REPORT OF BOARD OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, PANAMA CANAL.


presented to them. Should it be deemed necessary by the members of the Consulting Board, they may visit the Isthmus before making their final report. If there is a difference of opinion between the members of the Consulting Board, minority reports are requested.
 General George W. Davis is hereby designated as Chairman of the Board of Consulting Engineers. Instructions more detailed will be given in time to be presented to the Board when it first convenes on the 1st of September.
 The Chairman is charged with the duty of communicating to the other members of the Board this order and the other details that may be necessary.
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
 THE WHITE HoUSE, June 24, 1905.

 The Chairman stated that Mr. Herman Schussler, who had been appointed a member of the Board, had, on account of business affairs which prevented his coming to Washington, felt obliged to decline the appointment; also that Mr. J. B. Berry, chief engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad, was compelled to decline an appointment to the Board for the same reason.
 The Chairman stated that the Government of the Netherlands first designated for appointment to the Board Professor Kraus, but that a few days subsequent to said appointment this gentleman was called to a position with the Government, which made it impossible for him to accept, and Mr. J. W. Welcker, who was present, was then selected.
 The Chairman, on behalf of the President of the United States, extended to the several members of the Board an invitation to visit him at Oyster Bay and to take luncheon at his country residence at such time as might be most convenient, after having effected a complete organization. The details of this visit would be so arranged that the Board, upon arriving in New York in the morning, would take passage on the yacht Sylph, at the foot of East Twentyfifth street, go to Oyster Bay, and return the same day, the return journey being arranged from here. ,
 The Chairman further stated, in this connection, that the Chairman of the isthmian Canal Commission, Mr. Shonts, had prepared invitations for each member of the Board to a dinner and social talk, etc., at the Chevy Chase Club, Chevy Chase, Md., at 8.30 o'clock that evening, and that Mr. Shonts hoped that the entire Board would he present.
 The Chairman then informed the Board that the next step in order was to submit to the Board the documents which, by the President's order, were required to be prepared and offered for their consideration, viz, the various plans and projects which the Isthmian Canal Commission deemed worthy of .consideration. He further stated that all the plans, projects, etc., were before the several members of the Board, on the table, in the form of monographs and pamphlets, and that he would proceed to read the letter of transmittal, as follows: ISTHMIAN CANAL COMMISSION,
 Washington, D. C., September 1, 1905.
The BOARD OF ENGINEERS ADVISORY UPON PLANS FOR THE PANAMA CANAL, Washington, D. C.
 GENTLEMEN: In accordance with the directions of the President, dated April 1, 1905, the Isthmian Canal Commission has the honor to lay before you physical data concerning the Isthmus of Panama, and to solicit your opinion as to the best plan to be followed in the completion of the Panama Canal, within reasonable limits of cost and time.
 As you are aware, this question has been the subject of prolonged and elaborate studies for many years by numerous able engineers. A. vast amount of labor has been expended in the collection of information concerning the physics of the Isthmus, and in digesting it and formulating it into plans for the canal. The results of all these labors, both in the field and in the office, down to a recent date, are given in the reports of two distinguished Commissions, viz, the Comit6 Technique, of which the report is dated at Paris, November 16, 1898, and the American Commission of 1899-1901, of which the report is dated at Washington, November 16, 1901. A careful perusal of these reports, and examination of the maps and documents which accompany them, will afford as satisfactory a view of the entire subject, at the dates when they were written, as can now be given. They have been reprinted, each in a separate pamphlet, and in that form are now handed to you, marked Part I and Part II," respectively.
 During the last year additional surveys and observations have been made upon the Isthmus, the results of which are laid before you. It may be stated here in general terms that the information which they furnish does not involve any radical change in the plans previously favored. Among the observations alluded to may be included the experience of the last year in excavating the Culebra cut, from which some of our engineers have drawn unwarranted conclusions as to the probable cost of the work. There is nothing in this experience to justify the belief that the unit prices used in previous estimates were too high, or that the estimate of the time required for completing the work was too liberal. Nevertheless, this experience has been used as an argument in favor of a sea-level canal, Which plan


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