It should be added on the other hand, however, that the warm season
was far from being favorable to the energy and perseverance necessary
to carry on successfully experiments of this kind. The temperature,
even at midnight, was often 38° C. (100.4° F.). Still further, the work
was constantly interrupted by the passage of ships through the canal.
On an average not more than forty minutes' work to the hour was
obtained. Notwithstanding this, there were extracted at Chalouf, on an
average, 38.225 cubic meters (50 cubic yards) per day without
interrupting navigation. At Port Tewfik, where there was much less
inconvenience from the passage of ships, the work was carried on from
eight to eleven hours per day and the quantity extracted in this time
was generally more than 76 cubic meters (99.4 cubic yards).

In most cases the system could be simplified. The engine which works
the dredge could, when not thus employed, be used to drive the pumps.
The propelling engine could also be used for the same purpose.

The results obtained at Suez indicate the appreciable advantages
arising from the application of this system to the works of ports,
rivers and canals, and ever, to the work of cutting in the
construction of roads and railroads.

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PROGRESS IN ENGINEERING.