Isthmus of Darien ship canal; with a full history of the Scotch colony of Darien

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853 Excerpt: ...progress by a timely concession to it. I propose to make a cut of 30 feet deep at low tide, 140 feet broad at bottom, and 160 feet at low water's surface. Such a cut, carried from sea to sea, is not larger than the trade of the world requires, and will form a permanent, safe, and rapid mode of transit. On Plan No. 2, the direction of the navigation is marked by a red line, and on the section, the depth of cutting required is shewn in red colour. On the Pacific the tide rises twenty-three feet, and on the Atlantic it is scarcely appreciable. Mid-tide is on a level, or nearly so, in the two oceans, so that there will be a current both ways dependent on the ebb and flow of the Pacific. This current will not exceed three miles an hour, and will act most beneficially, not only as a scour to prevent deposit, but as an assistance in the transit of vessels. It will secure the passage being effected in one tide, and prevent the passing of vessels going different ways, as the direction of the trade will be influenced by the ebb or flow of the Pacific tide. The material to be excavated through is chiefly rock (not expensive to quarry), so that this current will not wear away the banks, nor will the wash of passing steamers cause injury; it also affords security against any interruption to the navigation' from slips, and reduces the cost of maintenance to a nominal sum. This rock is a stratified shale, with thinnish beds, easy to get, though sound, and will form an admirable side-lining to the navigation, dispensing with the necessity of any artificial protection. The fact of its existence is one of the most favourable features of the undertaking as regards permanence and certainty of success. I estimate the cost of this design at £12,000,000. It must be remembere...