Mobile register and journal., 1845-03-18

A SHIP CANAL the great American 18TH
mus has long been the dream OF Europe and Amer-
and various have been the schemes for realizing
this dream Thus far without effect. But there is
now in Lundon Senior Garay. from Mexico, who,
having full authority from his Government TO UNDER
take the work, and large concessions in his favor in
the event OF success, has caused accurate survey
TO be made Of the main route for such canal, lmv
ing previously decided in favor of that Of Ithuante-
pee. He is now soliciting the aid of English capital
and enterprise to enable him to carry his views.
Al the lshmus Of Panama lhe distance between
the two oceans is only forty miles. and this would
seem prina facid To determine that the spot
for undertaking the canal. An accurate survey Of
this route has been recently executed under the
ders Of the French Government. The result is not
known, bat is supposed TO he unlayorable. Even If
there be no iDsurmounable objection in the forna-
ton of the ground, il is kno~n that the approach
| from the ocean 10 the isthmus Is shallow AS 10
prevent vessels Of any size from nearing the land
But ship canal must Of necessity have hart,ors at
each end, of sufficient draught of water to enable
vessels TO continue their from Europe Anne
rica to the Pacific without breaking bulk. This
defect, therefore, condemns the short of Pana
ma. Moreover the whole region is unhealthy to a
degree deadly to European life.
The next and more feasible project is by the way
of Nicaragua The distance there from sea to sea IL
ninety ve miles, but the larger portion Of the space
is occupied by lakes Leon and Nicaragua. the deep
river Of ripitapa which connects the lakes. and
the ample bed Of the San Juan, which, pours the
waters Of these lakes into the Atlantic.
The climate is healthy, the soil fertile and the pc.
puiatioB not deficient. But the physical obstacles
arising FROM rocky falls IN the river. and the number
Of locks tba, womb he requisite descend from lake
Leon To the Pacific, WHICH Iies 1877 feet below, pre-
sent so many difficulties, as to turn attention 10 the
third route, especially when 10 these considerations
is added another startling fact disclosed long ago by
Humboldt that "there s the face Of the globe
another spot thickly studded with volcanoes, az
that PsFt of America which lies between the llth aud
lSih degrees Of northern latitude" Nicaragua is
embraced within !hese psrsliels, and volcanoes with
their offspring. Earthquakes are. ~ isfss9ly per-
The isthnus Of Tshuantepec is in breadth iha
straight line from the mouth Of ibe Csatzacoalcos on
the Atlantic. to the Pacific 1870 miles. The line Of
the proposed canal would be between l6 deg. 3 min,
and IL deg North latitude. A great portion Of he
Southern side is oc uped by lagooos and extensive
plains, and on the Atlantic side the Coaizacoalcos
Gan be rendered navigable; at lis mouth il is more
than third of mile wide, with never less than
twenty-ope feet wafer the bar. Indeed, accord
ing to Babi iI is the Hnest T0rt formed by any
of the rivers that discharge nto he gp Of Mexico.
not even excepting the Mississippi"
On the Pacific n harbor equally good could I've col
structed in The lagoons OF Teiiaantepec where the
depth of water varying from Is to Is feet. can be
Esadily increased by dredg'ng-the bottom being
npd and st,ipgie,
The isihmas Of Tetpaslspep is remarkably heal
iby-produces 6ne tinber-and Is capable of sus-
taIn,ng numerous population
The route therefore Of rehuantepec is that adopt.
ed by M. GaTay--iba surveys have been accurately
aud carefully made-ibe aDljre practic'by of the
undertaking, at reasonable cost not in any event
TO exceed seventeen miiiions Of dollars, been demon,
s.rated. and anappeal made to the capitalists
ofEngand to complete IT,
We are sure that the United States cannot be in.
different 10 scheme which l,oks practicable. and
OF which the consequences would be of at least
n.
and hence, although we have ielort uded to the
ter and to M. Garay's agency, we have copen..
ed The above additional facts rop recent npulDey
Of The Foreign q .atrl Reyiew.-tN. Y. Courier.