The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-01

most wealthy portion Of the country and the quantity Of
gold annually exported from there's at
between three and six millions OF dollars the greater por
ton Of which comes from washiDgs The ragged nature
Of the country almost precudes the Introduction OF ma
chnery for working VEINS although very rich ones no
doubt exist and is the general remark here that the
richest districts the most scky the river Ponce for
Granada "the Pactols Of America yields gold with
great abundance hut white man can resist the climate
and the negroes living there are subject 70 most
malignant fever There several small parties OF Anne
rcans in the southern part Of Antoqua most OF whom
out last December After dgent inquiry Of people
from portion fthe country can only learn that they
have gone into the hill mines, and tAat none q 0ein
The province Of Choco is also said 20 be very ch and
the history OF it's gold washDgs, worked by slaves in the
time of the Spanards, confirms the fact This district hes
between Antioqua and the Pacific Ocean, and embraces
the lower portion Of the lshmus between the Atrato and
the Several parties have gone up the Atrato into
this district and from of the men, who lately returned
on his way home, heard the following particuars:-4e
was from Indianapolis and returning there for he said
that with half Of the labor in the United States he
for gold From him learn that the whole country, for
many miles is one continued swamp, the greater portion
Of being under water that the only way OF prospect
ing is in and from the constant rains man never
can be dry He found the best plan was to follow the
custom OF the blacks and work naked but this exposed
him 70 the and insects. Farther in the in
terror were mountains, many OF which had not been
visited and all their contained some god but the
difficulties of getting at them were very great and the
Aparty, under Mr. Cameron, Of New York. were there,
but all had been down with fever and ague and most OF
soon he had met with little success. small party Of
three or four from Philadelphia said to have broken up
and gentleman by the name Of Mathews from New Or
leans who brought machinery for the purpose has
given up his enterprise and gone TO California Such
the tdings gather in relation to the gold fields and
the gold hunters.
Carhagena have spoken Of in letter during my for
visit but my stay was SO short and my observations
cursory that few remarks now may be OF interest
This city formerly the chief seat Of Spanish power on
the Main and still gorics in its fine harbor and strong
walls The houses which were very strongly built
in ia n would
the greater part Of them into perfect state Here was
The seat Of trade the river and acros the
mountains to Quito up the Arao and across the shmus
Of San Juan TO Lima and some portion OF the raihc with
Acapulco and the west coast Of Mexico went nom here,
but the sorehouses are EnoccuPed, the harbor Is
nearly deserted and the canal that connected wh the
MagdaeEa river stagnant with mud and water grasses
nes and even that of the Nagdaena tributary here
ka found outlet through the marshes Of Savanla and
SANTA Marta The outlet 1t is true, has been saborous
and expensive one, but has sufced in some measure
for the limited commerce of the country and has only
been within few years that the increasing want Of an
easy TO the river has drawn the public attention
here to the subject.
Il is found that the delay and expense attending the
introduction Of goods TO the navgahe waters Of the n
terror the export OF products which when the trade
small of little account, Low amounts, with the
increase Of commerce. TO very serious burden, and va
rious plans are under consideration to relieve IL.
First among these is the pquc OF Carthagena, which
is artificial canal ten miles long, connecting series
Of lakes and natural channels with the bay Of TINS CITY
j combines the advantages Of good port, line city a.
hand for the accommodation OF trade, and an entrance
into the Magdaena ryer, some Lfty miles above the
marshes that surround the mouth, The Nque can be
permanently opened at comparatively small expendi,
ure, and the contract for this purpose and privilege oil
Second in Importance is the Canal de Ia Pima, connect
Ing the port Sayana with the river mss OF the bars
that nost ts mouth This canal is simply an open chan.
mel Of the river, and is kept open only by constant
watchfuncss and expenditure of money. AT present the
passage Of small boats through it Is much mpeded by
Accommodations Of sand and mud IN the channel and shell
sh near the sea- The port Of sayanla is not consider
ed good one; and the town itself collection merely
Baranqua inside the bars, and situate on the bank OF
The river. The government . now advertising ioi pro-
positions for cleaning out the Canal de Ia Pima.
There il a route eastward, through large salt lake
which is connected with the river by several channels
one Of which, though narrow, u navgable Tbs y
communication with that city Santa Msrta lies on the
seatoard, twenty miles from the mouth Of the river,
and the port entry for nearly all the goods for the
interior sarana beng III adapted for this trade through
IL bad hartor and want a accommodation f6T goods
After entry at Santa Marta the goods are taken to bara-
qua by boats that through the breakers on the bar,
elso 20 through the shallow Boca Nea' (ot mouth)
INTO the salt lakes above mentioned This channel how
improved, will always present the dhouues OF en-
at the mouth OF the river and the necessity q
raushpments but the merchants of Santa Marta wish
keep the trade they have roce under consideration
improve the route.
the trade q the Nardclcna, aud any inrisues are on
DOT. stimulated by rival interests, 10 prevent her
,ega.nng her ancient facilities and importance. Her
ricnG, TOO, a work Enormously, aud II i 10 be
hoped that tho affair will be decided in the present
year They have obtained from Congress the act iklng
her free port Of entry but all cen,rcs upon the open
ne Of the Dquc" which shall give her transit facilities
rhs obtained, she viii fear rya and her posi-
ton and climate offer thousand advantages TO foreign
trade Situate islands surrounded by the sea, icycrs
aud epidemic diseases Of all kinds unknown here,
ard her fine hartor Of easy access and exit u superior
to any other the Atlantic coast OF the republic.
coufcss that when look upon all those uatura aGyan-
;ages brought this OF decay BY internal strife and
civil dsCord, cannot but he sal with the city, sorrow
me IN her dosolaton. and look with her hopefully 10 the
promise of a glsd and-brighter future.
loayc here in a day or two for the 1sthmus whence
may have something 10 say about the lat difficulties
T. 81 had forgotten TO mention that shortly before
loft Bovoia new Minister from Chile arrived ibere,
bringing among other projects the proposition tina, gre,
aItNorih American league shall formed among the
Catholic American republics, for the purpose OF stopping
The southwark progress Of the United Safes and religious
hcresy. Chile il ambitious te be recognised tho think
and leader OF south America. The Gillian was asto
nshed when Of the leading men Of New Granada
tod him they thought the United States too slow, Ia
toad Of too fast IN her southwark march.