The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-03-04
The Darien Canal.
Z HG DdEIbI = tsuuI.
From the New York Tribune. Feb. 10.

The Darien Canal.
From the New York Tribune, Feb. lG.
If the treaty which Mr.. Caleb Cushing
has just negotiated with the United States
Of Colombia for the construction OF ship
canal across the Isthmu5 Of Panama IS such
as we have a right to expect, Mr. Seward
has achieved success far eclisping the
glory of his icebergs and earthquakes. Tue
project of canal across the little neck OF
laud that separates the A;lautlc and Pacific
oceans is nearly three and halt centuries
old. The early Spanish adyeuturers were
quick to perceive the immeuse advantages
which must follow the cutting away OF this
barrier how it would give them easy ac-
cess to the wealth of India and control of
both the rich coasts Of the two Amer can
continents. Barely forty miles of the laud
intervening between the two seas-aud yet
for those forty miles the treasure-laden
galleons had to coast along both sides Of
great continent and risk the periS oil the
stormy cape. Ia the sixteenth century,
Philip II. of spain sent two Flemish eugl-
neers to explore the isthnlus for proper
route; but they encountered insuperabe
difficulties political reasons also came up
which rendered the scheme undesirable
and the canal project was put under ban,
and death decreed against any one WHO
should revive it. II the present century
the plans Of the Spauis! pioneers have been
canvassed over and over again with redou5
led earnestness. The Government of New
Granada has once or twice taken up the
work France and Great Britain have en-
tered into it with zeal and our own count
ry has devoted to it extraordinary pains.
The surveys of the tangled and dangerous
forests by our American engineers, several
of whom lost their lives in the enterprise,
from one of the most thrilling chapters in
the history of modern adventure. The
task of selecting a route is no easy one, nor
will the labor OF building the canal be by
any means so simple as Il may seem. lne
interior of the country is 50 absolutely un
known that the surveyor must examine
yearly every foot Of ground in person there
are few records of previous scientific eX-
ploraticn to guide him. Aud though the
strip of land between the Two oceans is So
narrow, it embraces natural obstacles which
IL w ia lGI INV SoCLitao VI o'PSt i1A S-A7l
neers to oyercome-o obstacles SO great that
it has repeatedly been sought to avoid them
by the choice of long and tortuous routes
through the penlnsular Of Central America.
The great trouble is this, that right through
the isthmus runs the mountain Chain, which
connects the great range OF the North
ern AID Southern Paclti: coasts. To cross
this range with a ship-canai involves q
tremendous system Of locks, cuttings, and
enormous tunnels, high enough and wide
for the passage Of large ocean vessels; aud
locks require feeders which at high levels
it is dillicult to find. These obstacles, how
ever, are only such as money and perse ver-
ance can overcome. The work Will pay III
the long run; but can the capital be raised
to defray the first cost! The Suez canal is
mere chlid's play in com mparison with G ca
nal through Panama or Darien.
A canal, however, the Interests Of the
world require, and we cannot doubt that
the building of one is close at hand. Com
merce between the United States and the
Eastern coasts of ASIA, aud the islands OF
the great South Sea, is rapidly developing.
The traffic between Asia and Europe, also,
hrs been gradually making a highway Of
the American continent, even though the
transit involves double transfer OF cargo
from ship to railway, aud from railway
back again to ship. 1t is estimated that
the saving III money to the trade Of the
world by the opening Of this canal will be
annually nearly 100000 900, and the saw
ing to the United States no less than S36,-
900. The saving in distance in the voy-
age from New York to Calcutta will be 4 =.
900 miles from New York to Melbourne,
3,340, from Shanghai, 5000.
There are questions concerning the neu-
trality of the canal in the time Of the war
which have been difficult to settle, and we
shall await the publication of the text of
Mr.. Cushing's treaty with some anxiety to
see how they have been disposed Of. All
civilized nations however, seem yearly
more and more anxious to lesson the hor-
rors of war, and render its burdens as light
as possible to non-combatants and we doubt
not that an agreement can be made with
which the contracting parties and the world
at large will be entirely satisfied.
The Maine men at Washn gton are confident
that Fessenden will 60 into the cabinet. Grant
says he will have no naval or military man
there.