Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-07
TO THE ORIENT.
Cest OF the DarIen Ship Canal
Results OF its Completion.

American enterprise has at isst taken
the initjstoey steps s0r the construction
OF 8 ship canal across the Isthnus of
DsFieD. A nUmber Of leading capitalists
in our city have formed themselves into
a company for the construction OF the
work, and the books for subscriptions Of
cspigsI viii be opened in few days.
The estimated cost OF the work will be
SlG0, 600 coo, ana the proposed capital Of
the com Dauy is fixes at that sum.
The utility aid advantages TO Ameri-
can commerce Of ship canal 90 connect
-E= Atlantic snd Pacific oceans at the
Usrr1west point Of the American CONT
uent, is a subject that is familiar TO our
readers. This Journal has slresdy den-
Cusuated ths Importance OF the work,
OF the necessity FOR its construction if
tie people ef the Uuited States desire to
retain the commercial rank in the fam
lily o. nations. Resent events fully con
fra this view. In short time the SueZ
canal will be opened, and Eastern com
meTCe viii then drift into the new chan
nei. To European nations the sdyanta-
gss will be immedis5 aud obvious, snd
even 20 the United States there would be
8 considerable though 2 lesser saving OF
time and expenses Of transportation
Abta2 ASes-4Ef w bLiG k'l4AOsaA
siIioB OF their continent have the means
of securing E sbCr!er, better and more
direct route 70 the East, and one that
viii achieve for them even larger results
that Europeans can hope TO gain from
the grand work which so rapidly ap-
pTosehes completion, under the energy Of
NJ. de Lssseps, snd the French Govern
ment.
The route between Panama and AS
pinvaii bays, which was formerly the
fHvOrits one for the construction Of
canal, has been found to offer inferior ad-
vsntsges to those that c&n be obtained
at Darien. The neck Of land at the mar
rOwest point Of iadsntation is only thirty
four miles. On the Pacific side the coast
detection forms a Bstural bay that can
be improved At comparatively slight ex-
pense into q spacious hRrDoF. Then
again, the Dsrien line is eleven miles
shorter than the Panama route, and pre-
sents fever natural obstacles. Nature
hss almost anticipated the work Of man.
A small cutting has rendered the rivers
Atr&te and San Juan, which flow into
either oeeen, nsvigable for small boats.
These rivers present the advantages of
hsad waters, available during the entire
year for the canal. It has been estina-
ted thst canal on this route one hun
dred and fity feet wide at the bottom,
sloping 10 surface width OF two hum
dred and seventy feet, and thirtysone
feet deep, can be constructed at 8 cost
inside the proposed capital Of 500 600, 900
Of the new company. Estimates have
been formed much lower than this
amount, some OF theta falling ss low as
$50, 900 COO but they are not reliable.
The country certainly possesses vastly
superior advantages than occurred In the
construction Of the SusZ canal, but the
experience warns US against pl&cing orr
ginal estimates OF this kind too low.
The completion Of the Darien canal
by the New York merchants and capt. |
talists, who have initiated il would be |
worthy the future destiny OF the Empire !
City. In connection with our Pacific |
Railroad, it would divert the commerce
OF the E3st-whicb MAKES and unmskes |
nRtiOns-to our country, and in due |
time make New York the chief com mer- !
cial city Ia the world. 1t would relieve
our commerce from the condition Of vas
salage to the Old World, and be the |
means of extending the influence Of the !
United States over the entire continent |
south OF the RIO GraDde. That the work |
will be vastly profitable, there can be no |
doubt. The South American States. in
spite of their intestine ecmmOtions, are
making rapid strides In an industrial
point of view. They are developing
their natural resources with an energy
that promises the largest results. Even |
in Peru-slmost desOlsted by the recent
esrthQuske-a track is being laid for the |
" iron horse" from the coast 10 the CITY |
OF Ariquips, distance cf over one hum
dred miies-ant at az elevation Of 1850 |
feet above the level Of the ses. In the |
other Southern American Stat 3, rail- |
road enterprise is exercising an immense |
influence ia developing their resources.
As these Pacific States grow in wealth |
and Importance, the want Of shorter |
route to the Atlantic will be rendered /
more apparent, and it is probable that