New-York tribune., 1870-04-25
TNTEROCEANIC SHIP CANALS.
PAPER BY COL. J. w. ADAMS.


iect of American lnteroceanc Ship Canals" The
ability with which Col. Adams treats the subject is
best stated in his own words, from which we make
the following extracts
The waters OF the Indian Ocean and the Mediterra-
mean been united by ship canal across the 18th
rnnst be- united by way Of the lands which
meet the great divisions the New World. The idea of
Inc suez Cana is old the PharaOhs the ancient
historian informs u.s. and existing remains attest on
the other hand the idea Of American ineroceanic
ship canal dates back 10 columbus ana COfez ana thc
Coumhns sailed from Palos for the eastern shores Of
ASIA and died in the belief that he had reached them
followers devoted their energy and daring less to the
survey ana settlement of the world they had
WAY through il, that they might continue
their interrupted voyages TO Cathay and zpangu Chna
and Japan Failing in this COrtez vast the first 10 pro
iect and urge upon the attention Of Charles v the con
trucon OF artificial strait We quote ron iate ar
tclepubEshed ia TIE Americdn Journal Of Science ana
Art (Sillman'9, November, 1863; ,,,.....,.,
5 over nom te (os,eoaos River an The details scheme,
~. Of May 52 TO The 18Th Of Ooer l are coel d
1925 This Spsn with the reports Of Ayaro and Goloy
% e gave oa,i HSs orV Rp BE- pcsGy 5Ui probability
by ' means 5 2 ds s,0,S route Indeed to The o.sa ssn
was CoTel IN these PGn & ,3s & be pD,@a mt @ Ss 30 per s
the Ola Worlds bghws for Oriental commerce All the lands and
m sg y tsc Ymreror were located here Valley
and Tunteee lie enno9ed in 1873 taking his e Mar
called Ese the Marqusanas He and his knsuan
sb cana OF Roman road for The transportation echsnds brought
h from the Moo and other parts Of the Ba for passage or tran
For nearly 400 years has an inter-oceanc ship canal
been from time 10 time the subject Of discussion, IN
VcstigatOn and explorations and more than once mas IL
seemed If the point of actual attempt had been
row political jealousy in high and powerful circles, which
would look with suspicion upon the possession of such
which is disposed to ask if the future Of European com
could not be better protected If the Central Cor
deras continued 10 guard the gate between the Atah
a mighty commercial power has arisen in the New
t-fIf With int - her
not Europe which Is now aroused To the necessity Tor
ship canal between the Atlantic and the Pacific, but
In the location Of the snez Canal except as to minor
details. there little for the exercise OF jldg
selection. In America on the contrary the hed
inquiry and choice extends from northwest Ia south
east for about miles, presenting not only problems
t t me utmost resources of scientific engineering
bu questions Of state which affect the future interests of
al the great maritime powers of the world.
Not less than 26 lines have been more or less explored
or surveyed All but Of these nes-the Tehuantepec
are below the Peninsula OF Yucatan and may be said
fo connect the two oceans directly The Tehuantepec
would join the waters Of the Pacific with those OF te
Gulf Of Mexico. An artificial strait, Thorough cut
from ocean TO ocean II that alone viii the wants of
commerce. is only possible at some point on the Ithmus
of Daren, or at Its very junction with the mainland OF
south Amcica-the most southerly of all the proposed
localities. such an undertaking has not been without its
strong advocates, and We may assume the posi-
hility OF its at one the other OF
the points indicated. 1t may be found, however;
on more careful survey that a " thorough cut,
while il constitutes a really magnificent possibility,
would not at this time comply with the OF
commerce or the conditions OF sound p0ncy we are, on
the other hand, far we can judge from nvestga-
adv made, compelled 10 doubt, II 10
the praccabty Of lockage canals most of the more
uorthers proposed excepting those at Nicaragua
and Tchaunte pee, owing to the absence of sufficient
Sppiy Of water for a summit level Since therefore,
such defect would he VITAL and il is claimed for the
existence of abundance of water there for the supply
of The summit level may assume the Darien at the
as the natural representative of the propositions for
thorough cut" and the Tehuantepec, at the extreme
north the representative Of the several projects for
te aer ancsiions poca or commercial which AFFECT
sole 4 On of me ftrI
But I'm this have conceded too much for the Darien
route. water communication there can neither he q
canal without locks nor can it be a Thorough cut"
notwithstanding the fact OF the mean level OF the oceans
on either side being the same, the of the tide the
Pacific at Panama is IS 20 greater than on
the Atlantic shore rendering locks absolutely necessary
flowed freely through. Aid again after all the explcra
which have been made OF the Daren Isthmus there
B, not particle OF what might be called authentic m
formation tending to show that thorough cut is
practicable; ON the contrary, there is great body of
evidence sustaining the view that whatever line be
taken. tunnel and that for miles IN length, Is neces
II is even matter for grave consideration If the eli
mate alone does not offer lnsuperable obstacles to the
performance Of such an immense amount or labor as
would be required; The periodlcai heavy rains ana
floods would certainly render dams and locks ont of The
question would greatly impede tine progress OF the work
itself ana would perpetusy endanger its permanently
besides greatly enhancing the expenses OF maintenance
In the second place the who to contribute the
vast sum 70 be paid out must in some way be assured OF
the odyOcates Of the Daren route no such assurance can
At present be given: third difficulty presents itself In
the I-thmus Of Daren To this may be added the mpos
sbty of procuring in that locality supplies OF fuel for
team vessels provisions or ship material, or OF main
tanning suitable repair shops and dockyards.
fourth objection arises from the fact that wherever
trade extended the telegraph and rapid mail cOInnu
ncaton must follow. 1t needs but glance at the map
to asee soI5Sr hS% of sonb Amereo The It6mns Of
Dareu OF the ordinary channels or trade, and en-
trcly exposed either coast would be extremely dl
cult 10 protect in of The United states would
nor permit any European power 10 exercise even seem
ing protectoratc work Of such importance TO its
own Interests al the time tLat could hardly itself
assure the neutrality Of the canal to the peaceful com
Nevertheless the report Of the expedition lately sent
out by the Government of the United states will he
awaited with interest by all whose attention has been
directed 10 the canalization Of that isthmus.
Having assumed the Tehuantepec route as the natural
representative of the several projects for an iteroeanc
canal with locks let Ms now examine the claims OF that
locality just north Of the great lenns9a OF hqcaian
j. the lsthmus OF Ichuante%, lying Mhoiy Withn me
domain OF the Republic Of Mexico The direction OF the
coast line either is nearly east and west that
the shortest line across the lstlmus-apout ls miles Ia
length-uuS De drawn almost due north and south.
In southeTy direction from the mouth OF the Goatza
Coalcos River on the Gni there SAsts reli1kane
natural depression, extending through with some Tregn-
of pass" and which has been made use OF from the
earliest days for purposes OF transit from coast to coast
and conveyed the material for the ships which he
struced the Pacific. He selected tins Tor the shp
urged 50 strongly upon the Emperor Charles v. Here,
later day. the Spanish Government Intended TO nave
Government Of Ne Xico caused thorough explorations 10
De made with the view OF making canal from sea TO
attempt at practical realization.
During the nrst rush of emigration TO California,
mail slrvcc was maintained for nearly year at this
punt from the upper waters OF the GOatzacOacOs River
10 the Pacific coast At the present date not only are
active steps being taken and work pushed forward for
the construction OF railway on or near the line pre-
NOusy selected and surveyed under the supervision Of
Gen Barnard, but it rs also proposed 70 attempt the
construction o Ockage canal andit Is claimed that this
can DC easily and cheapy accomplished at Tehuan
fepec than at any more shOutherly locality.
The nue OF the proposed interoceanic transit would be
about miles, but OF this only about nfty miles would
De altogether artificial the remainder consisting OF the
great river GOatzacOacOs on the Atlantic side and VI
two large lagOOns the Pacific. canal admitting yes
lis OF twenty feet draft OF water, with railway its
banks auxiliary, would accommodate three f0urths
the commerce of the globe, ships OF greater draft
than that cou~ lo Hgltered and reloaded. A deeper