New-York daily tribune., 1843-12-19

Cn,cn CT t,.s Atlantic and Pacific Ocean
Tie last Bleckwood's Magazine contains
oaper on th. long agiated project ol connecting
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by comnun!ca
ton across the Isthnus Of Harlen Inc great
IMPORTANCE of this work to the whole commercial
world, as well as lis magnitude, and the interest
which j. has al intervals through more than
century existed, inpois Us 10 present some of the
facts embodied il this article.
The Pacific ocean Is now reached by circum.
navigating South America, stretching TO Cape
Horn in the seth degree of south latitude; while
tempests, hurricanes, islands, rocks, &c. usually
cons,rain the mariner TO give the Cape pretty
wide berth, or else to wish he had done it. China,
India and the isles Of the Indian ocean, with
Australasia, are commonly reached by circunsna-
viga:ing Africa; the Cape of Good Hope being
hardly less tempestuous than Cape Horn, but the
navigation unembartassed by islands. From
New.York to Canton around Cape horn is 1920
miles, and the voyage must be performed by sail
vessels requiring IN the average some four to SIX
months; by crossing Mexico at the Isthmus Of
Tehuantepec 020 miles over this distance is
shortened tiiOle tldll f,AUV iilItS, tC
t7aversed Via Guassacualco, Sandwich Islands,
and Ladrones,) wholly by steam in two months
at farthes:, with much less sea-rish than is en-
countered at present. But to the western coast
OF our own continent, which is daily and vlslbly
growing into Importance, the saving Is immensely
greater: the distance from New-Eork to the
mouth OF the Columbia ;tCund Cape Horn being
over 1890 milcs, while by the route across
I.iexco j: ig co; 2,300 miles, hence TO the Pacific
and 2670 thence &c the CoIuln0ia-ln ali say
5,001 miles, CT saving ot ever 1900! By
steamships this route, Eof which there is every
facilty) the Columbia may te brought within ons
.,ontL CT crr city, from which 1t is now slx tc
ains months distant. IS lvt ;iiis better than
epeadiag millions Oh the wild and futile project OF
establishing ..ae Of Military Posts overland 10
Oregon Even ii the settlement of G:ego,
IS the grca: u:at:e:. why 10; btlng It within a
months easy Transportation rather than rest Oil a
difficult tci!soze ana iii-fed overland Journey of
I ssvelai niontils}
That q conlmuriestio, between, Tie Atlantic
and Pacific, across The nar1owest palt 6; ou:
Continent, will be established, It would seem
absurd to Gou5t. IRE Inducements thereto are
great and pressing :s parties Interested are nu-
nasrous aad powerful, 20. they embrace the whole
Commercial world, wE.!e there Is nc considerable
interest which would be ever: temporarily injured
thereby. B.s how sllaii this communication be
epslcd oy whom at what yol.t by what
Giodo! aac = what manner shall the outlay BE
ssiaSurssa' These problems, unso.vod, have
tho - x,i,o
last hundred and fifty yeaGs; shai: they be potent
to defer !: ios h.l; ceE:u:y longer
TO begin with the question cf locality The
largest overland route at the same time the one
which viii lnos. shorten the distance hence to
Canton, Ca!.iorIiia or the Columbia, is that al.
Seady, by the Isthmus Of Tehuantepec and river
Guossacualco, thence fifty miles across rugged
mountain tract TO the Pacific. This route lies
through the Mexican provinces of Vera Cruz and
Oaxaca, and is i2Q miles iroiu ocean to ocean.
The depth Of y. 4ter on this side good, and The
Guossacualco can be rendered naylgab!e the
Pacific coast has not been explored for d suitable
port and ha1bog.-Auo;,ier route is by way oi the
Lake Nicaragua whicl. does not seem 10 meet
with muc!. favor ut present. 81 common con-
seat the shortest route, benny that by tie gull and
CITY OF Panama, appears 10 be At this time pre-.
ferred. Panama rs net absolutely The neares:
point the Pacific 10 the waters OF the Atlantic,
but is wei. bul!t, considerable, and for Spanish
America prosperous commercial city, while the
mountain chain connecting the Andes with the
Rocky Mountains is here depressed to an Irregular
ju'nbs rather than range OF scattered hills II is
doubtless here o, n t..is ;;ci1:ty that the COZ,
ncxon VII Go affected.
fe. the obstacles TO be encountered s:e by no
means !accas!ders5le. III the hrs. place. the Yyer
Chagre, enaPtyng lato The Gulf CT Mexico, by
following wS.ch halt the distance to Panama is
to be overcome. can only De catered by vessels
drawing twelve ieet c. water or lesS-a very
serious embarrassment. But THIS It is proposed
to remedy by making tic Atlantic poz: not at the
mouth of the Chagre bat at the bay OF Simon,
otherwise Navy Bay, only three miles distant,
where there is sufficient depth of water, good
anchorage, and every facility 70, CONSTRUCTING an
admirable haF5of. Hence striking tie Chagre,
and following up the valley Of that river twelve
miles to the mouth OF the Trinidad, whence it is
but thirty miles to Panama or twenty.lour to
Chousra, a: the head of the Bay OF that name.
which by sone IS considered the preferable
point of striking the Pacific. Should canal be
constructed, Il will PROBABLY proceed Up the
Trinidad. Whether Pana:aa or Chorrera shall
be its point OF junction with the Pacific will de-
pend upon the capacity OF the Bay of Chorrera
to admit the entrance of large vessels. Should
IL nrove of adequate depth, it vii! secure 3 nre