Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-10-29
From the Washington Union.
The Proposed Ship.Canal.

the feasibility of the proposed Ship Canal
across the Isthmus of Darien, subjoined is
his report. received yesterday morning by
The Navy Department:
FLAGSHIP WABAsH,l
Of Aspinwall. Sept. 10, 1857.
Sra On the 26th of August. under
the orders of the Department of June !,
organized party and set out on a recon-
noisance Of the Isthmus between Aspen
wall and Panama, with reference to the
"practicability Of constructing an inter-
oceanic canal across the Isthmus of Dari-
81 !" at this point.
The roate BY which the railroad passes
vas in every respect the most desirable for
this purpose. and the means by which the
character of the country could be best
known. as far a. its topography and the
features essential with the object in view
could BE- seen. 1t was, in fact, the direct
means for the accomplishment of the pur.
pose.
The officers who accompanied me have
reported their opinions in writing, which
shall Be available to the Department if it is
desired that they should be submitted.
Col. George N. Totten, the pioneer of
the Panama Railroad, and since its con-
struction. the Chief Engineer of the Com
pany. favored me with his presence and
extensive information of what relates to
This part Of the Isthmus. To him. and to
Allan AcLane, Esq, the Pacific Mail
Steam Company's agent. who placed the
steamer Tobago at my service for the ex.
animation of the Bay of Panama, was in
debted for every facility that they could
afford me. Commander Hoff, the senior
officer present in the Bay of Panama. fur
nished a boat to verify the chart which ac-
companies this report. BY this it will be
seen that the water is shoal for consider
able extent. both TO the east and west Of
the city of Panama.
It is supposed that the canal could be
united with the waters of the Pacific on
either side of the city, and that channel
might be drsdged to the depth of 80 feet,
TO meet the navigable waters for ships Of
large draft. The bay then expands into
an ample harbor. where the winds are said
never to blow with violence, sufficiently
comprehensive for the commerce of the
world, and studded with islands, convent
ent for all the great purposes that the con-
dition of things would call for. by the con-
structioa Of q canal through the Isthmus.
The Isthmus itself seems to present no
serious obstacle to science for the con-
struotion Of canal. The whole extent
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean is
made Of swamps. hills and plains; and the
highest point ofland where the railroad pas
ses is not more than two hundred and eigh-
ty-six feet above the level of the sea. On
the whole route, most, if not all, the hills
through which tho canal would pass. wo'd
be required for embankments over the
plains and swamps. and l can perceive no
insuperable obstacle to piercing the high
est part. SO as conveniently to make the
waters of The Chagres and Obispo and Rio
Grande available for the wants of canal.
The truth is. that in a climate less favor
able to the whine man, do not think the
question of feasibility would be raised
1t seems to be conceded, from experience,
that the African race can alone persistent
ly labor in this climate. A few thousand
free blacks might be obtained from the
West India Islands. but this resource
would be inadequate. as was experienced
by the operations on the Panama Railroad.
The want of men to labor would seem to
be the great obstacle to the successful &C.
compishment Of work of so much mag
nitudc.
To illustrate the typographical feature.
Of the Isthmus 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 furnished by
Colonel Totem.
On the Atlantic side he canal would en-
Ter the Bay of Aspinwall. the chart o.
which is herewith referred. In approach
ing this poiut it would pass Few miles
from the Chagres, and enter the Bay neal
the river Chindi. Here it will be seen, as
in the Bay of Panama, extensive dredging
for a channel to NEE. the deep water would
be necessary. The bay expands for the
distance of about five miles, between tive
headlands. and is open to the sea. A break
water would be necessary here. With sucf
one as would afford the necessary pro
lection against the ocean swell, the Bay o
Aspenwall. like the Bay of Panama. woulc
afford ample room for the commerce of Eu
rope as well as America and in contem
plating these t~o bays. with the eye of ;
seaman. and in reference to the greai worl
in question. il would look as though natur,
had provided them for the special conven-
fence Of man in his laborious undertaking.
for the extension of commerce. and plac,
where all nations may meet, in their varied
pursuits on the great highway of the ocean
In work like that of canal through
the Isthmus Of Darien, it is to be supposed
that the requirements of commerce ant
navigation in its most extended application
would alone be considered; and taking lhi
fot the standard. canal two hundred fee
wide and thirty feet deep would seem to b
the appropriate dimensions.
With such m avenue from the Atlanti
TO the Pacific, the stormy and distant sea
of the extreme south would be abandone
by Europe as well as America. and W
should meet here on neutral ground. pun
suing with q common purpose the paths c
noaceful industrv which by its means x