i86 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



closely into the details of the subject, taking one after 

 another the numerous projects presented to the con- 

 ference by their authors, to study them in detail so as 

 to bring out their commercial or technical advantages, 

 as well as to indicate their drawbacks and cost. This 

 first work achieved, the technical commission had at 

 its command the necessary elements for comparing all 

 the projects, and' selecting the one which it would 

 advise the Congress, at its plenary sitting, to adopt. 

 M. Daubree, member of the French Institute, was 

 president, and Yoisin Bey, formerly director of the 

 works of the Suez Canal, reporter. The commission 

 comprised the most eminent specialists of all nations, 

 and it is quite certain that a decision ratified by the 

 names of Messrs. Hawkshaw, Dirks, Pascal, de 

 Fourcy, Favre, Couvreux, Lavalley, and Euelle, who 

 carried as much moral as they did scientific weight, 

 would be beyond the reach of criticism. Who better 

 than the creator of the Amsterdam Canal could treat 

 of the question of large locks ? Who better than 

 the lamented constructor of the St. Gothard Tunnel 

 could discuss the question of the immense tunnel in 

 Panama, and the difficulties which would be entailed 

 in making it? Who more competent than Messrs. 

 Lavalley and Couvreux to speak of the cost of dredg- 

 ing and of excavating, both on dry land and under 

 water ? Then, again, all the engineers who assisted 

 me at Suez had assuredly acquired the experience 

 necessary for settling the questions raised by the 



