New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-10-07
ELAe.SHIP WABASH,

OF Aspinwall Sept. IS, 1857.
SIR On the 26th Of August under the orders OF the
Department Of June l. organized party aud set GU
on a reconnaissance Of the Isthmus between Aspio
wall and Panama, with reference to tie pracucabh
"ty of constructing interocesnic canal across the
"Isthmus Of DarieD" at this point.
The route by which the railroad passes was IN every
respect the most desirable for this purpose, and tho
means by which the character of the country could oe
best known, as far as lite topography and the ieaues
essential with the object in view could De seen. ~
was in fact the direct means for the Accomplishment
of the purpose.
The officers who accompanied me have reported
their opinions in writing which shall be available 70
the Department if it s desired that they shouid NC
submitted. go
Col. George NJ. Totten, the pioneer OF the Panama
Railroad and. since its construction, The ChelEhf
neer Of the Company favored me with his presence
ard extensive information OF what relates 10 TINS par
of the Istlmus. To him, and to Allan McLane, esq,
the Pacific Mail Steam Company agent, who place
the steamer Tobago at my service Tor the examination
of the Bay Of Panama. / was indebted Tor every
facility that they could afford me-; Commander hon
the senior officer present in the Bay OF Panama. fur-
nished beat to verify the chart which accompanies
this report BY thi, Il will be seen that tho water Is
shoal for considerable extent, both to the east and
west of the City of Panama.
II supposed that the canal could be united with
the waters of the Pacific either side Of the city,
and that channel might be dredged to the depth OF
80 feet TO meet the navigabe waters for ships Of large
draft. The bay then expands INTO an ample nsioor,
sufficiently comprehensive for the commerce OF tire
world ana studded with islands, convenient for all the
great purposes that the condition of Thugs w0ulc call
for by TIE construction OF canal through the lsthmus.
The Isthmus itself seems 10 present no serious OBJ
stacle to science for the construction of canal. The
whole extent from the Atlantic to the Pacific OCEAN '
made up of swsmps, hills and plains and the highest
point Cf land where the railroad pas no more than
Two bur dred and eightysx feet above the level of the
sea. On the whole route most, If not all, the hills
through which the canal would pass would be required
for tn bankments over The plains and swamps, aud
perceive 10 insupersble obstacle to piercing the
highest part so rs conveniently to mske the waters OF
th. Chsgres ard ObispO and Rio Grande available for
The ants Of a canal.
The truth is that in climate lees favorable to the
white man. do lot thiIk the question of feasibility
would be raised. Ii seems TO be conceded, from e1'
pelience, that the African race can alone perslsently
labor in this climate. few thousands of free blacks
might be obtained from the Wet India Islands, but
this source would be inscequate IS was experienced
by the operations on the Pansn Railroad The waot
Of men 10 labor would b. be the great obstacle
to the ue,esiul accomplishment Of work OF 80 much
magnitude.
To illustrate the topograph al features of the 18th.
by the route of the railroad and near which the
canal must pass have the honor 10 refer you to the
accompanying profile, which has been kindly fur
nisted by Col. Totten.
On tie Atlantic side the canal would enter the Bay
Of Asppwsl. the chart Of which is herewith referred
lu approaching this poIt it would pass lew miles
non the Chagre, and enter the bay hear the River
Ch'noi. Here II viii bs seen, In the Bay Of Pau
sma, extensive dredging for a channel to meet the
deep vstt' would be necessary. The bay expands
tor the oistsn, of about five miles, between two
b. adlsrcs, epd - open a. the sea. bre SIX water
would be ne cessdrs here. With such one az would
afford tho peces ary protection against the ocean
svel. tie Bay Of Aspipwall Ike the Bay OF Panama
would AFFORD sn p. room for the commerce Of Europe
a. well az Amo'.Ca; ard in eontemp plating these two
Ja,s with ne 5ye ia seaman and in reference TO the
Great woik in qucs lion it would look az though IA
lure lsd provided shsm tor The special convenience of
man in bis labious undertakings for the extension Il
cGUm,,ce ard place wteie sn Iaii3us NAV meet 10
,b varied pu suits the groa, hgh say Of Tire
Ius work Ike LA. OF osrEl Thy ucl the l-tbmus
o.D,rier Il is 70 be errpcset hist TIE requirements
n ooriosfce srd ssggaiiD n its me-. eItsbced ap
~ s,i-n zcuid h!o-e be cons.ce-et auc .Akr, :tis
r. tIo s.aniatJ a cana tso aUHcied feet w.0s And