New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-12
NICARAGUA,

Ship Canal than has yet been lad before
the public. Il Is from the pen Of Mr..
soulra, late Charge to Central America,
and was addressed by him 10 the Depart
ment of State in obedience to Instructions
received in entering upon his mission
observations On the Route of Tic proposed
Canal across the Isthmns of Nicaragua, with
Notices of the Resources, Climate, &e' &c.
- GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The project of opening some artificial commune
cation between the Atlantic and PacIhc oceans
occupied the attention of the Spanards as soon as
II was satisfactorily ascertalned that no natural
connection existed AS early as 1927, the three
routes which have, by common consent, come to
he regarded as the only feasible ones for such COM
munication had already been Indicated The
lake of Nicaragua, says Herrera, writing OF the
events OF this period, is remarkaoe lor us eAEeh1'
the towns and islands in it, for ebbing and flowing,
and for that being three or four leagues from the
South sea- it empties itself into the North sea-
These who desired to please the Emperor, seeing
him intent on finding way to the SPICE islands
said that since there no strait N those parts
that is between the Gut OF Ura6G PapaSayo1
and the drein of Nicaragua-a ptssage might be
made by any OF four ways which they proposed;
the first along the dren OF said lake tine San Ju-
! an on which large boats go up and down though
there are some dangerous falls, and then making
canal along these four leasues from the lake 10
the South sea; and second, along the river de La
gartos iChagres which rises five or SIX Leagues
from Panama, where the way being all PLAIN, as
we have said before, canal might also be cut Tor
the sea and river to meet; the third, by way OF
Vera Cruz to Tecoantepec, on which, IN New
SDain they convey boats from sea to the 9th
or. fourth the pass from Nembre de Dios to Pan
anna where, they asserted, though there were
mountains it was no difficult matter totmake
wav They added that from the GuT o. CTd0d
to San Miguel, in the present state OF san Sal,
Waldorf there were only twenty-five leagues and
though II would be difficult matter, yet nothing
was TOO much for the King of SPANS power and
this would open much shorter way to the Spice
islands through his own dominons, without any
opposition. III,
ect of the communication has been matter OF
much speculation; but beyond few partial sur
vevs until very lately nothing OF q practical char
acter has been attempted. The recent acqulsl-
tons of the United States on the Pacific. attend
ed by the discovery OF much mineral wealth, have
given this direction to American enterprise, and
il is now probable that the two oceans VIII be
connected both by the canal and railroad and
that acompete revolution will in very tewy years,
be effected in the commerce OF the Civilized world
1t has been universally conceded that the only
communication between the two oceans, winch
shall really confer any great benefit upon com
merce must be by means OF canal capable oil
passing with safety and rapidlty the largest shlps'
And il las as generally been conceded, by those
who have investigated the subject that the only
route practicable for such purpose is that rt0
Lake Nicaragua, and its dependent waters 1T
has good harbors upon both coasts, and passes
through a country remarkable for its salubrlty,
and capable Of furnishing all the supplies which
would be required by the commerce OF the world,
should it take this direction.
But although it has occupied so large share OF
the attention of all maritime nations and furnish
ed subject for innumerabe essays In almost ey-
cry language of Europe, it is astonishing that SO
little has actually been asCertained concerning 1t.
The data upon which most writer's have proceed
ed have been exceedingly vague and have, IN
more than one instance, received al undue color
ing from their prejudices This renders it more
important that complete and accurate survey OF
the proposed route should speedily be made by
competent engineers not slmpl reconnaissance
on single line, but a thorough examination OF
every line which may be thought feasible. Inc
so-cacd survey made by Mr.. Bailey, nndcrthe au-
thority of the old federation of Central America,
has never been published III complete form, but
it's various parts and all its results, have never
theless come before the public, in one way or an,
other Mr.. Bailey not an engineer and his
survey only established the impracticabity OF the
line which he examined, VIZ from AXE Mica
raueun to the port of San Juan dc Sud Any
route for the ship canal which involves the con-
struction of tunnel of any considerable extent,
as this did may be rejected without further con
sderaton.
1t is however fortunate that there other
lines besides that to which Mr.. Bailey directed
most of lis attention, which, although conSdera-
bly, longer, not only appear to be feasible, but to
hold out advantages compromising, III great de
gree for their great length. Among these advan-
tages are, better ports on the Pacific, and better
relative position, when they are attained, as re-
spects the western American possessions the Pa
cifc islands the Indies and China. Besides these
advantages for purposes of navigation, the winds
are more favorable, and the canal would terminate
in a section the most fertile and populous of any
on the western continent of North America
These routes will pass the entire length OF Lake
Nicaragua and, by means OF the RIO lIpltapa and
a short section of canal, ascend thence to the lake
of Managua through the AXE Managua, and
thence by canal to the Pacific by one of three
routes: lst. BY the left shore OF Lake Managua
to the small port of Tamarinda I'd. BY the same
shore to the well known port OF RealeJo; ana, ga,
By the upper shore OF L AXE Monagua to the Es-
tcro Real debouchng into the magnificent bay or
gulf of Fonseca, or Conchagua. 1t is probable
that all these lines from Lake Managua to the sea
are feasible, but minute surrey can only defer-
mine which is best.
TYPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES.
BEFORE proceeding further it is necessary to re-
fer briefly to the geographical and Typographical
features of the State OF Nicaragua. These are
somewhat remarkable. ii an accurate map OF
Central America existed, ii would exhibit in this
State q separation of the great chain OF the Cor
dileras into two divergent ranges otlless general
hight than tile great ridge itself and having occa
siona partial Interruptions This divergence
takes piace in the northern department OF Sogoyia
one branch extending due southeast toward the
Atlantic. Its outposts come down to the very
shore. and form the prominent landmarks upon
that coast Tie range itself intersects the San
Juan river about fifty miles above its mouth
T Jpon It's northern base. and nearly parallel to it,
aows a large and long stream, the Rio Escondido;
better known in the maps as Blueheds river
All the streams upon the other side of the range
fail into lakes Managua and Nicaragua or into the