Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-14
THE DARIEN SHIP CANAL.

Since the following deferred article has been
in type in our Office, we have seen several en-
phatic contradictions Of the facts it sets forth,
one Of which has appeared in the american,
from which we quote. We shall be gratifed
to peruse particular and authoritative refuta-
ton of the whole statement If this enter
prise shall prove practicable it will confer vast
benefits upon the world.
We stated yesterday that the magnificent
project of uniting the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, by ship canal across the Isthmus Of
Darien, would probably have to be abandoned,
on account Of the impracticability of the route.
This apprehension is fully confirmed by the
fuller reports Of the surveying parties Lieut.
Strains American expedition left Caledonia
Bay, on the Atlantic side, on the 10th January,
and on the goth the English brig of war Es-
piegle and the French steamer Chimere arrived
from Jamaica with a corps of surveyors under
the guidance of Mr.. Osborne and DR.. Cullen.
A party of five, who returned to communicate
with the ship from Lieut.. Strain, reported that
on the 23d they had left him with his party on
the mountains, distance of fifteen miles-that
the proposed route was continued chain of
mountains and that it was a very difficult mat
ter to penetrate through them. This party left
again on the 23d, reinforced by Lieut. Fauntle-
roy and ten men Of the Cyane, and separating
at the foot Of the mountain range. Fauntleroy
pursued one branch of the river, whilst the
other party followed in the direction taken by
Strain and laid out by Mr. Osborne Fsuntle-
roy had returned previous to the despatch of
the letter from which we derive this informa-
ton, and had reported that the idea Of cutting
q canal over this route would be preposterous,
he having attained q summit Of four thousand
feet. Nothing had been heard from Strain,
who had expressed his determination Of cross
ing to the Pacific.
From the Pacific side, the English expedition,
under Commander Provost, of the British ship
virago, left San Miguel on the 10Th December.
After travelling for ten days through dense
forest, covering plain which nowhere pre-
sented rise Of more than fifty feet, and inter
sected by several rivers and streams, some Of
which were Of considerable depth, they came
to river which they supposed to be the Chu-
quinaca upon cossing which they found the
character Of the country completely altered.
IL now became broken and mountainous in its
aspect, and after traversin several deep gorgcs
the party began to ascend high bill, the top
of which was estimated to be about FIVE hun
dred feet above the river, and from which they
obtained sight of tho Atlantic, in north
east direction, and from six to eight miles dis
tant Observing clear spot in north-by-
west direction, they altered their course to-
wards it and had TO cross broken and rugged
country, traversed by deep gorges with inter
vening hills, until on the lst of January, they
came to large river, flowing to the south
southwest which they called New Years riv
or. They followed this river nearly mile to
the northeast, and then turned to the east Pro-
ceeding in this direction upwards Of three
miles, they came upon another large and rapid
river, flowing north. They forded it. and as
cended hill half mile in height, and being
unable to see the sea, they commenced their re-
turn, and reached their boats on the Savanna
in eighteen hours from the time Of leaving the
Atlantic extremity of their course.
The survey was attended by innumerable
difficulties as well as danger to life. 1t was
made sufficiently thorough, however, to place
the main conclusion Of the impracticability Of
the canal beyond question.-Boh american