60 
THE PANAMA CANAL ROUTE 
isthmus in January, 1895. It comprised a large and competent 
Imdy of skilled engineers, and my final word must V>e held in 
reserve until this commission has made its report. 
In the meantime, what are the principal facts concerning the 
feasibility of the Panama route? 
1. It is the shortest of all, being only 42 1 miles from sea to 
sea, across about 20 miles of which the canal has been completed 
to 28 feet Ijelow sea level, making the actual present distance I)e- 
tween the two oceans less than 25 English miles, or about one- 
seventh of the actual distance (170 miles) to he overcome between 
Greytown and San Juan in the case of the Nicaragua route. 
2. It is the only ])ossil)le tide-water route in the whole isthmian 
region. To accom])lisli it would, it is true, require great engi- 
neering and constructional feats, but in no respect impossilde 
ones. 
8. It is said by competent and reliable engineers to he feasible 
for a lock-level route. The plan ]woposed involves the construc- 
tion of a dam at Bujio or San Pahloa of about the same size as 
that which is admitted to he necessary at San Carlos on the Nica- 
ragua route, together with six locks. The construction of this 
dam would create a summit lake 125 feet above tide water and 
12 miles in len<rth if placed at San Pahloa, or 21 miles if located 
at Bujio. In addition to giving free summit navigation, such a 
lake would control the floods of the Up])er Chagres, storing tliem 
in the rainy season and supplying water to the summit lock- 
levels. 
4. It is in a region comparatively free from seismic disturb- 
ance and one in which no volcanic action has occurred since late 
Tertiary time. The Nicaragua route is within a zone of topo- 
gra])hically destructive volcanic disturbance, where earthquakes 
are frequent. 
5. It has what no other route possesses : excellent terminal 
harbor facilities, with anchorage at both oceans so improved that 
ships can enter and leave at will. 
fi. It has been minutely surveyed. Every ^foot of the “ trace ” 
has been cleared of vegetation and ]mrtially excavated and tested 
I)v ])onngs, so that the actual problems of construction are ap- 
proximately known. As to problems that will surely arise in the 
Avork on the other route Ave liaA’e absolutely no data. 
7. It has on the Caribbean side only 31 miles of flooded thahveg 
