New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-31
THE ATRATO INTEROCEANIC CANAL.

To he Editor If The " y. Tribune
SIR: In your paper Of Saturday lsst IN the Washing
ton teegsphc correspondence Of the Associate Press
find that Lieut.. Craven has reported against the
feasibility of constructing Interoceanic Canal via the
Atrato and Truando roue-at least he states i cannot
be built during two generations yet to come, and even
then at cost rot easily estimated notwithstanding he
found the roHte apparently quite the same as repre-
sented by Mr.. Kennishs survey, to prove the cor
rectness OF which Congress passed the act authorizing
the examination OF this route lately made by Leu;s
Craven and Micher. Now, as this subject !s one OF
prest importsr 70 TO the commercial interests OK MAJ
kind, and has attracted serious attention both IN
Europe and the United States during the last hi,y
years, it may be interesting TO the public to have
brief history of this route and know that numerous
opinions have been given by civil engineers decidedly
in favor of its feasibility before placing tu confidence
in the apparent extrsvagsnt ones offered ~ tieul.
Cravep as it is hardly possible TO suppose tnet ore
man alone lwbo condemned the route before ne
saw i'll is capable OF solving 80 great problem as
the prs cabity Of constructing ship csnai wthol-
locks between the Atlantic and Pacitc Oeesns pat
culaIly one who however e1ceent lava! ShiCet Le
may be, perhaps never constructed srgie ME OF
canal or railroad in his life ard therefore hss Sd out
little or no experience il constructing worKs o. ths
character.
The advantages which the Atrsto River appears TO
offer at various points for untng the Two oJesos y
MEALS Of ship canal were made known 70 the "ol.u
moie than forty years ego by Baron Won humoo-l,i
but 10 real attempt was made to survey thls uas.,
cent river for the above purpose unL lSIi "IeL "a"
J. G. Trau.wlne Civil Engineer entered ~. ru.. ..
Delien and sscended the Atrs.o RIVER 20 ~ s2usCe
amo pg the mountains, some az miles from Us ocD
The object OF this survey was TO determine the go
sibiy Of uniting the heac vsers OF TIE "A. 20 W.
those of the San Juan or Besndo River, ho".oe
the Pacific IN al opposite Director, py iAeSus u
al oh re 90
Others tina, were known 20 exist II tnst vcnty bc'
this was found imp actcsble. Tor wehs o. ratei
cient 10 feed cana OF no more max s1 zee eeY-,
ard 10 obtain even thai, large numoeI q !echs
woud he reou;red 70 u.ss over summit 80 ngA
above the level OF the see. During lie sleceeuIns
four year, 10 less than four more eng hee1.Lh 20
were fitted out with proper nstruHen's 60 81 u
the AtrstO Rivey with INSTRUCTIONS 10 800 "a
Trsutwires survey as fs- ss Ciioco' = ~ 70 -
visable, and examine other gsps or ss7s7 = .ne III
dilei Is further Forth j. being understood out
tcsble could be found % that cHect-on' - -
only have the sdvsDtsge OF thorclpe NJ ~
route 70 Il Pacific, bu. g sutfic.en, oeFtH anu -
OF water IL The Atrstc 70 float VIII eeee &c "a
ocean steamers or Ealing vesses re -. ols' -
de- cofpmsut % Mr.. Will sL ksrrso, n ~ w
es, crossed over the lsthmJs 70 rsn1-;-' go
thence, ssirg dow the cosst 10 Il III 80.
6. keys lre. the Pa2fs terminus o. ;-s EIvs- -
AtTs,o irte -0cesnic canal, walcL Lieut. SiarsI -
:. lie report by .ro;EeT name. nee ele ter 80
ms,n. Two weeks, snd examined -Is Cl-st ~
tut Jitr sdOr ard sJ1-- - II
wb;cs : ~ God nGrbo- snd doubtless " De 60
s,ec $. the Pacite TENN . ne ana. L P-ss'
ence to tie Iri-- vsch would rsG-;re deep nirf
60. - $50 - s.ggrc re s--ysy p; -
css..' Insd. l., NJ. Ke-pist $ nj. ne. oc!ta e
re ,oo1.Ts Of r.y.rs suG Hurb0.ft Bsy, has oset
@ m;L..i il Lordon WI ihess Z sec y 70: . -
aI---s, r. :, - : 1ue ~ &c c1-,-ct, aa- -4s,
ger..tusr. a. Sir Ejesr1 S-.casr' bI-h ;7ao 50.
tay-gsI p a = re P.-.tc o-g IS cos,'
'.s.tro.-, ,o-r,l... a 20 d,h,' Ha' .-- bsY g.
f.'isc good snd ssie $40 Sc. ie' -, =.
,o1 '.s ri tey "a ga u 90 ( EVER
stsI E.n .o.d, By. atc-I efa; NE 9''.'. Pc