REPORT OF BOARD OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, PANAMA CANAL.


ft.) was 4.8 per cent. For the first eight months of 1904 the proportions were 12.2 per cent and
5.5 per cent, respectively.
 The enormous vessels above mentioned are only destined for service between North America and a few ports in Europe. They are very expensive to construct and their running expense is considerable.
 Their great consumption of coal has attained to figures unheard of during the past years. It can be estimated by the following table showing the quantity of coal consumed by them in twenty-four hours under normal conditions:
 FAST STEAMERS.
 Tons.
 Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse-----------------------------------------------------------580
 Deutschland---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 650
 Kaiser Wilhelm II---------------------------------------------------------------------- 700
 Kronprinz Wilhelm---------------------------------------------------------------630
 Oceanic-------------------------------------------------------------------------550
 STEAMERS OF MODERATE SPEED.
 Celtic -.--------.----------------------------------------------------------------220
 Cedric ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 230
 Baltic----..--- ..----..-------------------------------------------------------------- 240
 Caronia --------..----.-------------------------------------------------------------.380
 The two new turbine steamers of the Cunard Line which are expected to make 24.5 to 25 knots, will consume at least 1,000 to 1,100 tons per twenty-four hours, at normal speed.
 The big steamers of the Messageries Maritimes of France, sailing between Bordeaux and La Plata, with a draft not exceeding 7 meters (22.96 ft.) and 150 to 155 meters (492 to 509 ft.) in length, consume a little less than half of the smallest figure above mentioned, with a speed of from 14.5 to 15 knots; their daily consumption of coal would be increased by more than 50 tons if they should force their speed 1 knot.
 The steamers of the Chargeurs R6unis, of Havre, built especially for the same service, had, a few years ago, a net tonnage of 1,240 to 2,000 tons, a normal draft of 5.50 to 6.30 meters (18.04 to 20.66 ft.) and maximum draft of 6 to 7 meters (19.68 to 22.96 ft.). With a speed, varying according to the steamers, of from 7.75 to 12 knots, the consumption of coal for every twenty-four hours was 14 to 28 tons.
 The increase in the consumption of coal is out of all poportion with the increase in speed. The steamship lines can not find a sufficient number of customers who will consent to pay for the value of this increase in speed, or obtain in the ports the large quantity of merchandise necessary to pay their expenses.
 There are, therefore, difficulties and obstacles to the employment of large steamers even by the lines where business is most favorable. It is for this reason that the development of works in maritime ports follows instead of precedes the dimensions of the steamers, for these works are very expensive when they attain the proportions necessary for the operation of large vessels.
 The pier walls of the Malapaga, at Genoa, constructed a few years ago at a foundation of -9 meters (29.52 ft.) only cost 2,100 francs per meter ($128 per ft.). The cost of the pier walls recently constructed in the port of Marseille, by means of compressed air, with a foundation as low as -10 and even -12 meters (32.80 and 39.37 ft.) did not exceed in both cases 2,800 to 3,400 f rancs ($171 to $207 per ft.). But we must bear in mind that material and labor in these two ports are very cheap, and at Genoa it is cheaper than in any other port of the world. At Havre, where. the tide has a rise of 8 meters (26.24 ft.) and where the material and labor is very dear and there is also a bad foundation, a pier, now in construction, with an anchorage of -9 meters (29.52 ft.) will cost not less than 11,000 francs per running meter ($2,011 per yd.).


167