New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-16


an expedition under Lieut. Micher u. ). Engineers,
and Lieut. Craven. u. $. Navy; for the purpose of
confirmed Lieut.. Michler's survey indicates a canal
about 10 miles long, with one tunnel two and half
miles long and another something over 800 feet long.
The peculiar relative positions OF the Rio Atrato and
the Pacific coast leads to the impression that canal
at ocean level without lift locks can be built across
TINS isthmus by an expensive tunnel The necessities
and circumstances Of a canal tunnel across the
isthmus are certainly more imperative than those
controlling the Mount Gems or Hoosac tunnels.
NICARAGUA.
The route by Lake Nicaragua and its tributaries,
has always been considered with special favor, and
1t would seem that the existence of so large body
of water lsay 60 miles square where the sthmus is
probably $50 miles across would be very favorable
condition for the construction of ship canal Seven
routes have been proposed by this lake and by Lake
Managua Two only, of them have been surveyed.
Col. Childs surveyed line, beginning at the Har-
Dor of BrtO tine Pacific. crossing to the lakes in
Is miles by IA locks rising about ITO feet to the sur
face of the lake, thence rayersiDg the lake So miles
from Rio Lajas to Port San Carlos, follows the
Rio San Juan to the Atlantic Ocean; Slack
water navigation is proposed on the San
dependent canal, near its mouth, TO the harbor of
San Juan. The whole length Of this line is nearly
100 miles Expensive dams Oh the river. and costly
harbOr improvements at the ocean ternlini, and at
the entrance 10 and exit from the lake. render the
practcability of this route very dubious.
AT the present time enterprise Is on foot to con-
stTuct railway line part of this line; and n
line of steamships connects with this line route
between New York and San Francisco. in opposition
taken to be the solution of the scheme as probably
the best that be determined across this part OF
the isthmus
A survey for railroad across this i5thmus under
the patronage of an ENGLISH company and reported
by T. G.. Squier about all the information that has
been obtained concerning this isihmus.
Trautwne made this survey. The distance across
is go miles. and the summit elevation nearly 5000
feet. with gradually rising slopes
The route is NOT at all practicable for canal.
TEHUANTEPFC.
The remarkable confguratiOn Of this isthmus has
already been referred TO- ITS depression, ana the
valley of the CoatZaCOalC0s. This isthmus IL $50
miles wide. and has "a summit elevation OF 40 feet;
and has a drainage basin - miles wide between
mts. From the Atlantic side the river valley Is
followed for 80 miles the mountain section IS 40
miles long and the remaining 30 miles IS IN the PLAIN
OF the Pacific slope. This route Is not considered
practicable for a canal.
CHIRIQUL
In addition to the isthmuscs already named, there
is vet another which presents Typographical features,
seemingly favorable for nteroceanlc cannl-the
lstlnus of ChlIiqui. This route lies west OF ran
anna. three degrees of longitude. IL was examined
L. s. ". and Lcut. ST. Clair Morton, L. :. Engineers.
The terminal harbors are described q, being ad,
mrably suited to the purposes OF canal. beng wei
protected, large and deep. There Is the harb0r OF
Chiriqui on the Atlantic side and Colo Dnlce on the
Pacific side. with fresh water streams running into
each. Lieut. Morton twice crossed the isthmus ut
this point and found extensive swamps and
hitherto unknown pass over the Cordllleras.
There is no record of his survey: lie Was satisfied
great commercial intorOcoanic line.
The gcOlogst Of the expedition, Mr.. Evans, de
scribes this isthmus as containing abundance OF coal
of good quality. gold. iron copper, and other mine
rails The soil is described being OF fine properties.
and the timber abundant. The number of projects
for crossing the isthmns thus far proposed NAV be
stated ms nineteen canals and seven roads; one of
which, the Panama Railroad, has long since been
completed and il decided success. Eight of the
canal enterprises were planned by the Rio Santuan
and Lake Nicaragua route, four Of them by the
Panama route and five across the lsthmns oil DaTien.
The importance Of interOceanic communication
across the istEmus has engaged the attention of the
greatest statesmen and philosophers Of both CONT
ueuts and "A necessity for both canals ami railroads
il yearly growing moro apparent and even now
land transit il operated over the Nicaragua route 10
satisfy the demands Of commerce But only a canal
will meet the necessities of the worlds commerce.
and sooner later the canal viii he built. The UNI
dertakiug will be Of great magnitude anu VIII re-
fleet honor on those who may successfully accom-
pllsh the work. Mr.. Kelly estimates the saving IN
distance by an isthmus canal as follows from New
York TO Calcutta 4.iOO miles; 10 Canton, $500 miles
10 Shanghai 9,Gn miles; To Melbourne, Australia,
334O miles Mr.. Kelly further gives table of the
trade Of tho United States that would pass through
an isthmus canal annually AT the value Of slOOOOOOOO,
with tunnaPc Of nearly two millions, valued at
500 eco 600 In similar tables he estimates the value
of trade and ships iper value for England, France,
and other counties, and finally gives the sum of
trnde with all countries rs s46S0OOO TO be nhectcd
by the email if bnilt. He further estimates the
sayng in money 20 the trade Of the United states at
SO 900 900; to the trade of England S3rDWC 10 the
trade of France. S2lSUJ; aud the annual SAVING to
the trade oil tho Npflu St"fhNbh
The trade of the world Is said 10 have increased
over 100 per cent in 10 years, and should Ike IN
crease take place in the future there Will accrue
caring Of SEQ OWOtOu tie second ten years If the
canal were done.
Congress passed resolution asking Tor report 10y
the Superintendent Of the Naval Observatory. Rear
Admiral &. H. Davis, upon the proposed lines Tor IA.
teroccanic railroads and canals across the Central
American lshnus; with the especial object OF md
ing out if tho sthmus had been sufficiently explored
Tho Admiral made clear but brlel report WIN
man. plans and protles. Tx. Doc, U1, AAAlAth
Congress First Session. Admiral Davis says that the
IsthInus Of Darien has not been satisfactorily cN-
pored and states further that the interior of the
isthmus east Of the Panama Railroad, Is almost an
unknown region, md the same may DO SAID OF the
Isthmns between Chagrcs and Chiriqui. There does
not exist in the libraries of the world the means OF
determining even approximately. the most practical
bic ronte for a ship canal across tho lsthmus."
The harbors of the lstbmus are of the best condi-
tons and unsurpassed in excellence. with nayigabe
rivers eInptyng into them. The lsthmuses OF Daron
and Panama have controlling government: they
have great agricultural resources, and mineral
wealth in their WOnDtIins Large streams dram
their slopes, and n luXuTlant tropical vegetation
covers the land. In some parts the woods are open
and easily traverscd; IN others the denSes growth
covers the ground 50 that no progress can Do maze
but by emitting a clear way through the matted nm
dergTOwth: and these conditions have generally
controlled the labOrs OF the explorers, who OIL no,
cesSty kept near the Travelled routes nor could
they venture such uncertain lines AS might bring
them to such disastrous result was that Oi poor
Strain. .
The condition of All interoceanic ship canal shonld
be ~ near an approach To q strait connecting the
oceans rs possibIa under existing conditions and
tho treasures of the world should DO taxed TO tho
last limit TO a deep wide, and level canal by
which the commerce of the world might pass from
ocean TO ocean without obstruction or delay,