65.6 feet above the sea. The location of this line was practically
the same as that of the old company. The available length of each
lock chamber was 738 feet, while the available width was 82 feet,
the depth in the clear being 32 feet 10 inches. The lifts were to
vary from 26 to 33 feet. It was estimated that the cost of
finishing the canal on this plan would be $101,850,000, exclusive
of administration and financing.

The Isthmian Commission of 1899-1901 considered the project, reexamined
into the facts, and as stated by Professor Burr--

The feasibility of a sea-level canal, but with a tidal lock at the
Panama end, was carefully considered by the Commission, and an
approximate estimate of the cost of completing the work on that
plan was made. In round numbers this estimated cost was about
$250,000,000, and _the time required to complete the work would
probably be nearly or quite twice that needed for the construction
of a canal with locks_. The Commission therefore adopted a project
for the canal locks. Both plans and estimates were carefully
developed in accordance therewith.

Professor Burr, now in favor of a sea-level canal, _then_ concurred in
the report in favor of a lock canal.

Since the Panama canal became the property of the nation a vast amount
of necessary and preliminary work has been done preparatory to the
actual construction of the canal. A complete civil government of the
Canal Zone has been established, an army of experts and engineers has
been organized, the work of sanitation and police control is in
excellent hands, and the Isthmus, or, more properly speaking, the Canal
Zone, is to-day in a better, cleaner, and more healthful condition than
at any previous time in its history. A considerable amount of excavation
and necessary improvements in transportation facilities have been
carried to a point where further work must stop until the Isthmian
Commission knows the final plan or type of the canal. The reports which
have been made of the work of the Commission during its two years of
actual control are a complete and affirmative answer to the question
whether what has been done so far has been done wisely and well, and the
facts and evidence prove that the present state of affairs on the
Isthmus is in all respects to the credit of the nation.

Now, it is evident that the question of plan or type of canal is largely
o