The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-09

ence 1rv> oy the laws of gravity ut the sane dis
lance fkrm the centre OF the earth; that she tidal
we've n governed by the passage OF the moon over
.ne earth ana II land did not in ,erVcpe, the wave
would follow uniformly one hour after the passage
Of the lurniGary. Now. on the Pacific coast the re-
gular progress Of the tidal wave is INSTRUCTED by
land. but the wave flows on with the accumulation
and momentum, or with the aggre gate force which
would otherwise have spread over the entire surface
occuFied by the projection o, land The river rraan
do SOW flows in northeast direction into the Atra.o
Mr.. Kentisb here proposes to do what at first APP
pears 10 be parade xcal impossioility--to cause
river to flow back towards its source To accomplish
this 1T is proposed to cause the waters of the
Truando which ROW flow into the Atlantic
through the channel OF the river Atrato,
To flow into the Pacific, by cutting a tunnel three
and one quarter miles long through the ridge On the
Pacific coast. The Atrato river would then become
the feeder to the Truando IN its reversed current
direction and increased volume, when it becomes
for 50 mics the channel of the new river aqueduct.
The average depth OF the river Truando Is about
80 feet, and lis width 100 feet to suit the require
n ents Of the new river uniform depth OF 80 feet
and width Of 200 feet Us necessary; to accomplish
this will require the removal in round numbers of
IS million yards Of alluvial soil, and % yards Of
rock. On diycrging from the channel of the Tru-
ando the line encounters the chain of the cordil-
eras and for 26 miles the cutting is through solid
rock. For the necessary tunnelling through base
OF 81 miles, two tunnels are recommended, for the
reason that TO prevent the increase OF current the
width OF the turiife must he equal to that OF the
space would be too expansive to ensure safety; two
arches are therefore substituted, which would be
Of such height that frfgates and merchantmen
generally need only lower their topInasts.
The amount of cutting for this last 2G miles Is
estimated-of rock (trap) II millions Of yards and
of allnvia soil d million yards. Such Is an outline
OF the hold and original means proposed by Mr.
kertish for the accomplishment Of this work. They
compatible with the vastre5s of the enterprise,
and the great resulting benefits which, on its com
pletiOn would accrue to the commerce of the world.
1t may be Justly conceded that no route has yet
been iound-and, Judging from past experience, pro
badly will never be--that possesses the advantages
OF this. The most prominent are as follows:-
First. That the oceans can here be united by canal,
through an open cut, without locks, guard gates OF
impediments Of any kind.
Second. That while it is one hundred and twenty
five miles from ocean to ocean, more than 0ae-hslf
the distance is, by nature ready for the passage Of
the largest class vessels.
Third. That excellent harb0rs exist ut either ter
minus, requiring but little improvement TO make
them as desirable as any in the world. Presenting
no very extraordinary engineering difficulties, nor
any features but those eminently practicable, yet
from the aggregate amount of rock and soil
to be removed, the estimated cost Is no less
than two hundred millions Of dollars. Great
this is, it Is but onesiyth more than the cost
Of the Great Northern Railroad Of England. SoGle
estimate of the great commercial value of inter
oceanic canal may be gathered from the following
A vessel from the port Of New York, sailing at the
ordinary rate Of Ito miles per day, via the inter
oceanic cana in her voyage out and home, would
save in time 254 days and distance Of 10000 miles
In the year 1853 one thousand and twenty-eight
vessels arrived at San Francisco from the Atlantic
ports. Allowing the average expenses of these YES
sells to be u 500 each per month, there would have
been clear saving in expepsGs Of sl2,9S4,ooo be-
sides interest on the value & ships and CARGO and
this is but small part 81 The trade Of tie world
through the Pacific. CHARLES foNrEz.