New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-12
.,, E-o.n.c,- Of Nicaragua.

,ornec,;on with the steamer Nicaragua, which will
,,, nnon the lake of that name, marks the begin
mir of new or a in the condition Of Central Amer
lea. The preparations for establishing regular
communication from sea to sea, are now nearly com
pleted and within few months part of the current
vbich now foods the Isthmus with its semimonth
ly ebb end flow will give new vitality to the decay
ing towns of Nicaragua and San Salvador.
The first route will be that from San Juan on the
Gulf side to the Bay of San Juan del Sur on the
Pacific. The Director which is a boat of 100 tuns
burden and calculated to carry 400 passengers, viii
run from the port Of San Juan to the Castillo VieJo
a distance of so miles here she will be met by
the Nicaragua, the quondam Orus,) which will con-
vey travellers to the ancient city Of Granada. on
Lake Nicaragua, and within Is miles OF the Pacific
This route we have already described. The car
riaees for the last part of it are now being made in
Newark NJ. The elevation to be overcome by
the road is but 900 feet tits probable, however,
that in tie beginning Of the enterprise the port of
Reaej) will be made the terminus OF tho line on
the Pacific side. Howard Sons steamers, as
well as those Of Law line the Pacific side, will
hereafter touch at Reaejo, and the ships Of the for
mer company on this side, will run to San Juan,
where they will conduct with the river steamers OF
the Nicaragua company. 1t is expected that the
line through TO San Francisco will be in operation
in about two months, when the voyage to Califor-
MIA will be shortened by about six days.
The next advance on this undertaking will be
the construction of the Nicaragua Ship Canal
which is now in fair way Of being started, at
least Mr.. e. g. sQUIER, our Charge to Central
America, who is now in this City, devoted much
attention TO this subject during bis residence in
Nicaragua. he brings back the most complete set
Of maps and drawings Of the ground over which
the canal will pass that we have ever seen
Among these 10 panorama OF the country be-
tween Lake Monagua and the Pacific at Rea'ejo-
a rich, green level of As miles in length the fine
old City Of Leon seated amid its gardens, nearly
midway between the two waters. The elevation
| to bs overcome il only 10 feet and the cutting OF
| this depth would be little more than half mile in
extent. The preferable route, however, appears
to be that leading northward from Lake Monagua
to the Estero Real, an estuary or inlet from the
Gulf of Fonseca. Here, the line of canal would
be the same Length as the Reslejo, while the higher
elevation is but so feet. Another marked advant
age is, that while the harbor of Realeo, though
cure. is quite small the Gulf of FOnseca would
| float the navies Of the world. Its entrance from
the sea lie guarded by two lofty volcanoes between
which rise three island cones from the water,
leaving deep channels between. Inside of these
opens the spacious gulf in the center OF which
another volcanic cone-rises the Island of Tigre
about which 30 much has been said Of late. The
tustion OF this Island, as comm anding the finest
herbor of Central America, and the probable ter
minus Of the Atlantic and Pacific Canal gave it
political value which was perhaps not generally
| understood.
| The route OF the canal will soon be permanently
located. The schooner enterprise sails from this
port to morrow, for San Jusn carry ing out corps
| of Engineers, fourteen in number, at the head Of
whom is MIR. CHILDs, formerly Chief Engineer OF
this State. The schooner takes out large supplies
of provisions, implements, &c. for the use oil the
Company We shall await with interest their
report determining the location Of this, the grand
eat enterprise of the age-Dext to the Overland
| Pacific Railroad.
Mr.. seUlrR also brings with him number o.
Of drawings Of the ancient Indian idols, which he
found on the islands OF ZaPatero and Momotombisa'
in the Lake Of Msnasua The figures are oil black
bAsat from six to ten feet in hight, and appear to
be Of type very different from those found BY Mr.
Stephens in the ruins Of Copan Some Of them
were transported to Realejo With infinite labor,
and there shipped by Mr.. squier for the United
States Two or three Of them have already reach
ed this port, and are now on their way to Wash.
ington. A further exploration Of the country woud
develop many rich Antiquarian treasures, and we
bope Mr. squier will find sufficient time. in the in
teryals Of his diplomatic labors to undertake.