Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-05-02

MI Ei' VI cqulcr, OF Nicaragua noorietv
has been running about the world these three
years with Honduras Railroad in his breecb.
es pocket, he prospecied Honduras for better
discovered a gorge in the mountains admitting
Of bold escaade, and through it laid down
his route. The survey, effected in 1853, yel.
ded profile extremely presumptous in its
characteristics.
The height attained, 1851 feet. is formida-
Bile, but not impracticabe. The road is de-
signed to commence at Puerto Cabalos, close
down in that angle Of the Caribbean Sea which
is formed by the Belize and the north shore Of
Honduras, and runs directly south TO Amapala
l6O miles away upon the Bay of Fonseca, Pa.
clhc side. The most obvious remark suggest.
ed by inspection of the map is, that its ap-
proaches on the east are controlled by the Brit
lsh settlements at the Belize, circumstance
dlsadvantageous 10 any American interest in
The road, while it forms powerful reconmen-
dauon TO an English company We accord
ingly hear that London capitalists have adopt.
ed 1t, designing 10 push the work with the Ut
most diligence.
The recent treaty between Her Maiestys
Government and Honduras, in relation 10 the
Bay Islands, and the Belize, had the pacifca-
ilon OF that vicinage in sight, as an inducement
10 the undertaking. Mr. Squer has been met
by the opinions of careful engineers, who pro-
nounce his scheme impracticabe. Others have
sustained him and as such men as the Cover
nor Of the Bank Of England head the new CON.
pany. we are 10 ossune that the balance of au.
ihority is in his favor. The Government, of
Honduras is especially gracious to the enter
prise, because ii connects Comayagua, the cap
ital, with both oceans.
NICARAGUA CANAL.
ship canal through Lake Nicaragua was
pet project a century ago. Government and
private companies have time out Of mind pro-
cured surveys 10 be made demonstrating the
possibility of the work without, however,
bringing it within the limits Of reasonable cost.
The estimates have, in fact, in every instance,
frightened the specuaor away. Six or seven
years since, the prospect became so luminous
that the British and American Governments
deemed ii prudent 10 provide at once for the
naturalization of the route, whence sprang the
Clayion-Bulwer treaty, Of dubious memory.
Both the project and the treaty have, however,
vival Of either, while the struggle between
Walker and the natives continues The ulti-
mate praclicabiliiy of the enterprise is proba.
bly, ascertained, notwithstanding the criticisms
Of Mr. Squier. The San Juan River to the
lake may be supplied with locks, and other
slack-water arrangements, so that 100 miles of
the distance may be overcome the lake. which
is los feet above the Pacific, NAV be iraversed
by vessels Of deep draueht 10 Lajas, Sc miles
whence cut embodyng a series Of locks fed
from the lake may conduct 10 the Pacific, at
Briie. Or, extending through Lake Manague,
the route may debouch at Realejo, more eab-
crate and extensive work, without attractions
10 capitalists.
cHiRIQUI TURNPIKE.
The Chiriqui lagoon lies in the northern
edge Of the State Of the same name, which is
the norihernmost province of New Granada,
and adjoins Costa Rica, The lagoon is mid
way on the map between Greytown and Aspin-
wall. Two American companies have direct
ed their attention to this local,y-,he Chiricui
Improvement and the Chiriqui Real Estate
CompanieS,-the former with view to con-
strucing broad carriage-way for the transit Of
passengers from the lagoon to David, port
nearly ninety miles from the Pacific. The
height Of the Cordllleras discourages the idea
of Railroad, while the same difficulty, and
the absence of water, forbid Canal. The
great produciiveness and abundance OF local
traffic of the country must repay generously
the less costly work.
PANAMA RAILROAD.
While the rest of the world has talked itself
weary of lsthmus transiis, New York has made
one. The Panama road owes its existence to
the celebrated traveller John l.. Stephens, who
first conceived the plan, and inaugurated The
necessary surveys. 1t departs from tie island
of Manzanilla, in the Caribbean Sea- whereou
stands the city of Aspinwall, ascends the Sier-
ra steadily until within few miles of the Gulf
of Panama, attaining a summit level of 255
feet; when, by grade of 60 feet to the mile,
ii descends TO the Pacific waters at Panama.
The entire length is 47.6 miles.
In order TO accommodate the urgent demands
of California travel it was built in the first in
stance with no regard TO stability. The work
of Strengthening abrupt curves, reducing grades,
and replacing wooden bridges and waterways
with stone masonry, now engages the Compa-
ny. Eventually the road will be one of the
most useful in the world. As is the case with
the Honduras road, there is little prospect of a
water channel in the neighborhood, owing 10
the absence Of sources of sufficient elevation |
to supply the locks.
ATRATo CANAL.
The Emperor of the French, we are told,
has become deeply interested in canal leading
from the Airato River to the Pacific Ocean.
This is the track pointed out by Won Humboldt
as the only one he believed practicable. The
Airato River is broad and deep tributary to
the Caribbean Sea discharging into the Gulf
of Darien. The examination effected at The
cost of Wall-sireet enterprise, shows tina, the
Atrato and Truando, one of its esiuaries, may
be made navigable for the largest vessels, one
hundred miles, TO a point twenty-five miles
from the South Sea. The latter twenty-five |
miles require some heavy excavations, and
double tunnel three miles long, and high enough
for the ''mast of tall admiral" to pass thro.
The expense of such work is prodigious
the estimates call for some $3.50 900 900, but
as the canal is To be without locks, running
therefore upon the level of river and sea, its