The New York herald., 1870-05-02
TEE DaaIEH CANAL EXPEDITION.

Later Partlculnrs-The 6assardi Route Also
Believed Observation-Disclosures 20 be
ContIuued-The San Bias Route 60 be Ex-
plered-Probable Selection Of tho Line Of
tho Pnnama Railroad.
PANAMA, April 1s, 1870.
The report In my last letter Of the progress made
by the Darien surveying expedition and OF the i'm
practtcabty OF the nrst route selected to be exam.
ined from Caledonia Bay to the Gulf OF San Miguel,
then being explored Is now fully confirmed, and II
is believed the second WILL on being thoroughly sur
veyed, prove no more available for the construction
OF canal across this isthmus.
On the morning OF the 26th Of February Captain
Selfrdge at the head OF large party, started with
the intention OF crossing the mountains and, II possi-
ble reaching the head waters Of savanna river This
party returned to the coast on the Sd Of March, hav.
Ing crossed the Corderas and struck the head waters
OF the river Sucubt but does appear that they
round the Savanna, as they expected. The "Savana,"
according TO Autenreths map, the last published,
copy OF which send herewith. seems to be much
further north and more in the line Of the party sent
out from Sassard, at the northern extremity OF the
pay. The course followed by Captain Selfrdge Is said
TO nave been the same taken by Lieutenant Strain TIL
aser s,e Uoreeras was passed The exploring party
Captain Seliridge had just passed over. Following
u they crossed the mountains and came ON the
Cnucunaque river one OF the largest streams the
Pacific side. The telegraph corps carried their lines
as lar as the head waters Of the Sucubi a dis ance
inst. have been received. Tie surveying parry had
then returned from the Chucunaque, and had pro.
nounced the route wholly impracticable for canal.
One hill they encountered was proved tO be $50
feet high, and In the range OF which it formed q
part no suitable pass could be discovered. 1t was
aud at the da.e mentioned 9th nst.l preparations
u ss nAs 9?s sHs W s i 'az ss 6 ~ ssa sn
or the exploring party from sasardl no particulars
have been received further than that they had car.
RED then survey about nine miles inland, and the
Obstacles they had met With convinced them that no
practical route FOR canal could be found in that SEQ
ton. TIE telegraph corps had followed about four
s s and % ssDs s H@s cuas ss vas % vsss 9ns
which time 1t is likely they will reach the headwe ers
OF the Savanna river. which Captain seltridge was Ia
seach OF when he struck those Of the Sucubt II In
the time mentioned no suitable depression Is found,
The two shps-Guard and Nipsc- with the eptire
force, win proceed north 10 the Gulf OF San Bias and
examine the country across 10 the Rio Bayamo which
has Its rise near the C0rlera, and flows Into the
Pacific in the Bay OF Panama.
The San Bias route has already been thoroughly
explored at the expense Of American capital
ISIS The survey Is known, believe, as the Kelly
Survey" and . map OF It IL published In Admiral
Davis report The lowest elevation there found and
reported was If rec0.lect right 1500 feet AMI the
section was considered less suitable than any otlel
tepe c &C. exsnea am IL u WV take pnt short time 70 de
the expedition will return to the Unl;el States Th'
RAINY season will then have fully set in and 1t will b
too late to prosecute further explorations.
The Panama route, the only practicable OF all,
sh Ould now have some attention. The highest eleva
tion over which the railroad passes Is only 2e2 feet
Besides the established facts that the climate is mucf
more salubri0us than that of either Of the other
routes named, there are many other points in It's
favor. The country has already been thorough,
surveyed, and line or railroad, which would be O.
immense value in the construction Of q canal, Ia
been In thorough working order for over fifteen years
These speak volumes in its favor.
The work OF the surveying expedition has from Tho
start, it said been conducted In the most eicien
manner and with great spirit and energy by all en-
gagged, and notwithstanding the arduous duties Il
which all were exposed, but little sickness has oc
cured. Only few of fever are reported. Tit
Indians invariably proved friendly.