87 
of excavation. The windings of the Monetza and Chicapa, 
judiciously turned to account, would give to the canal a 
more extensive line in which the locks could he better distri¬ 
buted. The solid rocks, through which these two rivers run, 
would afford both at the bottoms and sides a firm foundation 
to the necessary works. 
The Commissioners do not pretend to have indicated the 
only means of effecting the desired canal transit, much less do 
they flatter themselves of having proposed the best, and only 
hope to have been the means of showing the practicability of 
the undertaking. With regard to its advantages as a com¬ 
mercial speculation, the following estimate of the necessary 
expense will afford the best means of calculating them. 
