The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-27

Illus this lake occupies position 10 be IN
feeder oil canal, and to have complet
supply OF water for the necessary numbe
OF locks. nos
| The harbor of San Juan on the Allan
TIC, is pronounced, on the authority of
corps OF French engineers who examined i
IN 1913, to be "vast and safe," well situa
ted, with a good anchorage close to the land
The harbor Of San Juan of the south is O
small dimensions; twenty good sized steam
ers would I'LL it. But we must consider
that for long time to come, there is nc
probability that any such number will eve,
be there at one time. Between this nor,
and Lake Leon, however, there il a ridg.
OF such character that it would require 10
be pierced by tunnel. On the whole.
thea, il the proposed canal is ever made. il
Will be. according to the best opinions. con.
structed in the line the axis OF Lake Leon.
where il would debouch at Realeio; the finest
port IN that part Of the world. The portion
oil the route occupied by the lakes and by
the Tipitspa, would require no expenditure,
but an inconsiderable one, to make lock
Of Is feet iift around the falls of that river
The San Juan offers some more serious
obstacles, consisting Of banks of rocks,
whlchin four places stretch across il entire.
iy, and which it would be necessary to re-
move. This expenditure has been estima-
ted at twelve millions Of dollars.
The descent from Lake Leon is estimated
to be equal to one hundred and ffty-seven
leet, and would have to be locked, whether
the canal was extended to Realeio, twenty.
two miles, or Tamarinde, another good port,
nine miles from Moabta, the northwest
point Of the lake.
This part OF the line has not been ex.
Plored scientifically as yet, and it is there
fore useless to speculate upon its cost.
Humboldt. in his personal narrative, va
rles this account somewhat. He says the
lsthmus to be canalled is only from five
to SIX marine leagues, that it consists of
uninterrupted savannahs and plains, and
that IT is crossed by an excellent carriage
road which has always been much used for
the transportation of merchandise. One
TACT must not be overlooked. There is not,
says Humboldt. spot on the face Of the
globe, so thickly studded with volcanoes as
that part which lies between the 1l,h and
y 9th degrees Of north latitude.
In short, the more We examine the sub
ject, the more we doubt. A note in this
writer's work. 10Th volume, page 270,)
shows evidently that The subject is a vexed
one. There is an array Of counter authori-
ties on some important paris OF this subject,
which have puzzled Humboldt. Even he
asks, Does there exist river flowing from
Lake Leon TO the Pacifci'
Ii is certain that a much closer xamina-
ton must be made by modern engineers,
and oil the American school, before any CON-
Pany will venture upon any outlay in that
quarter.
Yet, strange to say, it is nevertheless true,
that navigator in this city is about sending
a light draught steamer up the San Juan de
Nicaragua, and, if possible, across the two
lakes. From Moabita. he expects to have
line OF American stages, and at Realejo a
line Of swift packet schooners. He has q
firm conviction that he will be able to dc
so.
1t is believed that the late Mr.. Wheaton
communicated some important information
on the subject Of crossing the is,hmus to the
Secretary Of War. Now that the United
States have valuable territories on the Paci
fic, there is not question but that there will
be some steps taken to make the transit
short and certain. The energy OF the Amer
lean character will be displayed in this grand
scheme of uniting the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, over which Europe has been dosinl
three hundred years. The sensible men o
the old world anticipate nothing less from
us, and now there being practical, tang
BILE and sufficient cause, we shall wines
its admirable effects.
Therefore looking forward to the accom-
plishment Of a magnificent design, we hav
endeavored to fall in, in these brief notices
with the temper and the necessity Of th
time.-N. y. Erening Post.