The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-12
The Union OF the Atlantic md the Pacinc-
important Movement.
LONDON, February 2, 1919.

Important Movement.
LONDON, February, lS49.
Ed. NEW YORK HRRALD.-
project is now on foot in this city, supported
by influential men and capitalists, to connect the
two oceans by the river San Juan, the Lake OF
Nicaragua, and canal from thence to the Pacific
Surveys, 1t appears. have been recently made by
an accomplished engineer, and the work IS de-
clared not only feasible, but easy of accomplish
mtnt: at an estimate Of fl, 100000 expenditure,
which will permit vessels to pass through with
twelve feet OF water. Humboldt, in speculating
on the future destiny Of the lsthmus, says;-
fever the two oceans are connected, 1t must be by
TIE two oceans, which win give On ample supply Of
water to the canals.
1t will doubtless be IN the recolle ction Of some
persons, that this work was contemplated by Louis
Napoleon, who contracted with the government OF
Nicaragua to undertake the enterprise, which was
broken Oft by his beng called to his prese Mt posi-
ton This contract, II appears, has been trans
Tered to the gentlemen referred to, and In few
days the englneerss report, and full statement of
the plans will be published, when will forward
You copy.
1t is intended to make an effort to obtain the
neutrality OF the communication proposed, from the
nations OF Europe aud North America and it is
likely this government will give Its aid to promote
tie object.
The value of water communication between
the two oceans to North America, would be meal
culakle, for although railroads afford facilities
water navigation must be acknowledged to be In
ccmparably more desirable. COMMERCE.
We find IN the London Times of the 18th ult,
an article relative to the above route, which We
annex
To adventurous minds, during the last half century
few subjects have had greater charms than the various
projects fer opening communication between the At
lanto and Pacific oceans The feasibility Of the scheme
In general sense, has never boon controversial; but
- there have been variety Of psns, and each pro-
jsSter has made point Of DECLARING all TO be impracs
cable except his own, the European public have been
deferred fren entering into them, while 1t tho sams
time, another obstacle has been the constant rsvou
attempt at negotiation with its respective
governments
The state Of AFFAIR." however, win now be rapidly
changed There is NO one who lie not contemplating
the mighty alteration about to take place in che
routes Of navigation from the progress on the
northern coast Of the Pacific and IL IL easy to predict
that during the next few years the rivalry enterprise
between the United States and England will chiefly be
directed to that quarter. =
tons on which the American railway the 18TH
mus Of Panama Is to be constructed mentioning that
ports Of the United States might become the depots Of
the commerce between Europe and the East; while in
the care Of ship canal tho only alteration that would
ties. Still although this view taken with regard to
the railway, by the people Of the United States they
are sufficiently alive to the broader considerations con-
cted with direct junction Of the two oceans and
hence simultaneously with the construction Of the
railroad there IL strong opinion that no time should
be lost in perfecting the larger scheme.
Important, however, ~ tho measure may be to the
Uned Ststef, impossible to look ct the map aad
not pei ceve that 1t is far to
railroad from the Mississippi already talked Of would
1T furnish outst for all the produce of the
States to the Eastern but England has no such
refouree. She must either have canal through the
thmue or nahe the old passages via Cape Horn the
Cape OF Good Hope, or DO content to disohsrge her
esrgces ct Chagres, and run up to an American port
for Q return freight
Under these circumstances 1t may be desirable to
put into compe ndious form all tho information hi
Ihsrto collected as to the various routes which have
The routes proposed have been a. 70 II The Isthmus
q Panama, in the Republic Of New Granads. q Tho
:thnus Of TShusntepsc At the southern boundary Of
Mexico. g. The Lake Of Nicaragua, In the Republic
Of that narne and and two separate channels from
the Gulf of Dsrien.
the routes by the Gulf Of Dsrsn having never met with
Encouragement from any quarter.
frat with regard to the Isthmus Of Panama. This
isthmus at Its narrowest peint IL less than 20 miles
across. but at this part there is mountain ridge Of
eco feet Snd 1t 10 In the district only bstwssn Cha
eres the Atlantic and Panama the Psoifc where
the width in . direct line is IS mics that passage
could be Elected The first grant for the purpose by
the Grsnadisn government WAS to Charles Bidds, OF
eession made In 1883 to Solomon Co of Psuams.
. French house, who caused . survey b. m ads By
an engineer named Morel and BY whom estimates and
proposals Issued for raising the 70.
CURED capital The terms Ct the concession were not
such as deserved to be entertained. The Gransdisn
sixty years. bot not only s.s tss o.n. snS 10
b. given to them ct the end Of that period but the
vsess Of the republic were to enjoy reduction Of ten
tax Of one per cent was also to b levied the
profits Of the company, which tax to be applied to
the dividenas on the foreign debt.
The route proposed by Sslemon Co. was one by
which the rivers Chssres and Trinidad, the Allan
tic eide, should be united BY canal Of twenty
into the Rio Grssde to the F.oiao, tho total total
length Of the passage, including the wndings OF the
rivers being 80 miles and the highest poiat Of land
stone, clay lime and wood we're accessible In abun.
ance The canal was to be 100 feet In width, and "a
Get deep and calculated to admit vessels Of from 200
md tho estimsred cost ss,47b 900, f865 900.
estimate Of tonnage likely to pass through yearly
.on the income would be $500 Is from which deduct.
pg expenses Of $235 coo, divsibs balance would re-
main Of s7e4,ol or El52923. The details furnished
although the estimate Of possible revenue seems not
have been excessively and other survey rem.
resented the difficulties Of the work TO be far greater
With regard to the hsrbors each SIDE the accounts
are favorable; but the surrounding country has no
and the climate is unqusstionably
dangerous.
The next route is the Isthmus Of Tehuantepeo The
direct width Of this ishmus s nearly 100 miles, and
privilege having been granted in 1852 to Don Jose de
by Senior Nero, Italian engineer. He PROPOSED to
avail bimeef of the river Coatsaeoacos the mouth Of
hich had been pointed out IS the ttest place In
The Gulf Of Mexico for depot owing to its abundance
Of durable ship timber and the convenience and
tity Of the port. The river through its windings Is
psvgsble In some degree for 100 miles, and after this
would ceme the canal Of SO mes, surmounting in its
progress to table land at place called Tarifa, SIS
cot and falling from Tsrifa to the Pacific 900 feet
The summit level was to be supplied with water by
rench from tv rivers. which descend from the
aims to the Paoine The canal to be txsr ~ feet
l,sp and l22 feet wide and would have required $50
ccks Adopting the scale Of estimate Of the Caedoian
Canal, the cost would have been f3,4e0,000.
One great advantage of this route would be the ex-
ellsnes Of the country through which It passes The
alubrity Of the climate 10 said to be the
American continent, and the populatien are among
he most active and healthy Of the Indian races In
dion to fertile soil and forests Of the finest tim.
- q repuis that the mountains contaia rich gold
md silver mines.
The last and most interesting route 10 that by the
Lake Of Nicaragua. preposal for the construction
Of NcaI agusn Canal VAS entertained by the King Of
Holland in 1890 but aba ndoned owing probably TO the
political events Of the time In 1912 however, while
prisoner at Ham tho attention Of Prince Louis Napo
leon was called TO the subject by . communication
rem q Erench gentleman 1t Jams!sa and eub.equeAt-
~ receiving Writ from French naval officer about
TO staft for Central Amercia the Prince requested him
TO make observ the Of the