New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-10-15

,,ss ~ ..,.s -
mas 70 MAKE 'nvessgauons reaave 70 1ne
easipiy OF tne proposed ship canal across
the Isthmus between Aspinwall and Panama. f1r-
nisbes he Navv Denartment With f;s renort nnon
-. -. A. -. !. - -, r.
se su"ess' unue1 uass " tne Aosn september, HON
wnieh We extract the following: X 4
The route by which the railroad passes waa IN
every respect the most desirable for this pnrpose and
the means by which the character of the country
could be best known, as far as its Topography and
the features essential with the object in view could
be seen It was in Net the direct means for the &C.
complishment Of the purpose sl 52s75a'
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 dredged to the depth 81
thirty feet to meet the navgabe waters for ships Of
large draught Thabay then expands into an. annie
harbor where the winds are said never to blow with
violence sufficiently comprehensive for the commerce
of the world and studded with islands convenient fol
all the great purposes that the condition of things
would call for by the construction Of canal through
the isthmus. s
The isthmus itseIf,seems to present no serious oh
stace to science for the construction of canal The
whole extent from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean
is made up of swamps, hills and plains, and the high
est pont Of land where the railroad masses ia no ort
than two hundred and eghty.sx feet above the Ieve
of the sea- On the whole route most if not all the
hills through which the canal would pass would bs
required for embankmepts over the plains ani
swamps and can perceive no insuperabie obstacle
to piercing the highest part so as conveniently tf
make the waters Of the Ghaares and Obispo and Rie
Grande available for the waits of canal
The truth IS, that in climate less favorable to the
white man. do not think the question of feasibility
would be raised 1T seems to be conceded, from eS
perence that the African race can Nlone 6ersstenty
labor in this climate few thousands of 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 accomplishment of work of &c
much magnitude. ssfii
On the Atlantic side the canal would enter the Ba,
of Aspnwall the chart of which is herewith referred
In approaching this point it would pass few mile
from the Chagres and enter the bay near the rive
Chndi Here it will be seen, as in the Bay of Pana
ma, extensive dredging for, channel to meet tn
deep water would be necessary. The bay expand
for the distance of about five miles. between tw,
headlands, and is open to the sea. A breakwate
would be necessary here. With such one as woult
afford the necessary protection against the ocear
swell, the Bay of Aspinwall, like the Bay of Pana
| ma would afford ample room for the commerce O
Europe as well as America and in contemplating
these two bays with the eye Of o seaman, and il
reference to the great work in question: it would ooI
as thoupb nature had provided them for the specja