REPORT OF BOARD OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, PANAMA CANAL-.


 NINETEENTH MEETING.
 WAsHINGTON, D. C., October 31, 1905.
 The meeting was called to order at 10.10 a. in.
 Present: The CHAIRMAN, and Messrs. NOBLE, PARSONS, BURR, ABBOT, STEARNs, RIPLEY, RANDOLP.h, HUNTER, TINCAUZKER, GUNiRARD, QUELLENNEC, and WELCKER.
 The Secretary read the minutes of the seventeenth and eighteenth meetings, which were adopted.
 The Chairman stated that he had received from Mr. Bunau-Varilla a letter elaborating some features of his project, copies of which had been sent by the author to the other members, and asked what disposition should be made of the paper.
 It was the sense of the Board that the same should be embodied in Appendix F, as a part of Mr. Bunau-Varilla's explanation of his project.
 The Chairman reported further progress for the Sea-Level Canal Committee and read a summary of estimates of quantities and cost for the proposed plan.
 On suggestion of Mr. Hunter the Chairman stated that additional data respecting the beam of the larger vessels, as shown by the latest edition of Lloyd's Register, 1905-6, would be compiled for the use of the members.
 The Board then proceeded to discuss the features of the proposed sea-level plan.
 The project for the formation of a harbor at Colon was discussed at length. in this connection General Abbot offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
 Resolved, That in view of the necessity of preparing estimates, the project for the formation of the harbor at Colon presented by the Sea-Level Canal Committee be adopted for that purpose.
 At 12.55 p. in. the meeting adjourned to reassemble at 2 p. in.

 The full Board reassembled at 2.10 p. m.
 The Chairman stated that he had received a letter concerning unit prices from the UnitPrices Committee.
 The subject of reports of the meetings was again taken up, and after discussion it was decided that each member should be given a typewritten copy of the remarks made at the meetings, without condensation; that minutes for formal adoption should be prepared by the Secretary, by condensing and eliminating so as to state briefly the business transacted at the meetings with the action thereon; that subsequently matter of practical interest discussed at each meeting should be selected by the Board and printed in the appendixes, in addition to the minutes.
 Mr. Hunter announced that some modifications had been made in the position of the tidal lock of the sea-level plan, and that the length of the jetties had been reduced to 700 feet from their former dimensions of 1,000 feet.
 This led to a continuation of the discussion of the sea-level plan.
 Discussion proceeded as to whether the Pacific terminus as presented by the Sea-Level Canal Committee should be adopted for the purpose of estimates, and Mr. Burr offered the following resolution, which was adopted.
 Resolved, That the plan presented by the Sea-Level Canal Committee showing the location of the canal and terminal locks and the sea channel on the Pacific side-that is, that portion of the canal from kilometer 61.79 to the sea-be accepted by the Board tentatively for the purpose of estimates.
 Mr. Quellennee desired his vote to be recorded in the affirmative with the modification as shown by the discussion-that he believed the alignment shown by the French plans of that portion of the canal is practicable and, possibly, preferable.
 After some further discussion of the proposed method of controlling the waters contributary to the proposed sea-level canal, the Board adjourned at 4.30 p. in., to meet at 10 a. in. Friday, November 3.
 JOHN C. OAKEs,
 (apta General Staf, Secretary.
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