Transcriber’s Notes: Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. A single underscore after a symbol indicates a subscript. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Footnotes have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Typographical errors have been silently corrected. Inconsistent place names have been silently corrected. Several wide tables in the original book have been split into two sections in this ebook version to avoid very long lines. IS A SHIP CANAL PRACTICABLE? NOTES, HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL, UPON THE PROJECTED ROUTES FOR AN INTEROCEANIC SHIP CANAL BETWEEN THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS, IN WHICH IS INCLUDED A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE OF THE CANAL OF SUEZ, AND THE PROBABLE EFFECTS UPON THE COMMERCE OF THE WORLD OF THE TWO CANALS, REGARDED EITHER AS RIVALS, OR AS PARTS OF ONE SYSTEM OF INTEROCEANIC NAVIGATION. BY S. T. ABERT, C.E. ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS. CINCINNATI: R. W. CARROLL & CO., PUBLISHERS, 117 WEST FOURTH STREET. 1870. The following notes upon Interoceanic Routes across the American Isthmus were collected and arranged during intervals of professional occupation, and are doubtless affected by the haste incident to this method of preparation. They were laid by a friend before the Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD and the late R. J. WALKER, for their perusal, and receiving the commendation of their enlightened judgments, the writer has thought that the publication may not be without interest to those who are seeking information as to the feasibility of an intermarine ship canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Prepared before the completion of the Suez Canal and the sailing of the last Darien Expedition, some additions have been made to bring the parts of the Notes relating to these topics up to date. AUGUST 1, 1870. IS A SHIP CANAL PRACTICABLE? CHAPTER I.