The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-17
british Darien Ship Canal.

From Correspondence oil
The the lshmus OF Darien. Tor uni
tns the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is beginning to ex-
cite very general attention highly respectable COM
pany has been formed The chairman OF the board oil
directors is Lord Wharncfe and among the directors are
leading merchants OF London and Liverpool. the min
lister from Peru at Paris, and the minister and consul
general from New Granada at London This design is
far from being novel SO long since as the year
1885, Mr. Paterson the founder OF the Bank of England,
obtained an act of Parliament for the prosecution OF such
q work. and the large lat that lime) OF 100000
was subscribed TO carry out; but the scheme fus-
trated BY the influence OF the then East India
Company. Il was long believed that the great elevation
OF the Cordleras mountains presented an insurmounta
BILE barrier to the opening OF passage by canal and the
supposed difference of the level OF the waters in the two
oceans formed another imaginary obstacle Mr. Lionel
Osborne civil engineer OF great practical experience
in navigation matters, has returned from survey of the
country across the Isthmus OF DaIien from the Bay OF
Caledonia, on the Atlantic, TO the Gulf OF St. Miguel
on the Pacific He reports that there is distance OF
only thirty miles between deep water either sde
sstng OF land generally level, which in no case is OF
considerable elevation. or presents greater obstacles than
have been surmouned railways and other engineering
works He recommends the construction of open
channel between the two oceans, which be executed
in FIVE years from its COMMENCEMENT at cost exceed
ing twelve millions sterling II is proposed, however
to raise nominal capital of ELS 100000 Ito
tngencies,) in shares oil El00 zach.
Dr. Cullen. who has paid great attention to the subject
ha. been ecturing upon the proposed canal He states
that canal, with two locks, might be constructed fol
half the expense OF an open lhorougb@cut canal Tn,
Nicaragua route would require twenty eight locks ant
one hundred and thiryeght miles of cutting and dredg
ing, and ship would be six days IN passing it, Tn,
passage in the Darien canal. without lock, would b.
accomplished in six hours. The difference of level hat
been varously stated but Dr. Cullen believed it in real
~ was very little, while the different heights to which tn,
tides rose in the Atlantic and Pacific would an al
ternae twice day. These alternate currents
would be great advantage, as they would enable thu
two lines of ships pass different times each aided BY
the alternate ebb and flood tides through the canal Thes
currents will prevent dispositions of mud and sand being
formed in the canal and effect gradual process Of widen
ing and deepening it, Vessels bound from Europe t
the north western coast OF South America Mexico, o
California would save $4,000 miles in the voyage on
and home and great advantages would be reaped voy
ages TO India, China, &c. The distance from Englan
to Australia by this route would be only l47Oe miles
being shorter than any other by IRON 5000 900 miles
DR.. Cullen is about to start upon his sixth transit acros
the Islhmus OF Daren An arrangement has been mad
with the government OF New Granada for the necessary
cession OF territory for the canal and no obstacles to hi
execution OF IL are at present apparent.