The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-13
The Gateway on the Oceans.


The forcing of the barrier which for 300 years
has dehed and imperilled the commerce of the
world, seems now an event at hand. One-half OF
the contract for the junction OF the Atlantic and
Pacific, obtained from the State of Nicaragua last
year by the promptitude OF the Americans, is To
be held at the option of English capitalists; and
an understanding is al length announced, that II .
the conte nplated ship canal can be onsrlcted on
conditions that shall leave no uncertainty - 10 the
prottabeness of the enterprise, II is to be carried
forward with the influence Of our highest mer- T.
camille firms. The necessary surveys have been
actually CONNIE need and as a temporary route Is
at the same time being opened, an amount OF in
formation is likely soon to be collected which will
amilarise us with each psInt, regarding the capa-
blhtes of the entire region IL Is understood more
over, that when he canal surveys shall be COM
pleted, they to be submitted Ia the rigid scrutny
OF government engineers both In Eng,and and the
United States; 80 that before the public can be
called upon TO consider the expediency OF embrk-
ing in the undertaking., every doubt IN connexion
with II, as far as practical minds are coAcerneds
will have been removed.
The immediate steps now in course Of adnPtioiE
may be explained in few words. Al present, the
transit across the lsthmus OF Panama occupies four
days, and its inconvenience ana dangers no.o-
nous. AT Nicaragua, IL IS REPRESENTED, the transit
may possibly be effected in one day, aud this by q
continuous ste am route, with the exception ct ff-
teen miles by mule or omnlbus. rne pissage
would be up the San Juan, across Lake Nc iragna
TO the town Of that ZANE, aud thence to he port of
San Juan del Sur on the Pacific. Ca arriving at
this terminus (Which is considerably south OF The
one contemplated for the permanent caaal, IA n4ty
Realejo.) the passenger would tnd himself some
eco or 200 miles California tha If he had
crossed al the lshmus Of Panama; and as the rate
Of speed Of the American steamers on ths service
Is upwards OF oOO miles day, his SAVING OF three
days in crossing, coupled wuh the saving in sea
distance, would be equivalent 10 q total ~ 1900
miles measured, In relation to what is accomplished
by those vessels. A lower charge fox the transit
and comparatively healthy climate, are also sidt-
tioRai Inducements; and, under these crcum-
stances, aDci pGons entertained thai the great
TIDE OF traffic will be turned in The new direction
his tide, according to the last accounts from Pa
mama, was kept up ut the rate OF 1000 pprsons a.
year, and u was expected 10 increase
The navigabiliiy OF the San Juan, no viewer, In
Us present state remains yet to be tes.rj The
American company, who have obtainsh the priyi-
leRe Of the route, have sent down two vessels of
light draught, the Nicaragua and the Director, for
the purpose OF forthwith p acing the IN alter bsyopd
doubt, AZ the last date the Director had safely
cfo sed the bar at us mouth, and was pre- pafng TO
ascend the Nicaragua had previously gone up tho
Colorado, branch river, where, it is said through
the careltssness OF her engineer, she hid ran
aground upOu sandbank though without sns;ain-
ing any damage. The next accounts will aO3sess
gtea; interest Whatever may be the feai cana
oiiies OF the river, sccidrns and dslfYs talst be
sducIpateo IN the INST irial OF new usthoi of nav
igating ~ Even IN our own river, the Thames, the
hfst steamer could scarcely have been expected To
make trip from London bridge TO Riesfnoad
without some mishap. should, therefore, the
present cxpe riment show any clear in ,a.igns of
success there will be reasonable gro1nf fif con.
gratulaiion and IL forms important clia9ter
10 the history OF enterprise that all must regard it
With good wishes.
II the results of this temporary trans,, shoud
realize the expectations II seems TO wsrr89f there
cen be lille DOUBT the complexion OF the ciaai will
soon be commenced with ardour. Supposng the
surveys show a cost not exceeding the sun es,i.
mated IN 1881 by Lieut. Blily, the prospect ~ the
returns would, there Is reason to believe, he much
larger than the public have ut any iioie been ae-
20 suppose There il also tl,c s,et tAat
Lpnxs NO tr,affa
loEg as The commerce OF The world SHAH Iaefease:
and, indeed, ldy, the idea OF the gains 90 a.sra,
appears 10 have struck some minds with such
force as 10 lead them TO question II the pr vleges
which have been granted are not Of a kiad 50 ex-
favorable that they viii sooner or
later be repudia,ed by the State OF Nicaragua. No
such danger, however, esists; as the cJn1aay are
IN the safe possession Of all their rights
by the treaty OF proioctcn which has dsen ra,ihed
between Great Britain aud tn, Unite States
One most important sign in favor of the qrick
completion Of the ship canal Is now furnished in
he circumstance thai there are 40 uvat roAies,
AZ Panama, cheap wooden railway Is to be con-
trueed, which will prove serviceable for much of
he passenger traffic TO Peru and Chill: bat tb.
roect for canal, at that point, has been entirely
'iyen NJ The same Is the case at TehGiats
where the difficulties are far greater than at Pa
anna.
IL is iTue the question naturally arises whether
an exploration were made OF other parts az Ceu-
raj hmettce, or New Granada, some route nights
ot pc discovered which might admit Of the con-
e Necessary Of Nicaragua But 10 a m alter which
cnotins The commerce Ct the whole world for
gts, tnefe are other points to be considered besides
ntie cheapnessi and those who have studied the
dfahtages Of Nicaragua maintain, that enough
n1wn oi the Whole country, both north and south
oat state, 10 establish the fact that che posse
inrnsic capabilities essential TO the perfectuess
the entire work, which are not to be found in
~ Other quarter, and foe the absence of which no
eNlhE OF any Immediate sum would compsnsate.
be hIsi place. II y nearer TO California, by seye.
81 bundled miles, then any other route thai co1d
9 poinit5 ont EXCEPT Tehua1tepec, while, at the
iile iiint, " IL so ccntral az duly to combine the
~ rests bo'h OF The northern and south ,rn
20 IS me Pacific; Ia the next place. Vt coltsins
70 magnificent natural docks, where au the ves-
u ~ the world might refresh and re'ir: thirdly,
Lhonnds in natural products Of all kinds, aud is
esid'ss comparatively well pcoPlcd; four,hiy, Il
ststcs tempo nature which Is relatively m,ld.
iir y " siso - most pirs, undoubtedly befhhy,
-, rtally. u has hafoor ON the pach,, which,
use he words 81 Dnnlo,, In hts honk o, G~ntrJ
n eiica. is as CORD ~ cay pprt 10 tas known