The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-26
shs acknowledgements Route.

The Atrsto- Interoceanic Route.
TIE REPORT OF LIEUT.. CaAvBs-Is THB RoUrI
PRACTICABLE or FBAsIBLg?
The secretary " the Navy has transmitted 70 the Sc
nate letter from Lieut. A Craven, dated May IL, IN
reference 70 she prsctcaosy OF inerooeanc DOM mu
noanop rom ,he Gulf OF Daren To the Poetic ocean D.
The Auato and fruanoo rivers
The letter OF Lieut. Craven concisey embodes the re
sus his late survey OF those ana contains the
Following conclusions reereoc TO the physical ancoi
ties 70 be overc me II opening oommuDicaoo-
l. cut THROUGH rome i've miles OF suomerseo mad ..
the mouth OF sbe river with tue prospective certAnV OF
constant Dredging " keep IL open.
q The herosesD ncalculsoie expense Of cut
tag through lagooas OF the ua0do and the embed
ded logs OF the PAos Caaos where the whole country
az months VI the year and where
hood OF day may aes.,o, me ~o pix Of wesk,
rock ry where labor aud provisions must all os
imported at most ex'ravAsNnt rates
4 The OF anchorage on the Pacific coast.
The fatal effects OF The climate, which, nay be safe
ly estimated, viii ~ all times disable third OF any
force may be sent there.
You oil I0t urprssd, sir, that with the preceding
arguments of ocinon that tho proposed canal is ion
prscucaoe Involving expenditure OF treasure not
easily estimated lice OF life from which the
stouiest heart mhy shrink Human ingenuity per.e
yeianse may, 1t Is true overcome the oostac enum-r
ate0 but 1t eas $40 generations pass away
world realize the completion or much less exen
sve work than that contemplated.
LETrsR FROM NH KKNNlsH.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT ESQ -
SIR Pefceivng that Lieutenant Craven's reasons for
concerning this lpesocearic Canal route published
eeret being compelled 70 adver, 70 the subject prems
turey for. Until the field notes OF Lieutenant Mcher
shs have been embodied in the shape OF topogrspbi
cal report 10 engineer In the world form express
Lieutenant Craven's "ressops' do not aid ono item to
the contained report OF the rst pora
euremen OF nine ana The few details which be sives con
rm enthusiastically my printed Statements as 70 distances
and ply obstacles He that the Undertaking
not be imprac icaoe i'm possbie prophetcsly dc
cares that two generations must clause ii Can be
done. Almost the same language used respecting the
Illinois Central Railroad ana the Erie Caah by the higa
authority. Yet these works have constructor
In fact, al that Lieut. Craven urges against this route
presented by me- and discussed by emiueu, en-
einees both mere and ia Europe ,Iudlpc SIR RAINY
Stevenson and Brunei; and the of these
Jectous that Leus Craven and Mlcnler appointed
by the United states government to re anime my
route and to verify report 90 nut claim iurallibiy,
or perfect accuracy o; detail; but the used by
TO attain accuracy were carefully employed and the
suits oopscentousy y,stered Ny report open the
inspection OF the world anu shrink from comparison
between and the report o. Lieutenant Mcher provided
IL be worthy OF that gentems professional attain
give IeutsDant Mich and his assistants Credit for
every effort 10 discharge their duties faithfully, and
share the regret expressed by MIN IN his preliminary
port, publ H. the NEw YORK HERALD or the 18th ult
that cir umstancss prevented examination Of
very interesting and impdtan. features on the Pacific
1t necessary for me to state what these circumstances
were The expedition was for macy cas- almost destitute
OF provisions there was no money 10 purchase supplies
from the few Indians CT the in'crior. the
precau'ioe taken by me Of employ log t~o men
70 procure game for my party not adopted This
oocssiop, might have puotered fate almost
bad that Of Lieutenant Strain, hh1 we not
81
OF the pocr lDdians. IL was under these most
dsadvap ageous circumstances that Lieutenant Mchler
surveyed the mos, interesting and the most di ,ult
portion OF the route from the foe. OF tae Truaudo
rapids TO the Pacific Shore and perhaps II was ox-
ing 10 these circumstances that Lieutenant Craven
could only devote two dzys and half 10 the
nation Of the proposed Pacific terminus neigh
boring waters These ali Rncoorsges, by resson of
the stormiess nature OF that climate that opinion as
expressed in report confirmed by the experience
OF Captain fzfoy, Belcber and other nAvigavors who
bave survey ed this coast The Iaad peninsuar whi,d
KelIe The Eaee .da Itau
Craven calls H. los sandy peninsula (du'ng high tides
an sanc, and although exposed in lis whole Of
any Appearance OF having beer overowsd in gale
For the same reason presume no examination made
OF Corridor the Para Cuchch river the mouths OF the
Jursior all OF which are referred 10 lieutenant Mch
lers preliminary Statement and in my report
In this part OF choco the ,oas' range is 80 much de
pressed that the tributary Of both almost
ipterlook and there are numerous vaeys-sone OF
them probably more available for q cansl than those
traced by this survey-ou. they could not be explored
for the cravings Of hunger ovsrcsms all scientific ZEAL
and the work done in the quickest manner possible
The expe elton with famine lowering ike vulture over
is track could ony just look at the CAIN and stor ess
PAcac and then retreat with all speed 70 It's base or ops
rsuous on The iru.ndo ! mus, nos address myself
directly 70 Lieutenant Craven d ressonsi-
l. The Auato ia distracted by mud bars shadows
.. and rear It's entrance TO the Gulf OF Dsrieo for
tent OF Eve miles "rnis obstacle Ia described 10 my
port has been amply discussed and estimated for on
the principle Of dredging process without which the
mouths of the Mississippi ~oud become impossible r1e
physical 10 both rivers the remedy Is
the same TIE cost rs question for settling which there
are ample GAIA known 10 engineers and provided for 10
2 ms rruarao is iortuous aud passes through Ia
gooss IN par. Of lie Is Interrupted BY heaps
81 drih Woo, forming sanos, named Palos Caidos, or
PslssSdas" Spanish words meaning fallen trees). "h
subject to iresaes what tropical is not El
Fpeerng skin Is equal 70 the removal shaking out"
of such obstacles Eoc the work Of clearing channel s
facilitated BY frequent freshe:s This also provided Tor
in the estimate, as also the deepening Of the Truando
by steam dreofes.
g. The oasalvc rocks through which no~ the rapids
Of the nuande csnDo be cut or perforated whou, much
hrttN 49, -
hsnsed turned here, doubtless, Is dhsul;y,
aud there cuttrgs 70 be uste-frorn the truando all
through The valley Of the Nerqua-and thence through
dividing rcge Of elevation 70 asonewhat yorta
Gus valley soping without interruption 10 the Pacific
number Of cubic yarcs OF dirt H. be displaced II Is
all matter n ejaculation and FOR the necessary data
looE W Lieutenant nicblers nold notes All hs has been
already cacrated-wnether correctly or rot remains 20
be seeDsrd has also been provided Tor 10 the esnI
q " The construction Of suoh work the climate OF
Cbooo would be attended with amour, OF mortality
from the bodies; heart mgnt snrnk Al least QUE
third OF he abcrers would Gle &c -Tns a very seri-
Gus copsderspon but the construction Of the panama
railroad hror 90 asmar, rstbers much climate
does bot .nfabt the expectation OF nearly large
amount Of mortality The delta Of the Atrslo the rru
work has chiefly 10 be zone by steam dredges-not
BY human hands. From the saitos Of the rrua,do |
Al any rate little or no sickness was experienced |
IN my expedition or IN that n Lieut. Craven aud the
tves q the dstrc. near the Pacific are robust, healthy
and vigorous IN the highest degree In public works Of
great magnitude hitherto the health and comfort OF the
iabores bad been ltle cousidered but 10 the estimates
81 this one ample provision has been made for medical
stat and hospitals TsrtN Cbinese-s healthy ami mus
culsr accessible within distance or the
work roer and good treatment they are docilo
an Wiling they always ready t. cmg-a;e under
TIE iDcuceueui Of such vag you'd be pad N them
Moreover several thousand Of able bodied sborers
could be steo by New Grsne1a and the reghborng
repubncs all Injured 70 tropical cimato-sn able sad /
willing IN work u well raid and humcnely treated
rave noS, sir, fulfilled my promise Of Submitting I'M
portsni facts 70 the public In vtndcation my report IN
tbe ennee, hope that my 1duous laoors VIII noi have
been thrown away ] have desire 70 rush unneces-
early nto print least Of all 70 contend shsdo ror
OPINIONS unsupported by fscts and figures other
nane. ! viii conclude With one more fact Lieut. Ora /
veus report Of heights and distances represent enz
neering difficulties OF This 10 be considerably e~s
than they appear In my printed report This might
b. apparent 70 casual observer but at discovered
BY an engineer. W. KENNIsa,
Civil engineer, explorer Of the Avaio route.
IauI