New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-03
ANER1CAH INTERooEAN1o CANAL.

The following dispatches were given !
yesterdays REPUBLICAN,:
WAsHrNeroN, June 30. 1870.
The Nipsic has arrived in New York, tn
Darien expedition being failure.
MIR. Sumner reported In favor of an az
. preparation for surveying canal rout
across the 1sthmus OF Tehuantepec.
When taken in connection with wha
has been transpirlng during the last ST:
months relative to the subject of America
interoceanic canals, these are the mos
important dispatches to this city and Stat
that have been received for many day
with the exception of that received tw'
days previously, announcing the passag
by the Senate of the Texas Pacific railroad
bill. A new era is drawing upon us, al
well as upon the rest of the civilized
world, and the energies of mems mind
are rapidly being diverted from the ole
and circuitous channels of trade to othel
and shorter ones, which, while they arr
destined to bind us more closely together
as nation, promise likewise to give us ir
return for their opening all the varied
treasures Of the eastern world.
Since the waters of the Indian Ocean
and the Mediterranean have been united
by ship canal across the Isthmus Of
Suez, it has been more than ever desirable
to all Americans that those of the Atlantic
and Pacific should also be united by way
of the narrow lands which connect the
great divisions of the New World. Oh
course, if it were possible, a Thorough
cut" canal, like that of Suez, would be
| preferred. The ''Darien" was the only
thorough cut project that seemed feasible
to engineers, and it was the only route
over the 1900 miles of isthmus for which
the United States possess the right of way,
obtained after long trial and great expense,
from the government of Colombia last
winter. By way OF Tehuantepec we have
right of way for railroad, but not for a
canal. Since obtaining the right from
Colombia, our government has had an ex-
petition, under Commander Selfridge,
surveying the Darien route, while dry
months of April, May and June, before
the commencement of the rainy season,
would permit them.
In the mean time, Notwithstanding the
first encouraging reports, official advices
from the expedition itself for the last two
months have not been favorable, and the
friends of other routes have been actively
getting their views before Congress. On
the sixteenth of March, paper of import
ance was read before the 'American So
ciety of Civil Engineers" by Colonel Ju-
Illus W. Adams, in which he says:
Not less than twenty-six lines have been
more or less explored or surveyed. All but
one of these lines-the Tehuantepec-are
below the Peninsula of Yucatan, and may
be said to connect the two oceans directly.
The Tehuantepec would join the waters of |
the Pacific with those of the Gulf of Mexico. |
An artificial serait, q Through cut" from |
ocean to ocean, if that alone will serve the |
wants OF commerce, is only possible at some |
point on the Isthmus of Darien, or at its |
very junction with the main land of |
South America-the most southerly of |
all the proposed localities. Such an
has not been without its
strong advocates, and we may assume the
possibility of its success at one or the
other of the points indicated 1t may be
found, however, on more careful survey.
hat thorough cut" while it constitutes
! really magnificent possibility, would not
1t this time comply with the requirements
Of commerce or the conditions of sound
policy. We are, on the other hand, so far as
We can Judge from investigations already
made. compelled to doubt, if not to deny,
he practicability of lockage canals on most
II the more northerly routes proposed, ex-
,epting those at Nicaragua and Tehaunte.
pee, owing to the absence of sufficient
supply CT water for summit level. Since,
such defect would be vital, and
Is it is claimed for the Tehauntepec route
hat actual survey has demonstrated the ex.
stence of abundance of water there for the
upply Of the summit level We may assume
he Darlen, at the extreme south of the
central American marrow lands" as the
natural representative of the propositions
or thorough cut" and the Tehauntepec.
It the extreme north, as the representative
Il the several projects for a canal with |
ocks. Moreover, these two routes involve
IL the other questions, political or CONNER
ial, which affect the selection of line for
transit.
But, though he showed reasons for dis
ouraging the Darien route, it seems from
ur latest dispatch that he conceded too
,uch for it. Yet, he was very fair, and
7hile favoring the Tehuantepec route,
7hich only proposes ship canal, with
)cks, he, with all others, awaited with
interest, the report of the expedition sent
ut by the government of the United
tates to survey the Darien route.
Assuming the Tehuantepec route as the
atural representative of the several pro-
cts for an interoceanic canal with locks,
nd as the one to which future surveys of
ur government will be directed, let US see
hat it's friends aud our government en-
ineers claim for the locality. From the in
,rest in the matter that New Orleans must
ave, we will be pardoned for this ex-
'nded extract from Colonel Adams in the
apers before referred to. He says: |.
Just north of the great penincular OF
ucatan lie the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
7lng wholly within the domain of the re.
uolic of Mexico. The direction of the ,
cast line on either sea is 30 nearly east :.
nd west that the shortest line across the
one hundred and thirty
We miles in length-must be drawn almost
ne north and south.
la southerly direction from the mouth '
the Gostzacoalcos river, on the Gulf 9
mere exists remarkable natural depression,
Intending through, with some Irregularities q
D the Pacific slope. forming a verv avail, :
BILE sort of pass and which has been
lade use of from the earliest DAYS for mr. t
Osss of transit from coast to coast. II was t
trough this pass that Cortez marched his ::