The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-03
NICARAGUA SHIP CANAL.


ROute and Dimensions OF the Proposed Work
-Repsrt OF British Engineers-Climats,
&C., OF Nicaragua-Refasai OF British Capt.
talasts 90 Embark In the Enterprise, SC.
We have before us the various documents pub.
Hshsd by the company which has obtained char
tsg from the State Of Nicaragua, for constructing
ship canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,
via the river San Juan and Lake Nicaragua They
consist -
Map and profile Of the route for the construction OF
ship canal, &C., by O. Chids Engineer Ths is
large map Of the San Juan river the portion Oh Lake
Nicaragua proposed to be tavered and the section OF
Ind bstween the lake and Pacific ocean
Report Of the survey and estimates OF the cost Oh
ssastructing the inter oceanic ship canal from the har
ber Of San Juan the to the harbor
Issinser J. D Fay, Principal Assistant.
g. Engineers report OF cost OF constructing the ship
canal OF Nicaragua estimated at New York prices.
4 Report Of British Engineers the ship canal be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans This the report
q certain English Engineers to whom was referred the
ysport plans, estimates, &C., OF Mr.. Chids.
ORIGIN OF PRESENT CANAL GRANT.
The charter of this company is dated September %,
ls49 and was obtained by Cornelius Vanderbilt and
ths completion Of the proposed canal. The surveys
we're to be commenced within one year, and the
whole to be completed in twelve years. The
be Of dimensions sufficiently great to admit
and pass vessels of all sizes, with speed
md safety. The company is to pay to the State,
during the period assigned for the construction of the
work, the annual sum Of $lO,OO0 to give the State
e200.000 of stock in the canal, on the issue Of
stock the State to receive, for the first twenty
years, twenty per cent annually out Of the net
profits Of the canal after dedueting the interest
the capital actually invested ut the rate Of seven
Per cent and for the remaining sixty five years
twsnty 1--WE per cont Of the profits The company,
On the other hand, are TO receive fifteen per
cent annually out Of the net profits of the
sanal, for the first ten years after it shall revert
TO the State, provided it does not cost over
$40 900, 600; but if it costs than that sum,
the company shall receive twenty per cent for
swenty years. During the period Of constructing
the canal, (twelve years) the company has the ex-
slusive right of navigating the waters of the State
by steam; and also the privilege Of opening
transit route through its territories, upon che prn
sipsl condition of paying ten per ceR4 Of the net
profits to the State. There are some other prov-
Goss, rs to lands, tolls Sc, Of special import
ance in this connection.
Under this charter the company perfected its
organization, with Mr. Vanderbilt ~ pre- dent. 1t
divided its original shares into considerable nam.
Der, called canal rights which were sold, and
their holders brought into the organic alton. The
FIRST annual installment was paid, and in August,
1850 just in time to est the stpu alton providng
thst the surveys should be commenced within ono
pear from the date of the contract, party OF sur
veyors was sent out to Nicaragua They were
HAder the direction Of Mr., o. w. Childs. at one
time, we believe, State Engineer Of New York as
shief engineer. he arrived in Nicaragua on the
9th of August, 1850, and so far as the report is
concerned, we are left to infer that he at COM
mepoed the surveys for the canal. This impression
was sought to be made in Nicaragua; but we happen
to know that his first labors were directed to sur
vsys Sc, for the so-called Transit road" When
the canal survey was finished is not known. The
date of the report before as, however, is Syracuse,
March 8, 1859.
THF LINE OF SURVEY.
In all the various projects for uniting the two
Seas, through the great transverse valley which con-
stitutes the istbmus of Nicaragua the line of the
river San Juan has always boen contemplated as
that by which the great lake of Nicsrsgua was to
be reached. From that lake to the Pacific, various
routes have been suggested
l. From lake Nicaragua via the river sapoa to the bay
u Belspos, in the gulf Of Salinas on the Pacific.
Via the Rio Lsjss TO the port OF San Juan del Sur,
o. some point not far from IL, on the Pacific.
Via the Rio Tpitapa into the superior lake Of Ma
uAgua from this lake to the Pecidc the little port
of Tamsrnda the port Of Reass into the magndcn mt
guh IT bay Of Fopsecs
By his instructions, Mr. Childs was limited to
Suryey or the direct routes from lake Nicaragua to
the Pa,fc, provided either OF them should prove
practicable. As consequence, hadIng route
which, ia his opinion. rss practicable, he INSIDE no
surveys from the superior lake OF Aanagua 70 the
Pacific. He, however. made SEINE observations ON
the line ofthe connection between the tTo lakes by
the river Tipitapa-ifs channel, dry for most if not
eli Of the year, can be called q river Tnis is a
source Of great regret especially In view OF the de-
6cieb cy, the surveyed routes, OF good harbor on
the Pacific, for both Rsaleo and the Gull Of Fon-
SEGA all that can be desired as ports.
The lakes of Gaosgua and Nicaragua occupy .
great transverse valley, commencing on the gulf of
Forsesa, where it is nearly hundred miles broad
nsd eparated from the Pacific by slightly elevated
Frepnd, relieved by occasional og hills, and fs
volcanic cones. The height Of these grounds ia
barely sufs ent to prevent the waters of the valley
from flowing into the Pacific, and to turn them to-
wards the Atlantic. This valley is contracted to-
wards the sosth east where it is is completely filed
by lake Nicaragua, from which flows its outlet the
river San Juan, through narrow valley OF the sAae
name, into he Atlantic.
The lake Of Nicaragua is estimated BY Mr.. Chids
10 be one hundred and ten miles in extreme length
by thirty 1--WE in (avsrsgeD width. Its greatest
proximity TO the Atlantic is its southern
trenity. from which right line. it is about sixty
miles distant. The point of its nearest approach to
the Pacific is near the middle Of its length, whore,
by the shortest line, the distance j. about eleven
miles.
The San Jsap river was found by Mr.. Childs TO be,
following its sinuosites ll9 miles ia Length. IL has
great Rnnbe of tributaries generally small, with
the exception OF the San Careos and cerapiqul,
sbich come in from the hills Of Costa Rica, the
South The first Of these enters the San Juan at
xsy eve miles, and the second ninety miles, below
tne lake. These streams A0v through valleys trans
rarsely TO that OF the San Juan, which is further
Interested by ranges of hills corning in both from
the north and the south, at the rapids del Toro,
Castillo, Mschuca, etc
The Lake Of Nicaragua lies long tudnally nearly
parallel to the Pacific ocean, ard is separated from
IL for nesrytwo thirds Of the length Of the lake, by
hills OF comparatively moderate accivty aud eleva
zion. in most cases capable Of cultivation to their
submits Within this distance, also, are several
transversal valleys, extending nearly tMr Cnilds
ys quite) across. with SUBMITS varying In height,
sad furnishing generally good opportunities for d.
rect con- munications. by means Of ordinary roads,
and in single instance, that is deemed praetica-
bic route for opening communication by canal.
EXAMINATION OF ROUTE VIA RIVER sAPoA.
This line lies chiefly in the department Of GUIANA
ssste, row in dispute between Nicaragua and Costa
Riea and pouinaly oecupied by the latter. IL Was