IN THE PACIFIC. 213 



San Juan del Sur, the proposed terminus on the 

 Pacific side. 



Mons. Lesseps is said to be in favour of this 

 plan ; lie considers that a canal with weirs can 

 be easily constructed, and he is, I believe, of 

 opinion that it is impossible to construct a canal 

 without weirs in any part of the American 

 continent. 



Against this project it may be said that to 

 construct a canal with weirs is a most expensive 

 operation; that they are liable to get out of 

 order ; that the distance between the two oceans 

 is greater at Nicaragua than at Panama; and 

 that there is no good port available on the 

 Atlantic side. 



If a canal with locks be thought practicable, 

 there seems to be no reason why one should not 

 be constructed across the Isthmus of Panama 

 in the vicinity of the railway ; a survey is now 

 being made to ascertain the best point where 

 the Chagres Biver can be dammed up, so as to 

 form a reservoir, with this object in view. 

 Another plan has been proposed ; namely, to 



