The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-29

this route the best the safest and the cheapest for
the transit OF vessels. Thus 1t ia most likely that
the dream OF Columbus viii be realized. and that
the great highway to the Indies will be by way OF
the continent he discovered. Thus too, the problem
Of centuries will be solved.
VISION PASSING INTO REALITY.
During the last voyage OF Columbus, in 1902, the
lsthmus Of Daren was discovered, but the great
navigator went back to Spain and died without
ing the Pacific On the 25th of September, 1913,
yasco Nunez Balboa discovered this ocean, the
placid, gentle waters OF which, no less than the
grand scenery OF the mountain coast, touched with
sentiment OF admiring awe the bosoms Of even the
rude Adventures who accompanied him. For q
moment all thoughts Of the gold they sought van
shed from their minds as wrapt in contemplation
they silently gaZed upon the scene. II must have
been sublime moment, one never to be effaced
from memory.
But to Spain romance was OF secondary value
The fact OF the land forming an isthmus led to the
conclusion that there must be some connection
between the oceans, which, once discovered
changed the visions OF Columbus into reality.
Accordingly, in 1915, Juan Dias de Soils
was ordered to search for, find and pass
through the straits supposed to exist His efforts
ruitless in FACT 1t is doubtful II they were very
energetic. Four years passed away, during which
the Spanish government kept up constant cores
pondence with Its officials in America on the sub
ject OF this passage The first scientific examina-
tlons were made early in the century by Antonio
Cramer and Miguel del Corral VINO found many rivers
and lofty mountains covered by dense forests in
habited by Indians; but nowhere could they find the
desired passage. In 1919 Cortez conquered Mexico
Soon after he began making inquiries regarding the
isthmus, and believing that the secret of its exist
ence was known to Montezuma, questioned MIN re-
gardlng 1t. The Aztec Emperor denied all knowledge
OF It, but t Is variously stated and denied admitted
that the traditions Of his people referred vaguely to
o connection between the oceans. He however, fur
pished Cortez with charts OF the coast, embracing
the Hoasacoalco river, which empties into the At
lantic, on the isthmus OF Tehuantepec. This locality
was afterwards named by Humboldt for canal,
which he thought could be made "Detween the
sources OF the Rio Chinaapa, which falls into the
Pacific, and the Rio del Passo, which falls into the
Goasacoalco (Hoasacoalco evidently, which emptes
into the Atlantic.n
Even at this early date the Spanards became OF
the opinion that there was natural passage; for
when Cortez forwarded to Charles V. the charts re
ferred to he reported that the isthmus narrow,
and expressed the opinion that q canal could be
built from ocean TO ocean by the same route that
Humboldt wrote Of as given above. About the
Tehuantepec which were subsequently destroyed.
For over a quarter OF O century the subject int.
rested the Spanish Court, and numerous propositions
were made, most OF which were chmerica while
few possessed elements Of practicabity. In 1851
Lopez dc Gomaro author OF history OF the dies,
proposed constructing ship canals across the 18TH
mus OF Tehuantepec and at Nicaragua and at Chagres
Five years after Charles " abdcated the throne and
was succeeded oy his son, Philip H. This monarch
was too busily employed by his fruitless wars
with other nations Of Europe 10 pay attention
to such matters He did indeed commission and
send out two Flemish engineers to make survey Of
the isthmus and locate q route for canal. They
reported having encountered so many and insur-
mountabe obstacles that In their opinion. the pro-
ject was mpracticable. Influenced by their report,
the Council Of India represented to the King the dan
gers which would bcset the monarchy If explora-
lions were permitted on the isthmus. Philip
accordingly iesued decree forbidding all surveys
and explorations IN the future. Antonio dc Alcedo.
who wrote Q historical work on the West Indies
which was published Ia Madrid in 1855 and subse.
ouentv suppressed By tho spanish government on