Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-04-07
CONNECTING OUR TWO OCEANS.

great activity aud vigor. We have al.
ready referred to the incorporation Of n
new American company by the Govern
ment Of Costa Rica, to construct n rail
way from Limon Bay, on the Atlantic,
to the Gulf of Nicoya, on the Pacific,
via San Jose. This road, it il under
stood, il to receive aid in bonds from
Costa Rica, the bonds being n loan, and
that Government guaranteeing the in
tersst. By the terms of the contract,
the company is bound to complete 30
miles Of tho road, from the initial point
on the waters Of the Atlantic, within Is
months, from January 9, 1869. Still
another railroad is said to be in II for
ward state, win Honduras, under the
auspices Of IN English company, but the
Panama papers express doubts Of tho
intention Of the company to complete
the road.
Then come the canal enterprises across
the Same neck Of land. These arc of II
much more formidable character to
those who undertook them. The coun-
try is an exceedingly difficult one for
such work, though the ~desirability and
Importance of a ship canal between the
waters of the Atlantic aud Pacific can
hardly be over estimated and, indeed,
it is believed to be Indispensable TO
American interests ut no distant day.
| Such a work has been in contemplation
over since the Isthmus Of Daricn wns
frat known, but that which would have
answered for a ship canal in the days Of
the old Spanish and Portuguese naviga-
tors, who first explored the waters in
the vicinity of the Isthmus, would not
suffice for the great oriental clipper
ships and the heavy steamships EN-
ployed by the of the present
day. As early as 1928, the idea Of Il
canal, suited to the vessels of that time,
was broaehed, and II route across the
Isthmus of Dnrieu WAS explored by two
Flemish engineers, under the patronage
Of Philip II. of Spain, but the diff
%culties developed by their report
were thought to be insurmount.
able, and doubtless they were by
the engineering abilities and the
somewhat scant resources Of that
time rs compared with our day.
The subject became n forbidden one,
but Notwithstanding the fact that it
was for \ time under royal prohibition,
it cropped out again from time to time,
and several new schemes were preached.
Explorations from 1926 to 1929 resulted
in the announcement of tho prac-
ticability of II canal, il sufficient cap
itnl could be secured for the work.
Subsequently, there were explorations
by American, English and French
engineers. In ls49, M English COM
pany was formed, with II capital Of
SIS ,oO0, 900. Mr.. Trautwine, Of Phil
a~delphia, was engaged in one Of the
surveys. Lieutenant Strain, Of the
American service, made mn exploration
with n party that suffered terrible pri
walton and hardship, being deceived
and abandoned by their Indian guides,
and quite q number Of the party died
Of starvation. The result of NIL these
explorations was the demonstration of
tho prncticability of n ship canal equal
present day, GU II short line of probably
forty miles from the tide water of one
ocean to that Of the other, and at II
cost of construction Of from eighty to
one hundred millions Of dollars. This
enterprise, so long contemplated, and
so frequently set aside ns among the
things not to be, is n0w placed among
the probabilities to he accomplished by
the present generation. General Cush-
ing's treaty, recently negotiated with
the United States of Colombia, secures
the control Of the enterprise in its
present form to the American Govern
ment, and it 10 understood that if the
treaty shall be ratified by the Senate,
that the requisite capital of SlOO, 900 900
will be advanced by Il private company
that claims to be ready to undertake
the work. This is the right way to do
it. The Government should keep aloof
from all enterprises that fall within the
legitimate province of private capital
and private effort. In these days,
whatever is sure TO pay is always sure
to enlist the mid OF capitalists and
commercial mon, aud the Government
does its duty sufficiently when it takes
such measures MS will insure national
protection aud recognition.