Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-04-19

about seventy feet deep some miles in length probably and
to be through solid rock, much fear and from those
artificial reservoirs which supply the canal with rain
water for miles too, probably The engineer says they
can be made, and have doubt they His word !,
sufficient But be obvious every one who has the
slightest knowledge of such that they be
mousy expensive for the purpose, they be
very capacious If many ships pass through the canal the
expenditure Of the summit will be great without
GLIDING what will be lost by leakage and evaporation rains
copous, however, the Ishmus for about six months
of the year. from May December and there is during that
time fall Of not less than eight feet perhaps but
during the other six months Of the year, it is perfectly dry,
and the evaporation great It results them clearly that the
reservoirs deriving supply from any feeder the Clouds
and being subjected considerable daily daugh must
tain immense quantity of water enable them to hold out
through the dry This, think, is perfectly clear and
undenabe That the reservoirs be constructed
supply the water needed at the summit do not deny
only contend that the construction Of them must be attended
with great expense
read months ago in the Revue DIES Deux Mondes
Pars article of considerable LENGTH written by M. Che
WALLER, in which he discusses Mr. WHEATON had done
before him, the practcabiy and utility of artificial
municaton the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans He
examines at length the advantages and disadvantages Of
all the routes that have been proposed and decides in favor Of
the the Isthmus at Panama He considers ship
canal to be perfectly practicable and that may be construct
ed without incurng very expenditure Of treasure
but that ii nevertheless rather great undertaking for
private individuals He proposes therefore, that it shall be
undertaken and completed by France and England equal
coparners without giving to any Of the American Govern
mens any interest voice in the mater which, Think is
making toleraby free with this continent Of But do
not suppose that he really wishes any nation excluded
tribute to it He mentions France and England only
count Of their opuence presume and Of the superior
they possess of carrying into execution great designs He
says that would not France than thirty forty
millions of francs for her half Of the estimating the whole
cost OF the canal therefore from sixty to eighty Millions
from twelve to sixteen millions Of dollars consider to
be greatly under the mark and have doubt that when
CHEvALIEn comes to read the report of the French engineers
ne will be willing to double the least his estimate, and
then will be too low in my opinion for cannot suppose
since reading the engineers letter the Governor Of Panama.
that the work be completed for less than forty millions Of
dollars This give however, guess not esti
mate for as have said before, exact satisfactory est
mate of the cost can be made by any body.
What has most surprised in M. CHEvAIrERs article is
that person of his ability and experience should suppose
possible for France and England 10 unite for the purpose OF
making the canal for the benefit all mankind at their
very credabe to M. CHrvAER, but is rather utopan it
to for the present day. and in advance Of the age
hundred years. When and where did nations gov
enmens unite for the accomplishment of grand and
glorious and useful work Supposed to be at least) II
in all human history there is such thing recorded, have
either forgotten have not happened to find in the
Of my limited historical reading Under present circumsan
ces rather inclined think that France would prefer
the thirty forty millions that she is advised TO expend
the canal for the building of thirty forty steamers
in Strengthening the Notifications Of Paris Of Agie and
that England would rather choose invest her thirty forty
millions in military ornaments also, in the acquisition Of
five six kingdoms be added her East India pos
Now few words about opinion expressed about
the canal very much variance with M. CHEvALrER's
have read lately in English periodical numbers
written by person apparently well informed upon the subject
who expresses entire disbelief in the generally admitted
utility of shipcana through the shmus of Panama He
and prove hathe distance from Europe Canton
by the Cape of Good Hope, but very few hundred miles
hree FOUR Think greater than the place through
the Ihmus and that the voyage be accomplished
round the Cape within three four days of the time that
could beby the Tshmus suppong detention to take place
at the latter Now, if this writer is correct is perfectly
clear that should there be moderate toll demanded for
passing through the Ismus should there be any vexaon
delay, very few ships, any, would go to China from
Europe by that route, and many from the United States
have not the Of verifying the accuracy Of this
writer's statements but what he says worthy of profound
consideration from oil who have any material and tangible
terest in this canal question those who have may
have any direct pecuniay interest in the matter have
myself
will make remark that should have made sooner,
but its being little out Of place is Of importance II
this The French engineer in his letter says nothing about
the temni of the canal AT and about Chages the At
anc the deep enough float the largest merchant
ships it at Panama, except at high tide theeabout
Without sufficient depth Of water at the termni hpcanal
will be Of but suppose without doubt that this
branch Of the examination has been thoroughly attended to-
and that the result has been satisfactory have assumed
that engineer has written his letter with reference ship
canal 1t unnecessary say much about Of any
that ordinary boat canal would be Of much gem
eral utility than good road from the river Chagres the
Pacific which could be made very moderate expense the
route being nearly level all the way Any discussion there
fore, about canal consider to be Of very little in
eest to any body unless the people Of the Ishmus The
expense and delay, and casualties that would attend the transit
and reshpmen Of merchandise would be nurmountabe OBJ
sacles to that mode of carrying commercial intercourse
with the East
Should any body think proper to ask why is that who
am neither Of science engineer, nor a mer-
chant nor shpowner capitalist protector nor
Speculation, have scrubbed much about shpcana over
the Ihmus, and about matters connected herewith answer
Identical rcaaono o