The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-10

The IsTHMUs OF TEBUANrgrBc.-Abou two
years since, Capt. Shutteworth, OF the Marines,
wrote to his family in this city the following inter-
esting account OF the lver Coatzaco alcos-
After having taking possession Of Laguna and From
terra there remsined hut one place Of consequence
ON the ertire Gulf cosst to be reduced 10 sub
jecicn but that one beyon psrsdventure, destined
TO become the most in portant soy continent
Of Am, riea silnds to the Coatza,osloos river aud
the towns its banks The flag ship with ths steamer
pon In company anchored oil the Of this
river (tse Of which is herein correctly given
cordiDg TO charts, 20 on the 2lst Of May, ls7. I'm
mediate preparations were made for commencing An
exploration and considerable force tran sierred
from the Mississippi to the Scorpion preceded by the
Comma nder in Chief ard staff
On the head md OF the left angle, where the river
eupies into the Gulf is located watch and
guns. but they dismautled aud worthless But
short time consumed In taking notes Of the above
particulars; and then Our engineers crowded on tas
inches OF steam and rushed ahead fast as the lea Is
invariably called out, mark three" deep FOUR
aud at one tine mo bottom at ten fathoms"
On the bar at the mouth Of river the shaio
water gave us two fsthoms ana that Is Amply
for almost any ordinary steamer In the merchant
vice for freight passengers And there We
ming along by the banks OF Q winding aud beautiful
river Of clear deep water Its shores lined with
umbTsgeous trees, whose large overhangDg limbs OF
rich foliage reflected deeply la the still pelucid
stream and 40 we're infused fresh aud sweet perfume
in the bAmy breeze which ali Of us delightedly in
hailed and all around was so quiet that nature ned
sleeppg-the chirp of the wild bird alone broke the
Stiffness while bright cclored dsh mirrored
the surface Of the After running along
thia for time opened upon miles miles
Of rich alluvia prairie land dotted in all directions
by herds of cattle aad droves Of horses
The latter animals seemed greatly astonsned at our
appearance They flung up their tails snored. neigh
ed and started sf on regular Sampsde towards US,
and when abreast Of the steamer, stopped short and
sAuttd US with Q Simultaneous winny. The meadow
stretched Ear and wide aud in the distance deserted
large Hooks OF fsmngos and other rare birds OF the
festhered tribe floating in the air or feeding from
tho bushes which, doubtless supplied them with every
variety Of berry.
Here We cams upon the nrst ranoho 1t consisted of
three four primitive buildings 'front.' and gables
formed Of ssos from the cocoa tree, and tue roofs
matched with sedge like grass The owner, WIFE, and
numerous array os half clad offspring, looked upon
with great indifference; yet manifest surprise was
mingled with the stare at the ofwar steamer thus
disturbing the monotony OF the scene.
Three officers were employed In taking distances,
soundipgr, and skstching preliminary to making q
chart OF the river.
Thus we proceeded onward until we reached the
town Of Nina ritan about twenty miles from the en-.
trance Of the river located on q hill, and In valley
beyond. The town Is truly Mexican differing In no
point from the villages described by the fol-
lowers Cortez three hundred years aud odd ago. the
bsreooted slcslde with aeenbsge of the principal
citizens stood ready on the shore to receive aud vel
dvre and all the officers landed then guard OF ma
rines, accompanied BY seamen With staff and Tag,
which hoeted and sauJed in the plaza OF the tow
by the marine officer of the Mississippi From Bel
gan gentleman Commander Mackenzie Oh aiaed the
the Isthmus of Tehusutepec This lsthmus has bean
recently surveyed and the company yet engaged In
many details Of minor Importance, perhaps but still
requiring time to accom- plish
The referred to has been admirably pied and IL
considered OF vast Importance to our government %
showing the facility with which . canal might bs cut
across the neck of land 10 lake having outlet to
the Pacific OCEAN. This lake is down on the map
"Duic Quisloi Lagupa SUPERIOR" aud the distance
through which the canal must be cut, Is computed at
five Leagues route s selected to avoid
ell the mountainous region lying between the river
Ctatzcoacos ana the headland OF the lake alluded to-
which has the bar where 1t flows into the Pacific
ocean, seven fathoms water.
Now would it not be magnificent I'm proven INT upon
the original plan Of the world to construct this canal
unite the waters Of two great at this
poipt' ship canal, for tho present, might be dis
pepsed with and depth Of ten twelve feet water
would be all fucent TO float merchan steamers, with
submerged heels from the vast Pacific to the Gulf Of
Me xico laden with the rich productions OF the far
famed Eastern Indies and the pire of the Chinese
IL 10 visionary idea but be fully and fairly de-
Of accomplishment than thousands ~ the present time
imagine.
Shakespeare makes nm ambitious friend OF his exlaim
the worlds mine oyster, and with my sword III open
it, Now this n vain and idle boast Of braggart;
but II could successfully out way this
section Of the enemys country, during the tendency
OF ibe war, to open good road along the route
traced out the map for canal 1t would lead to en-
opening such rs poet, philosopher or sage might be
proud Of immortalizng In prose or verse
A steamship would perform the voyage from Cantor
TO the Western Pacific coast OF Tehuanepec in less
tbsn month aud there, light draft stea ress, with
Hunters submerged wheels, admirably adapted to ca
nal navigation, they create comm otico in the
water might receive their cargoes aad In thirty six
hours at most transport them through the canal TO the
Gulf Of Mexico tbunce to New Orleans steamship
make the voyage in tive or six days Inc passage
from New ork to Canton by this route, might bs mads
In fcrty. Ave days. whorsAs a sailing vessel around
the Cape Of Good Hope, four aad i've months are con-
sumed in the voyage.