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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 — John Shaqi

History

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

Name: 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
Author: Abert, S. T. (Silvanus Thayer)

Abert, S. T. (Silvanus Thayer)

Canals, Interoceanic

On account of the rise of the tide on the Pacific coast guard locks,
not much less costly than lift-locks, must be an essential part of any
canal from ocean to ocean.

The mean tide of the two oceans is about the same.

    _Table of tides, according to observation, from Col. Totten’s Report._
      ═══════════════════════════╤════════════╤═════════════╤═════════════
                                 │ PACIFIC AT │ PACIFIC AT  │ ATLANTIC AT
                                 │   PANAMA.  │   PANAMA.   │  ASPINWALL.
      ───────────────────────────┼────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
                                 │ MAY & JUNE │ NOV. & DEC. │ AUG. & SEPT.
                                 │    FEET.   │    FEET.    │   FEET.
      Greatest rise of tide      │    17.72   │    21.30    │   1.60
      Least rise of tide         │     7.94   │    9.70     │   0.62
      Average                    │    12.08   │   14.10     │   1.16
      Mean tide of Pacific above │            │             │
           mean tide of Atlantic │     0.759  │    0.14     │    ——
      ───────────────────────────┴────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────

Mr. Lloyd found a difference of 27.44 feet between high and low water
at Panama. The Red Sea is 3 inches higher than the Mediterranean.
The Atlantic at Brest is 3½ feet higher than the Mediterranean at
Marseilles.

The small variation in the mean tide at Panama of the two oceans is
probably due to the action of winds and the Gulf Stream. At Panama the
highest flood tide rises about ten and one-half feet above the level
of the mean tide of the Atlantic, and the extreme ebb falls about the
same number of feet below it. The alternate currents through the new
strait, caused by the rise and fall of the tide, would prove a serious
inconvenience to navigation.

The Pacific tide, piling up at the head of the new cut, and entering
the strait with considerable violence, would be propelled toward the
Gulf in a manner analogous to the progression of the tidal wave in
a river. Upon the ebb of the tide a reverse current would prevail.
Navigation would not only be obstructed by these alternate currents,
but the channel would be choked by drifting timber washed into the
canal during the rainy season. Silt and sand would be deposited in bars
at the outlet of the canal, or swept inward to form shoals where the
current could no longer transport it.

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