The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-02
Tho Natural Advantages OF the Darisa NJ
Compared with the Suoz Canal.

Compared with the Suoz Canal.
The Isthmus OF Darien is only some ter
degrees north of the equator, while the 18th
mus of Suez is crossed by tho thirtieth degree
of north latitude yet the summer heats al
Suez are frightful to think of, while the hottest
days at Darien are comparatively pleasant.
Tho great rainless deserts on both sides
of the Isthmus Of Suez and the Red Sea
| are the cause of the intense heat and
whitening dryness which prevail most Of the
year over all that region up to the Msditerra-
mean; while the Isthmus of Darien, lying inter
locked between two broad oceans, has climate
comparatively cool and moist, from whatever
quarter the winds may blow. On the Atlantic
side flows northward the great Equatorial
current Of warm water which, on emerging
from the Gulf of Mexico, between Florida and
Cuba, is called the Gulf Stream. On the
Pacific side flows northward the great
Antarctic current Of cold water. Hence the
isthmus ocean winds, which are comparatively
cold, come from the Pacific, while those which
are warm and charged with their Astounding
rains come from the Atlantic.
The movements of our planet on Its axis
and in its grand yearly circuit round the sun,
the frozen poles Of the earth, the burning
equator, the condguration Of the continents,
and the positions Of the great islands and
island groups Of the oceans, the great noun
tain chains, inland seas, deserts and forests Of
the four continents, all contribute to give
direction to the currents Of the sea and the
air, and to the winds which bring rain and
life, and the winds charged with drought and
death. OF all these causes those favorably
affecting climates and productions operate in
favor of the highest development of the regions
around Darien; while the opposite causes
make the countries on both sides, between
Port Said and tho mouth Of the Red Sea, for
great distances, bowling and irreclaimable
wilderness, saving the narrow valley of the
Nile.
The equatorial basins Of the Pacific, the
Indian and Atlantic oceans, are the great
boilers of the sun, from which mainly
the rains Of the earth are drawn,
and from which various warm currents
or mighty rivers in the sea go moving
about the earth while from the Arctic and
Antarctic seas are discharged various cold
currents, affecting the climates Of different
parts of the globe. The great rivers Of South
America and the rivers Of Central America
and Mexico add to the volume of the equa-
torial current which passes north through the
Caribbean Sea and the Mexican gulf. Hence
the tremendous volume of the Gulf Stream
through the Straits of Florida-a volume 50
vast and warm that in sweeping across the
Atlantic it makes the genial climate Of the
British islands and softens even the arctic
rigors of Sweden and Norway. Hence from
this equatorial current, with its fruitful winds
and Astounding rains, the exceeding richness in
their vegetable products of the lands of South
Central America, Mexico and the West India
islands, How advantageous, then, in view ofour
manifest destiny" will be this Darien Canal,
to which the regular currents of the winds Of
heaven and of the seas will be tributary on
both sides Of our Continent. How immeasura-
Darien Canal compared with those offered to
Europe in the Suez Canal glance at map Of
the world will show.
In reference to tho construction of the canal
the engineering difficulties presented are not
greater than those surmounted in the Suez
Canal. At Suez not only had the canal to be
excavated through . rainless desert Of sand
and shifting sandhills, but . fresh water canal
was first required to supply the men and ami
mails employed in the work. At Darien the
heavy tropical rains and their washings will be
among the most serious difficulties to be over
come in digging the canal. Hills Of solid rock
are harder to cut through than hillocks Of sand,
but once through the rock the canal is done
and it ia enduring, while at Suez the work of
dredging will have to be constantly kept up. At
Susz every stick Of timber and piece of lumber
of the thousands Of shiploads required on the
work they had to bring by sea from great dis
tances At Darien the boundless forests ofthe
finest trees will be equal to any demand, as
they have been the greatest impeachment to
the explorations Of the isthmus. We say
nothing Of the veins Of silver and gold which
Intricate the backbone of our Continent all the
way through for we hold that the advantages
suggested ought to be sufficient for the imme-
date undertaking and speedy execution Of the
Darien Canal.
A WORD TO THE WIsE.--Tammany -
great power, but Tammany must be wise. It
will not be wise to ignore cliques and factions.
New York is not Tammany nor helplessly
Of hands may do Tammany more service than
an unreasoning exercise of its imperial power.