We are now about to present the result of our investigations in this last part of our labours.
| met. cub. |
|---|
| The total quantity of removal required for
the excavation of the Grand Canal,
according to the calculations
made from the sections, is | 74,679,132 |
| Of which the part to be excavated to
the level of low water in the
Mediterranean is | 17,473,790 |
| the remainder | 57,205,342 |
| is below this level. | |
| Earth-works in the Dry.—For
the first part, we have
similar works executed in Egypt; these
are the three Canals dug to receive the
waters of the Nile arising from the
reflux caused by the barrage. Two
of these canals have a breadth of 100 met. at the
bed; 4 met. 50 mean depth, with banks 25 met.
wide. They are all three dug in clay, which is very
stiff at some points.
The works having been executed by the Government,
the pay of the workmen was very low: 1½
piast. (0 fr. 37½) was given to able workmen; 1
piast. (0 fr. 25) to others, and 30 paras (0 fr. 20)
to children; the corresponding work done was 1
met. 25, cube per diem.
If this ratio were adopted, it would evidently be
too low; for the Company could not, and would not,
exercise such an authority over the people of the
country.
It is true, that these prices are voluntarily accepted
by the fellahs in the villages; but they are
at home with their families, and are able to cultivate
some patches of land on their own account. They
would not willingly leave their families, unless to
obtain higher wages, which would be at the maximum,
2½ piast. (0 fr. 62½).
An average of 2½ piast. (0 fr. 62½) per diem,
must be reckoned upon, not including the supply of
bread and water, which would cost 1 piast. in addition.
Say, therefore, 3½ piast. or in round numbers,
0 fr. 90.
At these wages, with good superintendence, 1 met.
50, cube per diem might be required; for, in the
works which we have carefully observed, we have
adopted the formula 2 + n = 8 met. cub. to fix the
task of the workmen employed. In which formula
n indicates the number of relays of 25 met. In the
present case, supposing the average distance from the
centre of removal to the centre of deposit to be two
relays, the formula would give 2 met. cub. and moreover
the excavation is to be made in very light ground.
We are therefore sure that the figure 1 met. 50 cube,
is rather below than above the mark. The cubic
metre will thus come to 0 fr. 61.—At this rate the
first portion of the earth-works would cost | fr. 10,484,274 |
| Earth-works under Water.—For the
second part we assume, that it will be
done entirely by steam dredges, in two
series. The first composed of dredges
of twenty horse power performing
the excavations to the depth of four
metres; and the second composed
of dredges of thirty-five horse power,
making the excavations to the depth
of 7 met. 50.
Let us see what can be done by
both these working night and day for
250 days in the year; thus making
ample allowance for repairs and stoppages.
The dredges employed at the barrage,
of 20 horse power, and raising
sand from a depth of seven metres,
filled thirty-three lighters in the day
and twenty-eight in the night, in all
61 per diem, giving a total of 610 to
700 met. cub.; but these machines
were almost continually stopped for
want of a sufficient number of lighters.
These same dredges, on the
Seine, removed as much as 500 met.
cub. in the day, and an equal quantity
at night, excavating, it is true,
at a depth of only 2 met. 50. The
price paid per cubic metre was 0 fr.
75, including carrying away and
discharging. At the barrage, on
account of the low price of labour,
the cubic metre has not cost 0 fr. 50.
For deepening the roadstead of
Toulon, dredges of twenty-five horse
power were employed, which raised
the mud from a depth of 9 met. 50
below low water.
These dredges worked 270 days in
the year, and each raised 194,755
met. cub. The cubic metre of soil
extracted was fixed provisionally for
the account at 1 fr. 20, including the
transport and discharge, which was at
an average distance of several miles
in the open sea.
At the port of Valencia, dredges
of thirty-five horse power were employed,
raising 750 met. cub. per
diem, from a depth of 5 to 7 metres.
A steamer of seventy horse power
towed the lighters to a distance of
fifteen miles, and the cubic metre
thus raised and transported only cost
0 fr. 75.
From these data it may be assumed,
that the dredges of twenty horse power
will raise 500 met. cub. of earth per
diem from a depth of 4 met., and we
may fix the price of extraction, including
transport, at 0 fr., 75; that
the dredges of thirty-five horse power
will raise 750 met. cub. at 1 fr.
By causing the dredges to work day and
night, and assuming, as we have said,
an average of 250 working days in the
year, a dredge of twenty horse power
will excavate per ann.
250,000
and a dredge of thirty-five horse power
375,000
met. cub.
625,000
The total quantity of excavation to
be performed by dredges being
57,205,342 met. cub., if the work is
to be done in five years, it will be necessary
to have nineteen pairs of
dredges; and, if it be observed that
for the greater part of the Isthmus,
the excavation may be done by hand
to the depth of a foot at least below
the level of the Mediterranean, since
the bottom of the Bitter Lakes remains
dry at a depth which reaches
8 met., 58, it will be found that nineteen
pairs will be amply sufficient.
Supposing half the work to be done
by each kind of dredge respectively,
the cost is found to be | 50,054,674 |
| By causing the dredges to work day and
night, and assuming, as we have said,
an average of 250 working days in the
year, a dredge of twenty horse power
will excavate per ann. | 250,000 |
| and a dredge of thirty-five horse power | 375,000 |
| met. cub. | 625,000 |
| Canal of Communication.—The quantity
of earth-work to be performed
for the canal of communication and irrigation
is calculated from the sections
at 10,320,884 met. cub. from
the receipt of water to Lake Timsah.
For this work men will easily be found,
at the rate of 3 piast. (0 fr. .75) including
all expenses, and each workman
will do easily 2 met. per diem,
which reduces the price of the cubic
metre to 0 fr. 37½.
The cost of excavating the canal
will therefore be | 3,870,331 |
| For the small canal of irrigation,
leading from the last channel to Suez,
the quantity of earth-work is 2,218,500
met. cub. For this it will be necessary
to pay the men 0 fr. 90 per diem,
and they will easily do 2 met. 25 cub.,
which will be 0 fr. 40 per met. cub.
The cost of this part will therefore be | 887,400 |
| Add 10 per cent. for tools | 6,529,667 |
| Contingencies | 173,654 |
| Total for the first part | fr. 72,000,000 |
To give a concise but accurate notion of the expense of the works of art, we shall fix the prime cost of the materials, compared with the prices paid in the execution of the works of the barrage, and then it will be easy to determine the outlay necessary for the present works, as compared with that of the former.
Rough Stone.—The rough stone used in the barrage comes from the quarries of Toura, situated 30 kil. from the place where it is used. It costs 22 paras the quintal, or 4 fr., 20, the cubic metre, delivered on the spot. That which will be used in the works of the Maritime Canal will come from the quarries of Ataka, on the shores of the bay of Suez, at a distance of 20 kil. from Suez. This being a calcareous stone, like that of Toura, if it is brought to the boats by a railroad and towed by steamers, there is sure to be a saving in the extraction and transport. We have however, taken the price at 5 fr. to cover all difficulties in forming establishments, the higher rate of labour, and the cost of the railroad. This is the price paid for the blocks employed at the port of Cherbourg.