New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-23
NETWORK TRIBUNE.
yo,ca.ss, Of Central America,
cc~sxses from Fsr., Page.

~ nv The upper shore OF the lake 10 the Calf Of
Forssea or Couchseua. Ia 10 PROBABLE all Of these
Np,s are feasible, bat a minute survey only
deternine which 10 best
The frat line suggested, that 10 the foot OF the
Tan .riuda a considerably shorter than either of
the others, no, exceeding IS or IL miles 10 length.
But said Mr. eoGier, the water VI tho lake up0n
lie Iorth western shore Is shallow. tie had soaod-
ed II in July, ls49. |. deepeued regularly tfOm toe
shore to the dstsnce OF one mile, when &c attained
Eve is' hons. After thatItdeepened rapidly TO zen
and fifteen lathoms. Tho country between the
lake aud the TAmsrnds, 50 far 40 oaa be asces
taintd tho couotry being covered with forests, Is
level. and Offers DO insupersbe obstacle 10 canal
There IL town or village near it, as Il seems to
have escaped general notice. Nor is IL kno wn that
il has ever teen entered by vessels except in one
or two instances iIr the purpose OF ioadDg Brazil
wood. Its small, though toersbly vel protected.
IL 10 rot how ever, proper termination for work
like the proposed canal
The second line is to the Port Of Realsjo, which
properly Ill inlet formed by the junction OF the
Dot Paula and ReAejo Rivers, aud protected, on
the side OF the by the islands Of Garden and AS
ssssadens, and bluff of the main land Itn safe
and modous; the water good, ranging fromthree
to eight and nine fsihoms. The vOlcAn) OF toe
Viejo, lifting its cone nearly 1000 feet above the
sea to the north eastward OF the port, forms ao
ahmistakable land mark to the mariner when no
ether part Of the coast s visible Th, line, starting
from the nearest practicable point Of Lake Mana
qua cannot fail short Of As miles in length Ii has
been said that the Oohl Paula migst DO made
use OF for considerable distance, bat sach is not
the fact. Tnere is no stream upon this Hoe,
which as has been supposed by various writer's
ontbe subject, can be- made available for the oses
of the canal The Rio TOsta" OF which they speak,
by which, from its described position the Rio
Tehca is supposed TO be meant, for 10 Z" Hio los
ta exists) 10 small stream, insufficient for any
important purpose. can discover, said Mr. Sqoier,
no reason why this line cannot be advantageously
pursued. Ii has the present advantage OF passing
through the most populated and beat cultivated
part Of the country, and terminating at point n
ready wellkuown.
mr. Squier here pointed out this line on finely
painted panorama Of the whole plain OF Leon
from the lake to the ocean, in the center oil wnich
10 the city Of Leon once one OF the finest IN all
Spanish America This was examined with great
Interest,"
To the third line, namely that from Lake Mana
qua to the Gulf OF Fonseca, public attention has
never been generally directed. IL neversaeless
seems to offer greater advantages than either OF
the others. The gulf or bay 10 question 10 IN
eaualled by any on the continent or perhar- 10 the
world Ii much resembles that OF San FRANCISCO
and may be described as an immense nefoor' IN
which al the fleets Of the world may ride in
safety Its entire length within the land not Tar
from 100 miles, by perhaps so In average oreantn
The three States OF San Salvador, honduras
and NoNagua touch upon IT, All the a9Jaoent
coats are Of uni bounded producuveneN 1t en-
braces several islands Of considerable size, sur.
rounded by water OF such depth as to enable yes
GELS 10 approach close in shore The most import
ant Of these from the circumstances OF lis sze and
the fact that il commands and IL the key 20 tns en-
tire Gulf 10 the Island of rgre, belonging TO Hon
durss This island was the head quarters OF Drake
during bis oper atoms in the South Sea. II is about
20 nes In circumference, level near the shore, blS
risirg regularly and grso to perfect cone in
the o. inter-. Upon this Inland Is situated the Tree
port Of Annapolis. Its possession by any great
maraiime nation would enable 1t u exercise su
Influence and control over the commerce OF the
westtrn part Of the continent which the possession
Of Gibraltar by the Engsh enables them 10 exercise
over the commerce Of Europe. From the soutn'
eastern extremity Of this Gulf extends
hrRe eBtuaTy called the Estero Heal
Its course 10 precisely In the direction OF
the lake Of Mapagua, which II apProsooes 70
within is or 90 miles, and between winch ana toe
the' il the plain OF Core 10, which is, in fact.
mar, of the plain OF Leon This Estero Is az broad
as the East River at New York, and has for most
fits extent an ample depth OF water. Az ~ mhes
above it's mouth it mad so feet There 10 narrow
bar Mt its mouth, upon which, at low tide, there 10
hut about 3 fathoms. The tide rises, however,
abou, 10 feet and with artificial aid the bar could,
doubtless, be passed at all times. This Estero 10
enc of the most beautiful natural channels that can
be i'm sgined, preserving for long distance, very
nearly uniform width of from 300 % 400 yards. les
ground Of Mier trees. Capt Belcher, Il. N. ascend
ed the Es,ero for 80 miles in a vessel drawing 10
feet of water. From the head Of tide wsser 10 the
Estero to the lake not more than 2Oor % miles -
In case the canal 10 ever built, said Me-. 3, am
convinced this must be its route. The advantages
which would result to such work from terminal
ing in the Gulf Of Fonseca are very great aud 50
obvious that IL Is needless 70 recapit0lste them.
1t may, therefore, 10 view Of the preceding facts
be ssley asserted that the passage from Lake
Msnsgus 10 the sea Is emnently feasible.
The length Of the proposed line OF c1mmunIca'
ton, for ships from TO sea, can only be deter.
mined by actual messurmsnt Nc. 5quer said
that nevertheless he would venture 70 sub MT the
following calculation;
PaI Of Lste klcsrsEu TO be usversed. .....ll0 do
Len 9Th of Rio Tip OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. do
Letg OF Lake ~ 40
TOTAL. .........Sl5 miles.
From this must be deducted 25 miles, in case
the line 10 terminated at the Port OF rsmarinda
In case II shood terminate In the 6ulf OF BOnseca
IL 10 possible IL would not be many miles longer
than to heNtjo. The extent Of ao,usl cansliz alton
therefore would be 70 healeiN, 100 20 l40 mlles
% Tsmsiinds 30 to no; TO Fonseca 100 TO l2O.
It's useless, said MIR. Squier, In conclusion, 70
enter into calculations respecting the cost OF the
proposed work; for until there ia detailed survey
OF the entire line 1t must be wholly matter OF COZ
lecture Ii has been varously estimated at from
10000 coo TO $40 0000 900. Assume 1t to coat
tlo0, 1000 0O0 which may be az near the truth AZ
any other calculation stil IL 10 enough at present.
to know that il 10 e asble and that it's benefits i'm.
mediate and prospective, will be sufficient TO com.
pen.ste for the xpendirure Of double that amount
startling a. 1t may a, frs. apper 1t Is OF course
imooa.tble In calculata with ANYTHING more than