The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-29
NTEROCEANIC COMMUNICATION,
AnExpeditionF Fitting Out to Sur
vey the Isthmus of Darien.
History Of Efforts and Projects to Connect
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Explorations from the Time Of
Columbus to the Present Day.
Interesting Details Regarding
Proposed Routes.
PURPOSE OF THE PRESENT UNDERTAKING
ghe United States to Construct and
Control the Canal.
Interesting Details Regarding
Proposed Routes.
She United States to Construct and
Control the Canal.


Control the Canal.
Qhe Treaty Between the United States and
she Colombian Govcrnment-President Grant
the Author Of the Project-His Desire TO Make
1t a Success-A Surveying Party to be Sent to
she Isthmus-Prospect Of the Ratification Of
the Treaty.
WASHINGTON, Nov. %, 1862
The construction Of ship canal across the 18TH
mus Of Darien Of the great results which Pres
ident Grant hopes to accomplish during his admin
istration. 1t B not, perhaps generally known that
Grant s entitled to the credit OF having suggested to
our government the propriety Of negotiating the
Darien Ship Canal treaty with the United States Of
Colombia 1t appears that he has given much atten-
ton to the subject and is thoroughly acquainted
with It IN all It's aspects During the admin
istraton Of Andrew Johnson he called the attention
OF Mr. Seward to the importance Of getting con-
troll Of the isthmus. with the view Of constructing
ship canal from the Atlantic 70 the Pacifc Mr..
Seward himself was alive to the importance Of the
matter but was at a loss to know how to get about
It. General Grant suggested that some approach
should be made to the Colombian government so as
to get treaty out Of It, granting the right OF way
across the isthmus. Mr.. Seward adopted the sug-
gestion and communicated with General Salgar, then
Colombian Minister to this country, the subject.
He In turn communicated with his government and
the result was that the draft Of treaty was pre-.
pared by General Santos Acosta, then President Of
the United States Of Colombia, and now Minister 70
the United states. This draft was sent to Mr..
Seward, who made some amendments to It, after
which it was ret urned to the Colombian govern
ment From this the treaty sent TO the Senate last
February was drawn up and negotiated by General
L the
United States. All through these various stages 1t
appears that General Grant took deep interest In
the project and lost no occasion to urge 1t forward.
The fact that the Senate Of Colombia refused to
Iatfy the treaty, and that it has not been acted on
by the united States Senate, is not regarded as EVIL
dence OF It's failure. The President still hopes that
1t viii be ratified by both governments within the
time prescribed by the treaty isef-viz., September
1870 1t s understood that the hitch In the Colombian
Senate arose from desire on tho part OF the Colon
bian government to get few hundred Thousand dol
lars from our government for what the COOmbianH
conceive to be OF immense value to US. Strangely
enough they do not seem to understand that the
canal when constructed will also be beneficial to
them. But those who are familiar with the whole
subject Of opinion that n necessary it would be
better for our government to pay the Columbians
something than to allow the proposed work to be
done by the English or French and to come under
the control Of those nations after it shall have been
finished. The Colombian Senate meets again In
January. and should 1t manifest disposition to per-
sis in its refusal to ratfy the treaty IL Is probable
President Grant will make q recommendation to
Congress suggesting that the difficulty in the way
be removed by making an appropriation which will
satisfy the impecunious Col0mbans There was no
opposition to the treaty worth speaking Of developed
in our senate last winter. IL would probably have
been ratified but for the fact that our government
was anxious that the Colombian Senate should act
FIRST 1t may be that the treaty will have to become
the subject Of further negotiations between the two
governments but there is good reason to believe
that it will finally be agreed upon and Publications
exchanged, even II our Cover nment should be COM
PEELED TO make what may appear to some large con-
SESSIONS to the Colombians. In the meantime the
Colombian government has given our government
permission TO send force TO The lshmus to examine
and locate survey for the most practicable route
for canal that will connect the waters Of the Pa.
ctfic with those Of the Atlantic. President Grant,
whose interest In the project has only increased
with his elevation to the Presidency, is deter
mined to use all the means OF his command
to further misunderstanding. He has accordingly
directed the Secretary of the Navy to detail sulf-
Gent force make the necessary surveys and select
the best route For this work the Secretary of the
NAVY HAS ucttlicu tIlc NlpSlC,
and the Guard, now being fitted out at New YORK.
These vessels will take out several officers belonging
10 the Coast Survey to assist in the work. The
whole matter will be placed under the superintend-
ence of Rear Admiral Davis. Admiral Davis is
especially adapted to the work, being familiar with
the lsthmus aud with the several routes heretofore
proposed for . ship canal. 1t will be remembered
that in March, 1885, the senate passed the following
resolution
Resolved, That the Secretary Of the Navy furnish,
through report OF the superintendent Of the Naval
observatory, the summit level and distance by sur
vey Of the various proposed lines for inter0ceanic
canals and railroads between the waters OF the
merits as practicable lines for the construction OF
ship canal, and especially as relates to Honduras,
Tenuantepec, Nicaragua Panama and Atrato lines,
ent the lsthmus OF Darcn has been satisfactorily
explored; and II So furnish in detail charts plans,
lines Of levels and all Information connected there
with and upon what authority they are based.
In reply TO this resolution, on the 18th OF July
1866, Admiral Davis submitted report, through the
Secretary OF the Navy, which exhausted the whole
subject and contained oil the information then
known relative 10 q ship canal across the isthmus
The facts and conclusions set forth In this report
will be OF great service TO the surveying party which
VIII soon leave for the isthmus. In concluding his
report Admiral Davis SAYS
It Is to the Isthmns OF Daren that We are first to
hook for the solution OF the great problem OF an
interoceanic canal. We know enough OF the inte-
rior topography TO adopt the view Of DR.. Cullen,
that II we leave the Indian tran, which always
passes over the highest ground, and explore the
country beyond the ordinary line OF travel we shall
probably find o valley transversely dividing the
COrdllleras, or at least lower ridge than any
yet surveyed. Our most trustworthy engineers In
these regions, Trautwlne, Michler, Provost, McD0u
gan ana others, tell that II Is impossible from the
very limited inspection OF the country taken on the
!n0an line Of travel, TO form any conception OF
vicinity.
IL ~ unnecessary to say that the surveying party
going out on the Nipsc and Guard vii, make
thorough exploration OF ali this region OF country