Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-19

Mind EOS how prevent tre Spaniards from gaining
foo ID in the country that is preventing them from
erecting any buildings for shelter and by attacking them
soon as their supplies OF provisions were exhausted
Thus the interior Of the country remained unknown and
unysited for long time At length, IN l692, Mr. Pat
terson Scotchman, the same who was the founder OF
the Bank of England, made settlement on the Caribbean
shore of the Isthnus harbor at place which he
called Port Escoce This settlement made in view
Of opening communication between the two and
establishing trade with China, Japan, and the South
Sea Islands, and Mr. Patterson had procured for that
purpose subscription Of half million of pounds
immense for that time But the jealousy Of the
East India Company excited against this settlement
and the enterprise connected with it, and it being sup
posed that would prejudice their monopoly, they per-
suaded the King to withdraw his protection from IT, and
in fne was broken up 1t does not appear that Mr.
Patterson succeeded in exploring the interior or in
efecting passage across the lsthmus. The country
left 6gan the undsturbed possession OF the Min
dngo Indians the Caribbean shore, and the Pacific
side to some few Inhabitants of mixed race
Baron Humboldt gave impulse to scientific ia
qury by his work. in which he urged the Importance and
the feasibility ofnteroceanc communications seine
of these thmuses His theory that the great chain
of mountains, the Corderas that extends through the
continent down TO the lowest point OF the sthmus which
connects il with South America must, when it reaches
the passage be broken into hills or spurs and OF
diminished height The physical fact that the aegh of
mountains must be proportional to their base confirms
| this theory.
Next, Louis Napoleon whose confidence in his own
star led him to believe that he to achieve great
4
jec and especially with view to canal by the Nicara-
qua route which, according to the then existing nforma
ton, the most feasible route. He wrote book on
the subject
Further attention was called to the Darien few
years ago by the report of Irish physician Dr. Gull
len who had visited Darien the Pacific side, and at
the Gulf Of San Miguel found Scotchman who had there
established himself boat-builder This Scotchman
informed him of the Spanish tradition in favor of skip
canal across this part Of Darien.
But before this event Dr. Black had turned his
10
ed by Sir Charles Fox he and Mr. Lawrence, then our
Minister to London, urged him engage in the enter
prise This gentleman is at the head of the great engi-
neerng the who executed the contract for
building the Crystal Palace-a remarkable man, of emil
nent character in every part of Europe of great
and drectness of purpose and of liberal and comprehen
sve views Sir Charles entered earnestly into the inqu
ry and here in fact the enterprise took practical di-
recon and its management placed in the hands Of Dr.
Black. Two civil engineers Mr. lionel GisbornN dis
tngushed engineer, and his assistant Mr. Forde were
sent out to Daren TO make exploration of the country
and their report was very favorable far as it went
The particulars these The engineers proceeded from
Port Ecoce towards the Gulf Of San Miguel, and dis
covered river which flowed towards the bay. They
followed up towards its sources where they taken
prisoners by the Indians who jealous of the visits
of strangers and conducted down the river by its wind
ing course to the Indian village Caledonia Bay, which
they found to be fine harbor about five miles west
OF Port Escoses, when they dismissed with the al
monition that if they again they would get off
easy They then proceeded by the Panama route down
to San Miguel on the Pacific side and surveyed Daren
harbor of the safe and commodious harbors in
the world and perfectly easy of They up
the river Savanna from this bay and found it to be thirty
six feet deep for seven miles. From this point they fol-
lowed the stream and its tributary the Lara to their
sources and to the watershed of the other side of the
lsthmus The height OF the dividing ridge between the
rivers running into the Atlantic and Pacific Mr. Osborne
found to be about hundred and fifty feet They also
brought back specimens of the rock the route and
biologists have corroborated Mr. Gsbornes opinion that
the cutting would be through stratfed rock which would
afford good sides for the canal and be easy to work
The line for the canal would be nearly straight its
whole length would be- from Caledonia Bay to the navi.
gable waters Of the river Savanna thrtthree miles The
distance from port to port would be forty miles
1t is estimated that the cost Of the ship canal would be
seventyve millions Of dollars and would be completed
in less than eight years The plan is to make it hun
dred and sixty feet wide and thirty feet in depth An
other feature of the plan is to put labor enough at
on the whole route to hasten its completion and to
protect the laborers from their imprudence by an
organized system Of discipline to shelter them under
awnings while at work. for cotton cheaper than
| quinine and caomel.
privilege for the purposes Of the construction and
of the by the future company
granted by the Government Of New Granada. The plan
Is also not 70 make tax upon the commerce
Of the world, Of unreasonable emoument,
but to charge such rate Of toll will pay the interest
on the capital invested
Il Louis Napoleon, in the interview which he had with
the projectors Of this enterprise, offered unite with the
United States and England in a guaranty Of dividend
But the projectors will undertake the work without any
other guaranty than is afforded by the wants Of
merce. Auampe amount Of English capital for the
peton Of the enterprise can it is believed be procured
II would therefore appear that both Of the questions
which are suggested by the propos Of Dr. Black
satisfactorily solved There is good believe
the work to be practicable, and it be executed by
company, American and English and by means to be OBJ
| tanned chiefly in Europe.
Under these circumstances Dr. Black proposes that his
country should take the lead in the matter by an
official survey. The exploration by Messrs Osborne and
Forde private affair. No survey has been made
ordered by the British Government 1t is intended
that the Government Of the United States should
dertakc 10 survey the route and thus enable cit
tens 70 Judge Of the cxpedency and practcaby OF the
enterprise Should the report OF engineers be favor
able, II Is proposed by Dr. Black that, in the organza
ton Of the company onehaf Of the Board Of Directors
shall be American
COLLISION AND MIRACULOUS ESCAPE