The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-18
From the Neto York Tribune.
The Nicaragua Route To the Pacific.

The State of California is at least thirty five
days journey from the capital of the United States;
II takes more than twice as long 10 reach San Fran
cisco from New York as it does to reach London.
This is at least great inconvenience, politically rs
well commercially; if the Atlantic and Pacific
States 10 remain, they must and will remain,
in the same confederation, they must be brought
together, and become near neighbors as well as
members of one system. Whatever tends to lessen
the distance between and the Pacific must there
fore be hailed with profound satisfaction.
The ultimate completion of the Nicaragua ship
canal will of course occupy considerable length
OF time; but in the meanwhile the query suggests
itself whether the river San Juan and the Lake Of
Nicaragua do not offer the means Of greatly short
ening the time Of reaching the Pacific and Cali
fornis, and thus cheapening the price Of passage
and transportation thither. On these points we
have been enabled TO obtain exact and reliable in
formation which will be found Of interest to the
readers of the Tribune.
The river San Juan de Nicaragua is eighty -four
miles in length. and is perfectly navigable
through its whole length at all seasons for steam
boats drawing one and a half to two feet water. Or
by entering through the Colorado, which is in fact
one Of the mouths Of the San Juan, no longer than
the other, and the channel, and through which the
greater part Of the waters discharged, boats of
three four times that draft may be employed.
All that will be necessary to effect this will be 10
remove a bar which now exists at the mouth of the
river, and which alone occasioned the recent fail
ure Of the steamer Orus 10 effect entrance. We
have taken pains 10 inquire that subject, and
learn that even IL is II Is probable she might have
entered but for heavy gale which was blowing at
the time, and which rendered the pilot, who was
not perfectly familiar with the channel, unwilling
60 risk an attempt 10 find il.
The river has two three rapids in its course
but they not of a character 20 prevent naviga-
iion. The worst are the rapids of the CASTILLO
Yiejo, San Carlos, some fifty sixty yards la
length. The current is there about six miles an
hour, but with depth Of water amply sufficient
These rapids are, then, no obstacle. Over the rap
ids OF Machuca, which, where the water flows with
any perceptbe increase of swiftncss, only about
sixty yards long, there Is at the present time above
six feet Of water in the channel, even after tw o
months of the dry season have passed With the
exception Of these rapids, the San Juan, from the
Colorado 10 the lake, docs not average less than
fifteen feet OF water in the dry season.
The proposed ship canal will employ the whole
length Of The Lake OF Nicaragua and Lake Leon,
and finally end at the port Of Rcalejo, the Paci
fc whereas we learn there is n commodious har
Dor, fully adequate TO the wants of the immense
commerce which must pass through the canal The
lake is some hundred and thirty miles in length.
Al several points along its shore, the distance from
il 10 tho Pacific is much shorter than that from
Lake Leon 20 Rcaejo, the proposed terminus Of the
work. The reason why the last named place is SC
lcctcd for the terminus IL the excellence of its har
Dor and the greater natural facility of cutting the
canal to IT,
For the purposes Of present use, however, the
shortest road from the lake TO the Pacific naturally
suggests itself The most advantageous route IL
thought TO be that from the city of Nicaragua, on
the lake, 70 the port OF San Juan del Sur (San Juan
oil the South,) on the racine. Inc distance u nj
/ teen miles. The distance from the entrance OF the
/ lake TO Nicaragua is fifty making, with eighty
four miles Of river navigation, ono hundred and
thirty-four miles to be accomplished by steamboat.
This can easily be done in eight hours.
The portage from Nicaragua TO San Juan
del Sur is now accomplished with mules in five
hours travelling time. The road, though not rcgu-
larly laid out worked, has but three OF four
miles which Is rough, being the crossing of the
mountains and even that is better than tho road
rom Gorgona TO Panama. From Nicaragua TO
he foot Of the hills there Is good cart road run
ing through an open and pleasant country. From
be hills-for the mountains here are not more
,erc is n level road TO the harbor. The ascent IL
81 difficult, only some three quarters Of a mile
ing steep. With a small expenditure the whole
~ could be made perfectly easy and agreeable
THE transportation Of passengers and baggage,
the time of crossing reduced 10 three hours.
u would bring the transit from sea to sen TO
hat twelve agreeable hours by steamboat and
seback good carriagcw way through would
cost more than five six thousand dollars.
be harbor Of San Juan Of the South il small,
x about quarter OF mile each way; but Is
protected by hills on the north and south, and
aliy on the west. Tho winter, within six or
rods Of the shore, Is from ten to twelve fatboms
,pth. The prevailing winds are from the lake,