The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-25

Oar New Haven Correspondence.

Mr. Squier here observed. that he should omit
any further references TO volcanoes, although there
remained many facts of interest TO be- presented in
order 10 submit some brief observations upon the
geographical asd typographical features of that
part of Central America, embraced in the State of
Nicaragua, particularly connected with the pro-
posed great neroceanic canal. He, however,
wished to say that ne had preJudices in favor of
or the other proposed routes of commune alton
across the continent; his only wish being that the
best shall be decided upon, and the grand enter
prises carried out. He md not appear AS the advo-
cate of one line OF transit at The expense of another,
nor as the mouth-pirce oi any set OF spectators
The subject of artItcia communication between
The oceans has attracted attention Tor more than
three hundred years, ana upwards OF one hundred
books and memoirs had been written upon the sub
Ject, NEST, however, based upon exceedingly I'M
perfect data, collected rom various and often con
nictng and unreliable sources rhe great problem
connected with the subject aud hat which Nil have
esteemed as vital 20 he qnes ion of the communica
tion has been this l. the great chain of the Cord
leras interrupted ~ any point upon the great
trail Isthmus p! This question observed Nj 5 L am
enabled to Ia the affirmative Between the
great basin OF Nicaragua whish lakes Nansg ua
and Nicaragua snd which u drsued 10y the river
Juan, flowing into The Carribean Sea between this
great basin, that II 10 say between the western
tremty OF Lake Mansgus aud the Pacidc the Cofdl-
leres are wholly intern pt.d aud we have only the
great plains OF Leon CoIeo. risipg Tor distance
OF about three thousand yards % al elevation OF about
Rixty above the lGk~ and hundred above the
sea. and thence subsiniDg in gentle slope to the
Ii is through the Lake OF hanakua aud across
this plain either TO the htie Port Of ramarihds,
the tine Port of kesleo. else (snd TINS i pro-
bsbe) tue Llano del Con.jp. into the msgoth-
cent Cult of Fonssea thai che proposed canll must
pass IL Il true Lake Nc"ras1s approaches at one or
two points to within abpat iteen miles OF the Pacific,
and it would seem that u might he easily connected
with that ocean But between that isge aud tue
is ri1ge Of land csnsid-ra bic height across
which canal eau ever be constructed simply be-
sufficient amount Of water Is TO D. obtained
the summit levels. to supply tae leak
age such a work Add DIR CT cut. by witch tue
supply might be detained n IN ne lake ~Oud involve
a tunnel large enough tor sbips miles
in length besides inmi Al almost i'm possible
tipes for the remain der ~ tnr distance rhis sufh
ciepty demonstrated ny the survey. rather
noisssnce Of Mr. Bailey IL l. said that prdetioa6e
route exists bstween Lake Nicaragua by way OF the
river sapoa 10 the Say 81 salinas part VI tue Gull
OF Papsgayo But nO authentic exaciustiou has ever
been maze OF the line aud Mr. squier expressed his
doubts 10 its praeteabty lie woult nos, however,
presume to speak decisiysis he had enjoy
opportunity OF examining A. In person lie would,
-neyertheless. say That practicable the ,u-
tending winds which preVut ia ths quit aad TO which
IL hss given the name Of f"pasayos you'd prove
signal disadvantage % &C. ii--i1@,. far c0mmu-
neston with california AMI the nsrthrn halt III the
continent, we'll a. itn tn- Sod sich ISLANDS. China
and the bsst Indies IL 'ern'd sntsrins ihs
nj this point would prove pi-ad,eliagvOus
MIR squer continued ny saying that - ship com
rnunication across the cootiu.nt It this paiot.
volyed In his estimation oniy canal tom the
great Nicsrsguan basin b. he paciic cut also canal
for the part iuOt ne ~hoe 81 the ,aoce trom
Lake Nicaragua 10 the Atiantic rbs river san Jua-,
the outlet this lsk. ib"u probably pts,inx
equal u not greater annual amount ot water tasu
tue tonnectlcut or-uuuson rivers hnl although n
by lar the greater part OF 4 eng oaPsoi o. being
naygated BY our largest river steamers a. get, toe
reasons which he b al given la r-eeN eonnln MICA
ton published in the P,ocideacs Journal adsq uats
under any pTscte able improvement. OF Ocing
made navigabe for ships and any canal. not rdmlt-
ting OF the easy ana rapid passing OF the largest snips
would very inptrfectly meet or subserve tue great
ends of its construction and OF oomm.rcs. Small
steamers such a. are used on the upper tributaries OF
the Mississippi may now be run on the river; aad.
with some improvements Mt the various rapids, steam
ers OF a larger class may be- used,
1t would. therefore. be necessary 20 cut canal
parallel to the river from which the requisite supply
Of might BE- drawn This lius would tue
north bank OF the stream. near b.ss Of the hills
which bosnd the valley on that side It l. possible
tspce II twenty mules nom the dosn~ard To
river ssralcs IN when this section OF the caaal
would te shortened to s.s,nty pprh.p e. sixty miles
Mr. squirr ssd that th,s psrt proposed ue nsi
hitherto been parsed over WITH very little remark on
the assumption that here dinieuity existed ani
that the river might essy be made ~ every
desirable purpose Jet ia ms estimation It sss by far
the most difficult part OF The ~to, enterprise; not on
the feasibility. hut OF labor and Expense rhs
Whols matter however resolved itself into simple
question OF dollars ano cents
The great Lake OF Nicaragua l1j miles ia leu gth ny
50 Ia breadth. although quite shalow At May ponts
It's northern .hore H. Beverth-es- OF great general
lepth. varying from six to sixty fathoms ana may.
sithout .oubt with proper Improvements. be inside
1avgable Tor ships The only dthculi-s exist ia aP
preaching the shores at either extr~m-s; but tnrse
AacuFis. may probably bc sbviatsd by pier works
Bs.vcsa Lake Nicaragua and tbs superior Lake Of
Mana eua h nominal Distance OF Is mites Bat ths
connecting called the Rio Ipitaps u In Tact Tor
tn extent ~ ~ miles estuary of Lake fiettrgua
sf rs that distance may probably be % cleared oot
sto o. -f DAersd naviEabe. From the head OF th'
stuary nt aoipt called San Pasquiel 70 Lake VANS
.ua dtanssof five miles there IL . rise 81 soout =
ret Yhe r.ter part Of this rias H. abrupt at point
sBout mile below the lake called tbs Falls OF Ligi-
lapA very nttis water passes here, except Ia tue
1astm.s Wholly interrupted The rocs is apparently,
soft csicsrsous brscca easily worked short carsl
Essstn Sc fsiis = distance of shout one mile Ne
low TINS 10 son Pssquie at the head OF the estuary
rom Lsia Eioaratns lhe bed OF the srss" y ~
and ths bsnss sbrupt aud nigh, forming ns'~-s
sans which only needs proper dams aud locks AL ~
over extremity to iurr.sh channel adeqaaie %
rvcfy purpose of nsiigrisn.
Lake Mansaus = 80 bod, Of water. sEi ~ much
srgor ne thsn ksftntherto been represented pa s
ssItainy ne. ATTY sixty mites 10 greatest
lrugth BY tbirt in width and ranges ffo,o tu5
20 ten and rf.-sn ana forty fatnom. iu aep.h.
fhs scsasry whes borders it u unsurpsrsed In 8saty
ma frun1.af lrea the northern aud -slfefn fhore,
iitinE theH blue tugged peaks one above the other,
ths mouufrias q MatasaIpa merging into those
& ssrosia rich IN metallic veins Upon che south
and vet broad sbd fertile slopes plains
-ovrrsd with luxpriant vsrdure and ~ almost us-
like giant ~araer. stands out boldly into che lake
1sfe AMI blsesenes summit. which has tyer
-tsched covered with tight wreath u ss'se attest
ND tl.s eontiuued Of thos. interssi afs.
vhich hsre s,s.i its steep sides vito b-rnnx foods
and uh1h eth scnd forth hot and phurvus springs
al it, bss. Withiu lake itself rise. the r-saisr
sons of Norntp Rita 80 regular that u seems s1r
1l art covered slh sden-e forrest under the -hsoss
ADD within the deep OF ~heh tr.ysd ny ths
Of sRss,ffand the rude and fs~ntns statues ~
he guds ~ ahr PAT saperttton raised long before
European leet eufaet the suil ~ America asd o.
shi.h the uind - thu christisuiEed Iadisn stin
7evetts nth mystertous reverence inFo.sible TO
fnuusal
between the nofthwestern extremity of this lsse
sd Zoe Pacific the great psior already m-ntion-
"a Three ines across thta pian rave ben ~tsd
ct hv laft -er- II he lske 60 the smsn port ~
csHarinda ~ ~ tse sane shore 60 TN -s kne-n
her. @kc 60 the tstsfo Real deboachtng into
he uulf ct fo1t-e-s tcnehsxus IL 70 prooap,s
tfhaf of ths- fsasib~. but inmate survey
an only st~trrs,is- woich y best
The arst -aek.stsd from the l.se o. the port u
rsuarroa CONSIDERABLY shower than stth@r 81 ne
not srgr.tdiut 10 Or - mtlrs Va icugth But.
Afr SvUfr the saer o. tne lake syon - a0rtn.
-.ssrn eho. a. ehsilo- Ne had .pnnted u Ia July.
u4s ~ .9eeyeus1 regularly from We snora g. tne
,lstaps- mile wb.re ~ attained hvs fstnons
After .sSs~x ~ d.epsnes fsp,diy - ten aud nuasn
a b~~,a Vie country bstv-en this pu,ut sn1 toe
Tsporry5o tsr esn ~ sssertsined the cnuutry
.ad Vii n A. of "a