The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-10
Mansanilla Bay,

From Lieut.. Daniel d. Porter, u. s. Nary, 10 Colonel
George ~ Hughes, Engineer in Chief 81 the Panama
Railroad.
CHAoRxs, June q 1s49.
DrAn sm-In answer to your request that would
give my opinion a nautical man" the merits Of
the barber Of Msnssns Bay beg leave TO submit the
following remarks -
steamer Orus In company with yourself and party for
the purpose Of satisfying myself as TO Its capaoty Of
becoming the depot Of the immeuce commerce that
must necessarily Gov into It, II the Panama Railroad Is
constructed II ever had any doubts the subject,
those doubts were immediately removed the moment
entered upon this beautiful sheet OF water aud
struck With astonisbment that so fine harbor should
so long have remained unknown which can attribute
to the general charts Of this from which
have heretofore obtained information imperfect
the chart Of Lmon Bay and vsinity L. IL clearly
points out Mansania Bay the spot be selected tor
he terminus of The banana Railroad and can safely
say that better hArbor for large aud small vessels
could not be desired 1t combines every advantage Of
fresh water wood SC, aud the holding ground par
ticularly good The bay or harbor OF Mansanilia IL
capable Of containing all the commerce (sh,ps) that
would naturally be brought there when the rail.
road II completed. and I speak within bounds when
cay that six hundred pail. large aud small could
be accommodated with perfect ease. rhs hirbor
u only open to tbs northwest quarter from whence
the wind never blows and IL IL perfectly protected
from the northeast trades tbe prevailing winds by
point Of the Coco Solo. Good anchorage IL fund
In to the eastern shore in three fathoms wate
and In not lees two atboms water 20 the bottom
OF the hay which L. two miles long. In the Roads,
still protected BY Coco Solo, the depth Of water "a
from i've and six fathoms. aud smooth IL u
here throughout the year thu, not more than one an
cbor would be required to hold vessel In the freshest
winds The width 81 the bay T. less than mile at
the entrance gradually diminishing to~srds The bit
tom Of the bsrbor and presenting number Of brauu-
full little covrs whore vessels drawing ten feet can lie
close up the beach beautiful twelve feet channel
around the Island 81 Mansanilla, and opens into
Limon Bay through " Bocs Chica" Cio,e up to this
point large ships Ind tn. best Of anchorage in four
ard Eve isthoms water prom the thre. "a hon an
chspb Il capable Of being increased to suy depth de-
sired, being perfectly lsodockei u has M river.
empying into IL 20 make depo.te- and g. not affected
by winds currents Any Who will inspec, the
chart imperfect ~ H. will be struck with the sdvsn
tse.. this hatbor which, my opinion 4. thu best
on IN. Whole southrn C. asst from Iensscoa dswn the
Gulf of mexico up To- this place which u saying great
deal In it, favor IL accessible Mt all TINES sithout
pilots, and am Inclined 60 think the position h.
healthy onr. enjoying a. " does the b~n-at II the
northeast trade winds and their invrurstng isduence
~as scknoslsdg.d by all who had spent a day Ia the
harbor of tbagrcs.
During residrnse Of twenty. Eve days In Params
had ample opportunities to make myself acquainted
with the hay witch Is in way inferior 20 che har
Dor tn. Atlantic coast, and. With outlay small
la ecomrsrison 20 the advantages hereafter q ~ r
vd from IT, " he made any thing that IL desired.
The port IA easy ~ aud the only objection u
u IL the continual calm which almost alssys exists so
much that ships seldom stra ght-n out their cham
bes The bay aud barber of Panama having been lately
surveyed by sptain B,lcher ~ tbs Brttsh Navy his
chart which rsn IN bv ard found perfectly scrurate
shows uniform depth Of six and faith ,n. god
holding ground; and when ducks are run out g. the
edge of deep water which can 'a'iy b. doue. ships
win be- able 20 lie alongside e them perfect security
The great rise and fall Of the tide tSentyt~o feet
affords every facility for any works and believe u IL
the only port IN por-t.ritR a1Nan
tsg,r Besides the Roads OF Panama there are the
BEAUTIFUL islands ~ Hamenge sud fsb0ga, both con-
tanning good harbors II H. Mt the latter Island lone II
the most beautiful spots that b. imssined aud
WELDING in abundance all The ffuits 81 the tropcsl
where ships obtain frrsh water Of the purest quality
he springs gush forth from the hill sides la sufficient
quantities to supply any number of vessels and empty
into tn. harbor point where ships lie close ~
to the beach in four aud FIVE faith ,ms water Every
th T. close hand for the construction q r'crvOrs
and with ssma amount Of docking water could be OBJ
tanned at rssogs With greater facility than at any
place know Of The health of tsbws, believe has
never been disputed Nine miles from the town of
Panama " receives the full benefit 81 the breeze
~hich often fails to reach the roadsted know of
chi, elton whatever 10 Panama aud its vicinity "a
tel minus the Pacific eide Indeed IL combine. many
sd,sntsges not possessed by any other port Much
bss been said by many persons against the health OF
IN. country. but my ob.er,stnus convince me
that sickness generally caused by imprudence tue
part Of strangers who indulge In all kinds II
(ss also do tn. nstives) and ~ was generally ao~ed
by ell With whom converted that few ~ our northern
cities would remain healthy surrounded As Panama is
with every Kind 81 9th.
The above Ob.erystions we're made during limited
stay In the country but they With information
obtained from persons 20 BE- relied and such they
they are at your service
remain, very respectfully, your obedient, NC.
DANIEL ID. PORTER, Lieut.. U Navy.