of Panama, between the Bay of Colon and the Gulf of 

 Panama. This canal, using merely the water of the ocean, should 

 h.ave no appreciable current, and it should be of the same level as the 

 average tide in the Bay of Colon, where the rise and fall are hardly 

 perceptible. To show you why I am firmly convinced of this, I will 

 enter with some detail into the labors of your second sub-committee, 

 over which I had the honor of presiding, and of which you warmly 

 received the report presented by M. Voisin Bey. The report of this 

 sub-committee, which is to be printed, will show you how impartially, 

 with what scrupulous care, with what exhaustive discussion, and finally 

 with what unanimity its decisions were taken. I am wrong in saying 

 decisions, for none were taken. Of every one of the plans submitted 

 then to its examination, and now to your vote, it showed lap the ad- 

 vantages and the difficulties, the strong and the weak side ; it prepared 

 no form of resolution, giving to each of its members full liberty to ex- 

 press an opinion, as you can now. It is therefore in my personal name 



* The Interoceanic Canal. Speech delivered by M. Charles de Fourcy before the 

 Technique Committee of the Paris International Congress, on May 28, 1879. 



