The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-19

Transit steamers having Deeu WltnOraWn, ano the
Nicaragua line at all events temporarily abandoned
it would be we'll for the managers Of that company
to turn their attention to some new more feasible
and less expensive route across the isthmus. The
province of Chirqu possesses advantages for short
and convenient transit from ocean to ocean, superior
to any other, not even excepting Panama. The
Chiriqui lagoon on the Atlantic, and the Gulf Of
Dulce on the Pacific, afford facilities for the termina-
ton of transit route superior to Panama, Aspin-
wall. San Juan del Sur or San Juan del Norte. A
carriage road could be constructed in short time,
with sufficient force, at moderate expense, over
which the transit from ocean to ocean, in from
seven to ten hours, could be secured, through
healthy and beautiful country, within the jurisdiction
of the government of New Granada government
which has proper appreciation Of American Gu
terprise, and is DESTROYS of attracting American
capital to the development of the resources OF the
country. The government Of New Granada has
ever been disposed to grant the most liberal char
tiers and valuable grants Of territory for the pur-
pose of opening internal communication, and the
Chiriqui Improvement Company have rights and
privileges of the most important character. With
the best quality of btuminous coal on the Chriqui
lagoon, and also at points within the companys
grant of land on the Pacific coast steam naviga-
ton company would, in this item of expense alone,
possess advantages superior to any other line on
either ocean. The expense of the transit route
would be trifing, compared with that of Nicaragua
or Panama. The route iseve and perfectly health =
The ports on each side the only safe harbors
the coast accessible at oil times, and protected from
all dangers. The project certainly appears to us
feasible in every particular, and We hope Commo-
dore Vanderbilt and his associates will give it their
attention. The following report of James B. Cook }
Esq, the civil engineer employed by the Chiriqui
Internal Improvement Company to survey the
route, gives great deal of information relative to
the country through which it passes, its climate, pr
auctions, &C.. interesting to the world at large:-
REPORT THE PROPOSED CmRIeu1 ROAD
The route to which have reference lies between :
deg. aud deg North latitude and II deg. min West
on the east limited by the province of Veraguas,
by the Atlantic, south by the Pacific and ~
With regard to geographical position there is none ON
this 1stbmus Of Panama that can compete with the pro-
viz &C OF Chrqu .nc for the construction Of road Its
will af ersads shows tor agricultural pursuits Its soii
and climate are pre<ninenty suited above ~ others in
the tropical world for there the farmer can choose just
the climate he may require from the most Northern to
the Southern with all the intermediate temperature
best suited to his purfuits.
With regard to the engineering facilities for the
strucon Of the road in opinion there is every two
thirds ofthe read requires little heavy work. the
raj places cutting az embapking in order rende It
level twenty miles from the Pacific to Cadera the
psins-sre gradually elevated the grades not exceeding
any place. the of one IN sixty three eet At Cal
dera the passes entered anc the road sweeps rouId
the mountain spurs over their slight fluctuations IT
grades varying in ascent descent from thirty
i've in fifty feet for distance Of twenty four miles;
thence onward 10 the lagoon at grade, Of from In
fifty ieet to enc in sixty five feet 1t must be borne
in mind that these all natural grades AxsAvating
and embansing would reduce them to regular line OK
ascending grace to the ovicr OF the Cordieras
neither OF which grades would exceed twenty feet the
mlls but these grades now exist thy not very
unavorA able to railroad, but more favorable to Nc
Acsmzed road than ii reduced gradient line of
ascent and descent.
The Of the lines favorable to either kind Of
roads, beig Of sufficient radius to permit nearly the
whole speed of travel Tia entire rgh the line is
sixty two miles four chains and twenty five links.
On the Pacific fice in the ne'ghbohood of the Gulf OF
Duce there magnificent hxrb0r viii deep waters and
well sheltered, rQuirrg but little engineering render
tsrpdcsbe Tor he purposes Of the road.
place to be found upon the isthmus well dspted
barber we'll sheltered trt the devastating northers
exceiSg 1t in resuty deep waters Of ready and vel de-
fined entrance and other natural advantages not the
least Of which streams of the finest and delicious
fesh water Toured Gown in never falling supply from
the mountain Slopes This advantage also exists
the point selected The sci6c and indeed throughout
the whole extent of the road there q of
mountain streams, however presenting serious
stscles 70 its construction, but aorcrg the road
supply rarely found in elevated Countries
Though rSpid in the courtes, these streams do not
run cut Or exhaust then selves in the dry The
reason OF this is obvious; the peaks OF the lofty
taps Is!rg thousands OF feet above the line Of
the road penetrate the dense OF vapors thrown
up BY the rapid evaporation of tropical climates and
form conductors around which is condensed the irri
gated supply OF the valley below To this constant
coursipg OF watsr may also be attributed the extra
ordinary hsalthuness of this entire routs the
ittbrus no 0thsf compares with It, The crossings Of
Tehuanepec Guatemala Nicaragua Day len and Panama,
are, throughout nearly their wooe ex cot. subject to
f.vers nslsdie of the fatal acter the
IN
the sir with their destroying miasma ard the sdventu
stranger who seeks The auripg gold fields of Ca
ornia and Aust, ALA too often finds hs upon the
narrow strip which divices these great oceans Not
marsh CT swamp or purifying place exists from ocean 70
then when finished, from hese natural sovantages,
secure to itself the travel not only from the CITIES
OF the United Stses 70 California but from England
to liza the East Inoes Nor the province
OF Chriqui eer lees Inducements to the immigrant TO
settle within Its borders than will its road to the voya
gers to distant lands.
Rich and fertile plains from which spring in the
uxuriant growth the coffee tree, yielding ia abundance
after years culture berry Of
favor Thete plant growing wio requiring cut the hand
OF industry to make II most productive. Cotton,
large grain tobscco. flax maze Indian corr the Fog
toes peas beans cabbages Besides these there
rious spices including gDge pepper and great variety
OF botanical ano medical plants. The slopes of the
mouD ranges afford past ursge OF the beet description
and thousands Of cattle feed wild upon their Sides
IN mineral wes. nth. the county is excseangy rich In
est abundance existing in the river beds in DUST and
scales mingled with sand, which slight Washing resdiv
removed, gold bearing quartz in large quantities.
various places were d covered apparently very rich H.
the precious metals PlAns Ia found In large quantities
AND had aso ample evidence of silver Mercury. anti.
m.ny mcly beer barium, copper, tin and iron
Coal also to be found both the Atlantic and Pacific
With regard to these coal formations those the Az
annc are very abundant and rich covering large
Of ground
On the Pacific side II outcrops the Island Of Muerto;
bat am OF opinion from Exam nations mace that
David alcng the line of route abundance OF coal and
good quality, may be found.