In
the 1880s, after years of discussion, surveys, and politics,
the French attempted to dig a sea level canal across Panama. After eight years of careful and tremendous
effort, but with unreasonable expectations, political and
financial chicanery in France, the deaths of perhaps 15,000
French engineers and Jamaican black laborers from accident and disease,
notably misunderstood yellow fever and malaria, their venture
collapsed. Two thousand buildings and untold ships, boats,
machinery and material were abandoned. About 25% of the digging eventually
needed had been done.