The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-19
THE REPU BLIC.
The Prospects Of NICARAGUA.

The departure of the steamer Director, ycster.
day, for the navigation Of the San Juan river, In
connexion with the steamer Nicaragua, which will
ply upon tho lake OF that name, marks the begin
ming Of new In the condition of Central Amer
ica. The preparations for establishing a regular
communication from sea to sea are now nearly
completed, and within few months part of the
current which now floods the sthmus with its semi
monthly ebb and flow will give new vitality to the
decaying towns Of Nicaragua and San Salvador
The first route will be that from San Juan on the
Cult side TO the Bay of San Juan del Sur on the
Pacific. The Director, which is a boat of one hun :
dred and twenty tons burden, and calculated to
carry four hundred passengers, will run from the
port Of San Juan to the Castillo Viejo, distance of
fifty miles. Here she will be met by the Nicarag qua,
(the quOndam Orus,) which will convey travellers
to the ancient city Of Grenada, Lake Nicaragua,
and within fifteen miles of the Pacific. This route
we have already described. The carriages for the
last part OF it are now being made in Newark, New
Jersey. The elevation to be overcome by the road
is but one thousand feet. Ii is probable, however,
that in the beginning of the enterprise the port Of
Realejo will be made the terminus of the line the
Pacific side. Howard s. Sons steamers, as well as
those OF Laws line, on the Pacific side, will hcreaf-
ter touch at Realejo, and the ships of the former
company, on this side, will run to San Juan, where
they will connect with the river steamers of the
Nicaragua company. II is expected that the line
through to San Francisco will be in operation in
about two months, when the voyage to California
will be shortened by about six days.
The next advance on this undertaking will be the
construction ofthe Nicaragua Ship Canal, which is
now IN fair way OF being started, at least. Mr..
Z. G. Squier, our Charge to Central America, who
ia in this city, devoted much attention to this
subject during his 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 Among these is
panorama Of the country between Lake Managua
and the Pacific at Realejo-a rich, green level of
forty five miles in length, the fine old city of Leon
seated amid its gardens nearly midway between
the two waters. The elevation to be overcome is
only seventy y-three feet, and the cutting Of this
depth would be little more than half mile in ex-
tent The preferable route, however, appears to be
that leading northward from Lake Managua to the
Estcro Real, an estuary inlet from the Gulf OF
Fonseca. Here, the line Of canal would be the same
length as to Reaejo, while the highest elevation is
but fifty feet Another marked advantage is, that
while the barbor OF Realeo though secure, is quite
small, the Gulf of onscca would float the navies of
the world. Its entrance from the sea is guarded by
two lofty volcanoes between which rise three island
cones from the water, leaving deep channels be-
tween. Inside OF these opens the spacious gulf, in
the centre of which-another volcanic cone-rses
the Island Of Tigrc, about which much has been
said OF late. The situation of this island, COM
manding the finest harbor of Central America, and
the probable terminus of the Atlantic and Pacific
Canal, givesit 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 Juan, carrying out corps
of engineers, fourteen in number, at the head of
whom ID MIR. Childs, formerly chief engineer of this
State. The schooner takes out large supplies of
provisions. implements, SC, for the OF the
pany. We shall await with interest their report
determining the location of this the grandest en-
terprise OF the age-next 10 the Overland Pacific
Railroad.
MIR. Squier also bringr with him number OF
drawings of the ancient Indian idols, which he
| found on the islands of Znpatero and Momotombita
| in the Lake OF Nanagua. The figures of blac k
bsat from six to ten feet in height. 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 Reaejo with infinite labor, and there
shipped by Mr. Squier for the United States. Two
three Of them have already reached this port and
are now on their way 20 Washington. A further
exploration Of the country would develop many
rich antiquarian treasures and we hope Mr.. Squier
will find sufficient time, in the intervals of his dip
lomatc labors, TO undertake it.
". y Tribune l2h.