The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-06-14

ssps!sisd I6 az Dat toOl piece must NUT; BE- rs% mem
s sSssa the orders se Of he Duke
We believe we may ada that tho Duke dAamaio and
the Marshal met 1t small dinner party few days Atsr
wards.
The Atxato Expedition.
THE REPORT OF COMMANDER CRAVEN TO THE 6nCRd
rARY OF THE NAVY.
NEW York, Nay II, 1858.
srR-I have the honor TO acknowledge the receipts o
your letter of la inst, enclosing copy Of resolutior
Of the Senate Of the United States calling for information
a. 70 the recent exploration under my command "As
the practcsbty Of interoceanic communication from u,
Gulf Of Darien to the Pacific Ocean, by the Atrato an(
Tfuando rivers"
Having carefully examined The region referred 10, from
the Gulf Of Darien TO the Pacific and my explorator
having twice traversed the entire route, giving my alton
ton 70 s every feature, avail myself Of the indulgence
granted me, Of expressing my general views as to the
matter in question: without reference To the instrumental
survey which has not yet been reduced Therefore
fine myself 70 the physical condition OF the country indie
pendenty Of the comparative levels precise distances
will proceed 70 give SIR, as briefly - possible, de
you the data which my opinion based
Ny theory with regard 70 this remarkable valley 10
s: T. WAS ~ the gs,ST om
adjacent Mountains and s present condition is that Of
vast morass, extending from the Gulf Of Daen 70 within
separated by the Daren chain Of the Oordilleras
Through this mssh the Atrato has s course. receiving
but few and small tributaries In the extent OF the survey
and dschargpg into the Gulf Of Daren by delta Of
mouths; this delta projects itself into the Gulf Of DArien
far beyond the limits OF the adjacent coast Of Barien ID
sissippi and is composed Of an auvi deposit Of the
softest oOze which dep0ste has formed mud bank,
tending for average distance OF one mile outside Of the
The average depth by which the mouths OF the river
be entered does exceed six feet and slight Is
is liable to constant and daily chsnse~sne same cOndi.
ton hardly existing week during the season Of
"breezes." These breezes are fresh winds from the
north, which, with very little ntermssion blow through
the winter months fresh with the opposing
from the river to keep the bars In continual aga
e sc oss
twenty two feet These branches subject also 70
changes-Awo old channels are now closing up
sufficient for any purpose of navig aon-the depth being
eight fathoms, which may be carried up all the way 70
the Truando The channel in some Of the bends rs mar
and either side the stream H full OF snsgs That
portion o! the stream within twenty miles OF the Gulf s
overlooked during the greater portion Of the year and the
trees on this part OF the river do not Afford any good tim
The Arato Of sixty miles from It's mouth receives the
river ruando, small nsgnihca stream very tortuous
narrow and in s mean depth 10 mid CHANNEL not exceed
ing ten feet-tbe average breadth being twenty yards
The lower part Of tho ruando for ten miles flows through
lagoon. Inc banks Of the stream here aud there
frnged with trees but In general submerged sho wing
only the rank grass demarcaton Of the limits of the
stream Above this lagoon the river flows for distance of
the soil all OF the same aluval character and without
nscy except such a. afforded by the roots Of the
the greater portion OF the year This portion Of the river
called by the natives the "Palos Caoos FALLEN trees)
and well merits the name, "a the trees are constantly
beng by the wearing away OF tae banks sud
falling into the stream To such extent this falling
Of trees going that In the passages OF party have
bad ten or twelve large the distance Of five
miles, many others being passed. either BY hauling our
canoes over them, or by forcing our way under This
difficulty was encountered in the ascent Of the river aud
L. tn had cF thso 81
rruando s evidently complete mass of logs, and these
logs undoubtedly causing frequent changes In these
anastomosDg branches, ss their effect must De that OF
others lndeet observed two places where this process
was going op--the old channels completely closed, and
At Camp Bache the upper extremity OF this por-
ton OF the stream, the first permanent habitson
the rverone Indian hut erected piles about six feet
above the ground = yhich affords idea OF the
depth of overflow. Above the Palos CNdos the
stream widens, and the banks have more eeva-
the stream; The soil loses somewhA, OF its
muddy character, and 10 more Of light sandy loan.
the svesse aspa .ss ~ %s u.s. sSoye the
with rocky bed, and bree miles higher no, We reach
the Falls which are about three miles 10 extent the river
here PUSHES through mountain zap having for s bed
solid mas of basatc rock; the stream
ly averaging forty feet, and very meauderng 10 its
The fail In these three miles about twenty feet
Above the Falls the stream widens again, and 10
bed of solid rock with average depth OF ten feet the
breath forty yards. Eve miles above the Fails the
cant stream, very narrow and meandro serpentine in
character; iull Of shadows, and nearly musa dued
with trees that part OF the Truaado called the
PAos idos The bed OF this stream OF gravel aud sand
IL banks low and subject TO frequent inudsons from the
mountain torrens Proceeding up the Nerqus six miles
We reach the Hngador, smas mountain torrent, the
valley q which may be followed short distance. fen
miles Of An average cutting Of hundred and y feet
through this valley and the decreased hills viii reach
the Toturnia, . small rivulet flowing for two miles
over trap formation sometimes in bcuders sometimes
In solid masses Another mile through low, swampy
ALI and ha otr disOha ,tn uhaIin hsv
called the "Bahia EnscnAdA This bay N formed by
outer beach, called the Isa Playa, Beach Island evil
quicksands which have been thrown up by the sea On
this island there g q small village OF negroes Of
whom, man OF some sixty years, told me tbs. the
island had made TO seawsrd several hundred feet
within his recollection
The distance from the mouth Of the roturnia 70 depth
anchorage ana 20 possibility Of making any on Tits psrt
Of the coast, the heavy SURF which ever rolling 10
precludes the possibility Of carrying out any structure
The sea breaks on the beach depa OF three and AhA
faihoms In calmeet weather.
The cHms,e OF the Axo valley regarded ss one Of
the this continent and offers most formidable
obstacle 10 any extensive operations The working
OF the entire Ia compred 10 t,e months OF December
January, February ana haech-the comparatively dry
inurdason and torrid heat epgender those endemica
fevers from which the natives exem ,t and
which are wretchcdly wasting 10 the constitution.
Such being the climate ct present, IL may easily be
imagined how disastrous 10 health will be the effect pro-
duced by breaking ground and exsavatng in region 50
fatal
In the foregoing copdenssd des ripon OF the country
exhibit the actual ply steal dincuues 10 be overcome
and which may be summed mp uuder the following
heads
l. cut through some i've miles Of submerged mud q,
the mouth OF tue river WITH she prospective certainty OF
constsnt dredging 70 keep u open.
The berouean labor and inoslculable expense of s
ting through the soons OF tho rruhndo and the embedded
legs Of the Paos Csidos whore the whole country Is mum
dated during at least nine months OK the aud where
the floods Of q day may destroy the work Of weeks.
The vOt expense attending the removal OF basAltic
rock country where labor and provisions must Ill be
imported n. most extravsgant rates.
4. The want Of an anchorage on the Pacific coast
s. me fatal climate, which Il may be safely estimated
viii disable, a. all times, one thrd Of any force sent
there.
You will NOD be surprised sir, that with the preceding
argument am Of opinion that The proposed canal im.
practicable, a. involving an expenditure OF treasure not
easily estimated, and sacrifice Of life from which the
stoutest heart may shrink. Human ingenuity and per-
severance may, true, overcome the obstacles emu
meraied but least two generations must pass away