1. A divide 280 feet above tide. 2. Distance between oceans 48 miles. 3. The Chagres river, emptying into the Atlantic, and the Rio Grande, flowing into the Pacific, together with the smaller rivers, Maraboso, Obispo, Dominica, Mandingo, which can be made tributary to the summit level of the canal. The rainfall in this region varies from 90 to 100 inches, being three times the amount which ordinarily falls in the United States. 4. The harbors at the termini, Panama and Aspinwall, have accommodated the trade of California and the Atlantic States, and are far superior to those of Port Said and Suez. 5. Tunnel unnecessary. Possessing such advantages, the objections which have led to the ignoring of this route should be noticed. The objection of the Commission of French Engineers to M. Garella’s project has been mentioned. “The river Chagres,” it was observed, “was gauged at Cruces and Gorgona, but the river is to be tapped above these points.” The summit upon Garella’s line is 459 feet above tide, while upon the line of the Panama railroad it is but 280 feet. Garella proposes to pierce the ridge, at 135 feet above tide, with a tunnel three and four-tenths miles in length. No tunnel is required upon the other line. Estimating the tunnel of M. Garella at the present contract price in the United States, this part of the work alone will cost $57,623,380. Add 47 miles of open canal 84,232,491. ———————————— Total cost of canal $141,855,871. A canal by the aid of locks can be constructed between the two seas, upon the line proposed by Col. Hughes, at a much less cost. Assuming the same dimensions of canal—100 feet wide by 30 feet deep—and the same prices as above, taken from General Michler’s report upon the survey of the canal for joining the Atrato and the Pacific, and we obtain the probable cost of constructing a canal upon this line, as follows: For 50 miles of open canal $ 89,610,150 12 locks raise the summit level 75 feet 12,000,000 Breakwater, ship basin, and contingencies 8,000,000 ——————————— Total cost of canal $109,610,150 This diminution of cost of $32,245,721, due to the absence of a tunnel, upon this route, allows of a margin more than can be required for increasing the number of the locks, or for building, graving docks, and other auxiliary conveniences in the harbors.