_Summary of the estimated cost of the canal and appurtenances._ ═════════════════════════════════════════╤═════════════════ │ ESTIMATE │ BY GEN. MICHLER OBJECT OF EXPENDITURE. │ FOR EXCAVATION │ AND TUNNELING. ─────────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────── Works at the mouth of the Atrato │ $ 500,000 Excavation of earth │ 24,835,173 Rock cuttings │ 64,774,950 Tunneling │ 13,995,000 Pacific harbor improvements │ 1,150,000 Light-house │ 35,000 Piers │ 25,000 Depots on Pacific │ 50,000 Depots on line, and hospital │ 35,000 Depot at junction │ 15,000 Executive department │ 120,000 Engineer department │ 375,000 Medical department │ 80,000 Pay department │ 90,000 Commissary department │ 120,000 Quartermaster’s department │ 135,000 Dredging machinery │ 350,000 Hoisting and pumping engines’ machinery │ 875,000 ├───────────────── │ $107,560,123 Add 25 per cent. for contingencies │ 26,890,031 ├───────────────── │ $134,450,154 ─────────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────── This estimate supposes the dimensions of the canal to be 100 feet wide and 30 feet deep. This rate ($2.50) per cubic yard is evidently too small. Estimating this tunnel at the contract price being employed ($5.40), the cost will be $30,229,200; and should the price reach the not improbable limit of $10 per cubic yard, the cost will be increased to $55,970,000. Substituting these sums in place of the cost of tunneling as given in the above estimate, and the total cost of the canal along this route will, in the first case, be $150,684,354, and, in the second case, $176,625,154, which is not excessive, if the tunnel is to be lined throughout.