APPENDIX R.


 UNIT PRICES.
 REPORT BY THlE COMMITTEE ON UNIT PI~CES.



 WASHINGTON, D. C., October 30, 1905.
 SIR: The Committee on Unit Prices begs leave to submit the attached schedule of prices to be used in making preliminary- estimates.
 The chief engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission declined, when a witness before the Board, to venture any statements as to the probable cost, as the data were not on hand on which to base a reliable opinion as to estimates. The committee appreciates this lack of information, and in suggesting prices does so with the view that they be made general approximations to cover all contingencies in variations in design, execution of the work, and accidents.
 In the application of these prices some inconsistencies will become apparent, in that a cost price is not always uniform. It must be remembered that any estimated price is necessarily only approximate, and should be made high enough to guard against errors, and will then be high enough to' cover small variations from average conditions. It is recommended that the prices be used broadly.
 Very respectf ully, WM. BARCLAY PARSoNS, ISHAM RANDOLPH,
 J. W. WELCKER,
 Uominittee on Unit Prices.
 Gen. GEO. W. DAVIS,
 Chairman Board of consulting Engineers,
 Isthmian canal iComnmtsson.



 PANAMA CANAL-SCHEDULE OF UNIT PRICES.
 EXCAVATION.
 Earth: Price.
 Earth in dry, except in Culebra ---------------------------------- cubic yard_ $0. 40
 Rock:
 Soft rock in dry, except in Culebra------------------------------------- do --- 1. 00
 Hard rock in dry, except in Culebra------------------------------------ do.- --- 1. 15
 Hard rock in lock pits, below elevation -10 ----------------------------- do.- --- 1. 50
 Dredging:
 Mud and sand in Colon and Panama harbors------------------------------- --- 15
 Soft material removed by hydraulic pumps, in canal----------------------- do ---- 25
 Indurated and hard clay requiring cutters ------------------------------- do---- .70
 Corairock------------------------------------------------------------ do.-.. 1.50
 Rock drilled and blasted in the dry, to elevation -25, removed by dredge...--.do.--- 1. 50
 Rock removed under water -------------------------------------------- do. --- 2. 50
 Culebra cut:
 All material, without classification, above elevation + 10 ------------------- do.. . 80
 All material below elevation + 10--------------------------------------- do.... .1. 25
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