Romance of Panama Canal 151 



temporarily very swollen rivers; these dis- 

 charged their waters into the partially 

 excavated canal and held up progress. 

 Although a good deal of excavation was 

 carried out the main portions of hard rock, 

 like the celebrated Culebra Cut were not 

 tackled, and this, it was known, would 

 seriously test the workers and their 

 machinery. 



In 1889 de Lesseps was compelled to 

 resign and some attempt was made to re- 

 organise the company and also the scheme. 

 It was too late, though it must be confessed 

 that in some respects the engineers made 

 plans which were carried out later on when 

 the Americans had to attempt this great 

 problem. 



Great interest had been roused in the 

 United States because it was quite clear 

 that a Panama Canal would vastly affect 

 that country's trade and naval position. 

 There were insistent voices raised that such 

 a colossal venture as this should not be in 

 the hands of any European power, nor yet 

 should it be financed from across the 



