Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-05
COSTA RIGA.

We have had the pleasure Of reading concise
and lucid pamphlet on the history and resources
of CosrA RIGA, 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
tial.y which is evident throughout the little work.
The country which il describes has oflate derived
new interest from the various routes suggested and
SURVEYED for an interoceanic communication by
water across Central America.
COSTA RIGA, which is situated to the north OF
the Isthmus OF Panama, formerly constituted, as we
have said, part of the Central American Union !;
but since the extinction of the Federal Govern
ent-that is, for about thirteen years-it has been
Independent, and has taken the rank and title of
free and sovereign Republic. Its soil is rich and
productive, from the number of rivers which water
the country, and which are rendered more available
by well-ordered system of irrigation. The cli-
mate is very rainy for seven months in the year,
from April to November, and, though moist and
unhealthy on the Atlantic coast, is healthy on the
Pacific, while on the table-land of the interior, il is
temperate and very healthy. The population is
about one hundred thousand, of whom ten thousand
are Indians. There are no negroes, and but few
mulattoes.
We translate portion Of the remarks of the inteI
igent author in relation to the several routes pro-
posed for a canal between the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans:
this great enterprise shall day be put in opera
on the Of Nicaragua will probably be preferred to those
Of Tehuanepec and Panama, or the latter, thirty miles Of
land 10 be eIcavaied with elevation of III fee and
consequently the larger part if not the whole of the projected
canal will pass within the limits of Costa Rica In casting
glance the plan proposed it is observed that the course Of
the river San Juan the Lake Of Nicaragua (niney mes
and the Of that lake, will in any form means Of
communication up to that point. But, to the distance
from this lake the Pacific there three plans to consider
The first would in leaving the lake, proceed towards the
river Tpitapa, weny miles, then towards the little lake
Managus, (hiryve miles and thence ascend certain
navgabe river which would be necessary to unite by an
artificial work with of the leading to the Pacific
Reaejo. This would be 277 miles long, but the
distance be dug through would exceed fifteen miles,
and elevation to be overcome only IA feet.
The second route proposed the explored by Mr..
Bailey and which, by the great lake. is to be united to the
in opening the sthmus to the port of San Juan del
Sur Here there also fifteen miles to e1cavate, but the
elevation rises to 457 feet.
Lastly the third route is that which would pass in
the territory Of Costa Rca and which would require less
extent of canal weve mles for the river Sapoa might be
used and the elevation this point above 43 feet
terminating the port Of Salinas. This plan offers the i'm
portant advantage of ending the Pacific the excellent
port Of Salinas, while the others terminate good port
that Of San Juan being open bay and that Of Reaeo
being on side of the place where the canal is to
1t is to be remarked that the of Costa Rca
has with that of Nicaragua by the lake Managua,
the eminent advantage the others Of being furnished with
water at the highest point for the support of the canal"