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

msssurably good port upon the Pscidc, that of
Juan del Sur the best the whole line OF coast from
| the Bay Of Salinas northward to Realejo Baiieys
line is sixteen miles and $50 feet In length and the
greatest elevation above the isxs 4sI Iees' ina
Of Galisteo is seventeen miles 200 feet IN length,
and the greatest eleva lion above the 272, and
above the lake 1874 feet Baeys lne for half Of it's
distance, involved 209 feet Of average vertical
cutting that of Gasteo, for half OF its length, an
average vertical cutting Of los feet These facts
and Others among which the absolute impossibility
of supplying the summit levels with water, and the
necessity Of tunnels, combined to make the con-
struction of canal on this line wholly impossible
| Mr.. Childs seems to have been satisfied Of the
impracticability Of this line, after very rapid
examination, and to have devoted himself to the
discovery of some other one more feasible. In
doing. this, however, it was found necessary to
abandon San Juan del Sur rs the western terminus
Starting at the point on the lake to the eastward
ofRivas, levelling westward, through transverse,
lance of six and half miles, 1926 feet to the summit
Of broad valley, passing between the hills, (which
are here OF moderate height,) and connecting with
another valley on the west side, which extends to
place on the Pacific called Brito, where stream
named Rio Grande, flows into the sea. The quantity
Of water available for this summit being entirely
inadequate, and the cut altogether too formidable,
on the plan Of carrying the lake level through to the
western slope, this route was abandoned. Another
line, not far from this was attempted, with very
nearly the same result
Mr., Childs next started from the mouth of the
Rio Laas the same point with his predecessors and
the line Of level WAS carried to the summit Of =
transversal valley lying about six and half miles
south of Rivas and reaching between the valley Of
Rio Lajas and that of the Rio Grande, already mem
toned as flowing into the Pacific ut Brito This
summit was found to be only forty.seven and half
feet above the surface of the lake. as 1t stood on the
Esd day of December, 1850, at which time it was
three and half feet above its lowest stages, and
one and half feet below the level at which it ord.
narily stands at the height of the rainy season.
The length Of this line from lake to sea is about
twenty miles. This is the route, and the only ii.
rect one between the lake and sea, regarded by Mr.
Childs as feasible, and upon this all his calculations
respecting the proposed canal, are based. In his own
language, "the conclusion arrived at, that the
line leading from the lake, at the mouth Of the riv
er Lalas to the Pacific at Brito, presented more fa
vorable conditions for the construction Of the canal
than any oher it was, therefore, determined to sur
vey and carefully to locate line across upon this
route.
This line, then, runs through the valley of the ri
yer Lajas the waters Of principal branch Of which
nterlock with those Of the Rio Gran de- and through
the valley OF the latter, reaches the The stream
hrst named has its origin about ten miles south vest
erly from its entrance into the lake. the eastern
slope Of the dividing ridge, and after running north
westerly some two miles, along the base Of the hills
takes northerly direction through comparatively
level savannahs distance of some six or eight miles
when it bends to the east, and in mile and three
fourths enters the lake. The Rio Grande rises on
the eastern slope of the same range OF hills, and
some two or three miles northwest from the sources
OF the Lsjas. and, after flowing three or four
miles near the base of the slope, bends to the west
and by q narrsw and somewhat irregular valley
passes through the ridge, and thence in more CO.
pscious and uniform valley into the Pacific.
wEsTERN SECTION OF PROPOSED CANAL BETWEEN LAKE
NICARAGUA AND THE PACIFIC.
The entire line of the canal proposed by Mr. Childs
and upon which all his cal situations and estimates are
based is therefore, through the valley OF the river
San Tn info T,olya T
qua to the mouth of the Rio Lsjas, through the
valley of that stream and across the summit Of for
ty seven and half feet which separates it from that
of the Rio Grande, and down the valley of the Rio
Grande to Brito, where that stream enters the Pa
cihc.
Now, in order to understand Mr. Childs' conclu-
sions, and appreciate the data which he gives, we
must know what kind Of Q work he proposes. He
sontemplates canal but seventeen feet deep; and,
rs he intends to supply the western section, from
the lake TO the sea- by water fro the lake, it will
be necessary to commence the construction in the
lake, at point where the water is seventeen feet
deep at mean stage. This point is opposite the
mouth of the Lajas and twenty-f chains from the
lne Of the shore From this point, for mile and
half. partially along the river Laas, the excava
ton will be principally earth But beyond this, for
a distance OF Eve and q half miles, which carries
the line beyond the summit three fourths of the ex-
cavasion will be IN trap rock That is to say, the
deepest excavation or open cut, viii be sixty Eve
feet, and involve the removal of $4,000 cubic
rocE. The excavation and construction in this
five and half miles alone are estimated at
upwards Of So 600, 600.
The summit passed, and the valley of the Rio
Grsnde reached, the excavation, as general rule,
will be only the depth of the canal. Mr.. Childs
found that the lake. at ordinary high water, is only
l02 fest 10 inches above the Pacific ut high, and
III feet inches above it at los tide instead Of l2S
proposes to accomplish by fourteen locks, Of eight
feet lift each. at proper points in the valley Of the
Rio GTande, which brings us to the Brito, the ter
minus on the Pacific
The harbor of Brito, it is called. or the point
where the Rio Grande enters the sea, is in fact,
harbor. There is here only q small angular inden-
tieu of the land, partially protected by low ledge
Of rock but nothing adequate for the terminus of
important work, like the proposed canal, or capable
Of answering the commonest requisites of port.
To remedy this deficiency Mr.. Childs proposes to
construct artificial harbor, of thirty four acres
area, by moes and ettes in the sea, and by extern
sive excavations in the land. IT, ms Mr.. Childs
fupposes the excavations here would be in sand, it
is obviously almost impossible to get proper founda
tons for the immense sea walls and piers that would
be necessary to work Of this kind. On the con-
most likely, the cost and labor would almost sur.
pass computation. Assuming the excavations for
the purpose to be in earth and sand, Mr. Childs
estimates the cost at little over 81 600 900.
MIDDLE SECTION OF PROPOSED CANAL, LAKE MICA
RAGUA.
Proceeding from seventeen feet depth OF water in
the lake opposite to the river Lajas in tbs direc-
tion of the outlet Of the lake at Fort San Carlos
there is ample water for vessels of all Sizes for dis
lance Of about fifty one miles, to point half mile
south of the Boceas Islands. Here the depth of wa
ter dminishes rapidly to fourteen feet For the re-
msinipg five snd half miles to the fort, the water
is variable averaging ouly about nine feet at low,
aud about fourteen feet at high water For this dis
tsnce Of FIVE and half miles therefore, an average
under water excavation of eight feet would be re-
quired 10 make the channel, at 10 water, of the
depth Of the canal, or seventeen feet Bat II the
lake kept at high level, the under water exca
Walton would be but average Of three feet
Mr.. Childs proposes to protect this portion Of the
channel by rows OF piles driven each side, along
its whole extent, and thinks, after the excavation
were made, there would be sufficient current bc-
tween them to keep the channel clear.
EASTERN sECTIoN-THE RIVER SAN JUAN.
We come now to the section between Lake Mica
ragna and the Atlantic through or alnnz thu rirar