The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-03

PROPOSED CANAL ROUTE FROM THE ATLANTIC
THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

PROPOSED CANAL ROUTE FROM THE ATLANTIC TO
THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
From the National Intelligence, April
We have had the pleasure of reading a concise
and lucid pamphlet on the history and resources
Of Costa Rica, one of the States of the late con-
federacy of Nicaragua, &c, in which the value
of the information given is enhanced by the impair
TALLY which is evident throughout the little work
The country which it describes has Of late derived
interest from the various routes suggested and
surveyed for interoceanic communication by
water across Central America.
Costa Rica, which is situated to the north of the
lsthmus of Panama, constituted, as we have said,
a part of the Central American Union; but since
the extinction Of the federal government-that is,
for about thirteen years-it has been independent,
and has taken the rank and title Of u free and
sovereign republic. Its soil is ridh and produc-
tive, from the number Of rivers which water the
country, and which are rendered more available
by well-ordercd system of irrigation. The eli
mate is very rainy for seven months in the year,
from April to November, and, though moist and
unhealthy the Atlantic coast, Is healthy on the
Pacific, while the tableland Of the interior, it
is temperate and very healthy. The population
is about one hundred thousand, Of whom ten thou
sand are Indians There are no negroes, and but
few mulattoes
We translate portion Of the remarks Of the in
telligent author, in relation the several routes
proposed for canal between the Atlantic and Pa
cihe ocean,
"If this great enterprise shall some day be put
in operation, the route Of Nicaragua will probably
be preferred to those of Tehuantepcc and Panama,
(or the latter thirty miles Of land to be excavatei
with elevation Of La feet,) and consequently the
larger part il not the whole of the projected canal
will pass within the limits of Costa Rica. In cast
ing glance at the plan proposed il il observed that
the Of the river San Juan to the Lake Of Nj
caragua (ninety mlcs) and the waters Of that lake.
will, in any case, form means of communication up
to that point. But, as to the distance from this
lake to the Pacific, there three plans to con-
slider The first would, in leaving the lake, pro
coed towards the river Tipitapa, ttwenty miles,)
then towards the little lake Managua, (thirty-iyc
miles,) and thence ascend certain nayigable river
work with an arm of the sea leading to the Pacific
near Realejo. This route would be 277 miles long,
but the distance to be dug through would not exceed
fifteen miles, and elevation to be overcome only LA
feet.
1.-THE second route proposed Is the one explored
by Mr.. Bailey and which, by the great lake, Is to
be united 10 the ocean, in opening the isthmus 10
the port Of San Juan del Sur. Here there are also
fifteen miles to excayate, but the elevation rises to
557 feet.
LASTLY, the third route is that which would pass
in the territory Of Costa Rica, and which would re-
quire less extent Of canal twelve miles,) for the
river Sapoa might be used, and the elevation at this
point Is not above 1f3 feet, terminating at the port
Of Salinas. This plan offers the important adyan-
tsgc Of ending on the Pacific at the excellent port
OF Salinas while the others terminate at no good
port, that Of San Juan being open bay, and that
Of Realejo being one side of the place where the
canal is to terminate. IL IL TO be remarked that
the route OF Costa RIGA has, in common with that
Of Nicaragua, by the Lake Managua, the eminent
advantage over the Others Of being furnished with
water at the highest point for the support of the
canal"