The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-17

Ioso winch are about three fourths OF mile long
The water, OF course varies In depth with the dif-
erent seasons of the year. At the time of my pas
sage, il certainly for most of its extent, lees
than fathom. The banks upon both sides are firm
and high, aud the palm gives place to other and
larger rees Bulow gives the current at 1870 to 200
yards per minute. butt esteem IL something more
From this point TO the RAPlDEs DEL CASTILLO
is six miles. The intervening banks are high aud
the land well adapted for settlement At the rap.
ids, considerable ridges come down to the river
upon both sides Upon the point Of that on the
South bank is situated the ruins Of the old castle
of San Juan, now called the Castillo Pisjo.' The
emncnce upon which it stands resembles that of
Chapultepec, and the ruins still massive and
imposing. At the base OF the hill are the remains
ofthe water batteries: The works completely com
Inanded the river. This position captured by
the English in 1850. Lord Nelson served in sub
ordinate capacity in the expedition. The rapids
here are short but swift, beNer deserving the name
cend loaded When they have heavy cargoes. part
Of the ssme has to be removed and carried past the
| falls. The boats are then tracked pushed up
against the current by main force. My barge was
| upwards of two hours in getting many hundred
yards These rapids, without artificial modifca-
| tion, would present an obstacle to all kinds of
navigation. II might be made practicable with
some trouble, for eall steamers OF light draughts
such as are used upon some OF the small western
rivers.
''Three or four miles below the Rapides del Cas-
tillo the RAPIDEs Los VALos and MCo, which
| m y however be regarded one. The current
here Is two three hundred yards per minute, the
bottom rough and rocky, and navigation in barges
difficult. The water does not appear to be more
than from four to SIX feet Deep for any considera
Bile distance. The banks correspond with those
above the castle.
"To the RAPipEs DEL MAcYucA, (the present limit
of the English ciaim,) the last, longest and worst,
the river deep and free from distractions. These
| RAPIDS says Bulow who is disposed to represent
the capabilities of the river in the most favorable
light, ARE worst Of all; the water is more broken
| from running a rocky bed. Stones and rocks
/ q
yards. and great attention is necessary in passing
the channel
"Fro,n this point to the San Carlos, the river ia
very fine, the banks high and studded with beauti-
fu trees The current is regular but the depth of
water variable. BuIow states the depth at from two
to six fathoms The San Carlos is a large stream,
and may be assembled by bongos to the distance OF
fifteen or twenty miles.
s.From the river San Carlos to the Serapiqui the
banks good, though not so elevated as they are
higher I'D the stream. The current is strong, but
even and the depth from ten to twenty feet in the
channel. The Serapiqui Is navigable for canoes TO
the distance OF twenty five or thirty miles
''To the divergence of the Colorado river is a
distance of thirteen miles, the banks preserving
their elevation to the divergence of the Juanillo,
from which point they become very low. The cur
rent is regular and the depth, according to Buow,
from ten TO thirty feet. The Colorado withdraws
a large body of water from he river which, how
ever, continues to preserve very nearly its original
width to the port OF San Juan. The channel for
the remaining distance ID studded with low islanos,
very variable ranging from four and five to ten or
twelve feet, the bottom gravelly. In the dry sea-
son bongos pass with their loads with difficulty.
.'It has been suggested that the channel OF the
Colorado was cut or enlarged by the Spaniards,
der the Empire, to prevent the ascent of hostile
vessels but the suggestion ia simply absurd. The
delta has existed very nearly IN It's present form
and condition, without doubt, for many centuries.
The loss Of water by the Colorado has been calcu-
lated at D, 900 cubic yards per minute in tho dry,
and st, 900 in the rainy season
Al Lns,t hat CO.
Juan never be made navigable for ships of any
considerable size. Small steamers, with some
slight improvement in the channel might be run
without much difficulty, and that ia all that can be
hoped for from this stream
'.In case il should be determined to open COM
muncations for ships across the continent at this
point, it would be necessary 10 cut canal at the
base OF the hills parallel 10 the stream, which might
be made TO yield, at the necessary intervals, the
requisite supply of water Ii is probable that the
river might be used from the lake to Del Toro,
though even this is not certain. ! am convinced
that the ground rises not very far back from the
river the north, and that stone and all the mate
rails necessary for the construction of canal
might be obtained without much difficulty, very
nearly the spot desred These things, how
ever, which can only be determined from actual
survey. canal upon the southern bank, for rea-
sons sufficiently obvious from what has been pre-
sentcd above is impracticable
cit has been conjccturcd by some, that formerly
the volume of water in the San Juan much
more considerable than il now Is This conjecture
4
strong defcnces having been erected by the Span.
iards, many years since, upon the banks both OF
the river and The lake, (inplying that 1t was an
important channel of communicating and upon
the known fact, that vessels denomnated, in early
timcs, JrigGfs, were accustomed TO pass from the
ocean the lake, and from the lake to the ocean.
Indeed, it would seem that vessels sometimes sailed
direct from Grenada, the head OF the lake, 10
the ports oil SPAN. But from the accounts OF Gage,
who visited Nicaragua about 1910, 1t appears that
the task of passing u! Desaguadero,' or the San
Juan, was one of great dilIculty AID danger lie
says, lor though while the vessels sai on the lake
securely and without trouble, yet when they fall
from the lake to the sea, Mc labor hoe opus est;
here is nothing but trouble, which sometimes
makes that short voyage last for sirfy days, for
such is the fall Of the water, in many places anon
the rocks, that many times they are forced 10 un-
ade the Jrigats, and lade them again with the
help OF mules kept for that purpose by the few In
dans who live about the river, and have care of
the lodges made TO lay in the wares while the
frigats pass through the dangerous places TO an
other lodge, whittier the wares are brought by
mules, and again placed in the frigats.'t The
vessels here called 'frigats,' were probably of
small size, not exceeding 80 or 100 tons burthen.
Vessels Of this size may'stil, with extraordinary
efforts, be taken up, during high water in the
river, as was shown in 1896 by Captain Peter
Shepherd, OF San Juan, who took schooner Of 81
tons through the river, by removing her keel and
warpng the whole distance la this condition the
vessel drew 3 feet inches. The task was accom-
pLshed in twenty two days. 1t may be observed
here, upon the authority Of Captain Shepherd that
TINS vessel, with her keel replaced and loaded,
drew seven feet Of water, and that then, in the
dry season, she could not approach within some
distance Of San Carlos, or the point of d6bouchere
of the San Juan. Such being the fact, extensive
works would be necessary to enable ships 10 pass
from the lake into any canal which might be con
structed.
"The harbor Of San Juan IL altogether more spa
cious, and better one than il general supposed.
The entrance is easy, and vessels of the largest
draught find no difficulty in passing the mouth and
obtaining within saic and cornmodious anchor
age. II has been represented that in consequence
OF the peculiar make of the land, it is extremely
difficult for ships TO find the harbor. This lie true
10 a certain extent; but although the coast in the
immediate vicinity is low ycta short distance back
the land is high and characteristic, and cannot be
mistaken W With proper charts, correct sketches OF
the coast, and with lighthouse on Point Arenas,
every difficulty would l. obviatcd. This Is evident
even 10 the unprofcssiona observer. The harbor is
fully adequate to every purpose connected with tho
proposed canal.
There are other circumstances besides the ac-
tual typographical features Of the country necessary
to be considered in estimating the feasibility, or
rather the practicability, Of grand work like the
proposed canal. The q stIstenanCp climate