T. FISHER UNWIN LONDON: ADELPHI TERRACE LEIPSIC: INSELSTRASSE 20 1909 (_All rights reserved._) THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE REVEREND CHARLES JOHN CORNISH, M.A. (OXON), OF FLEET, HANTS, AND SALCOMBE REGIS, DEVON, BY HIS AFFECTIONATE SON, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE I AM indebted to many persons for advice and information in connection with my study of the Panama Canal, and wish to thank particularly His Excellency the Rt. Hon. James Bryce, the Rt. Hon. Lord Avebury, Mr. Claude Mallet, C.M.G., Colonel George E. Church, Colonel George W. Goethals, chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and his colleagues, Colonel W.C. Gorgas, M.D., Major D.D. Gaillard, Major William L. Sibert, Mr. Jackson Smith, and Mr. Bucklin Bishop. Also Major Chester Harding, Mr. Arango, Mr. G.R. Shanton, Chief of Police, Mr. William Gerig (formerly in charge of the Gatun Dam), Mr. Mason W. Mitchell, and Mr. Tracy Robinson. VAUGHAN CORNISH. _November_, 1908. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 15 CHAPTER I HISTORICAL REVIEW 23 CHAPTER II ON THE CANAL AS IT IS TO BE 45 CHAPTER III ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE CULEBRA CUT, AND ON THE METHODS EMPLOYED FOR EXCAVATION AND DISPOSAL OF THE SPOIL 79 CHAPTER IV THE MEN ON THE ISTHMUS 99 CHAPTER V HEALTH ON THE ISTHMUS AND THE FUTURE OF THE WHITE RACE IN THE TROPICS 119 CHAPTER VI ON THE SHORTENING OF DISTANCES BY SEA, AND ON THE STEAMSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR CANAL TRANSIT 151 CHAPTER VII THE COST OF THE CANAL 171 INDEX 179 ILLUSTRATIONS MAKERS OF THE CANAL _Frontispiece_ TO FACE PAGE STATUE OF COLUMBUS, CHRISTOBAL, COLON 18 CHRISTCHURCH, COLON 18 LOCK AND DAM SITE, GATUN 26 (The house is on the crest-line of the dam, which will extend to the hills on the right) EXCAVATING FOR THE DOUBLE FLIGHT OF THREE LOCKS AT GATUN 26 (In fine-grained argillaceous sandstone rock)