The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-10-05

enterprise of Mr. Kelley, in 1864, whose
surveys have been given to the world.
The hostility Of the Indians has prevented,
however, as thorough work in surveying
as has been done in other localities on the
Isthmus Its advantages are summed up
! in that it is the shortest distance between
the two oceans-the whole length being
but thirty miles. On the north. it has the
admirable, spacious and deep harbor of
San Bias, and on the south, the channel
of the Chepo river, emptying into the
Bay of Panama No locks are required
in the canal but, on the other hand,
tunnel through the Cordilleras, seven
miles in length, is necessary. In view of
the tunnel through Mount Gents, of the
same length, and the still longer one
through Mount St. Gothard.-the former
nov nearly completed, such tunnel
through the Cordilleras does not appear
an insurmountable obstacle
Another ship canal route across the
Isthmus, that has attracted attention as
feasible, is that between the Gulf San
Miguel and Caledonia Bay. This was
the old Spanish route across the 1sthmus,
the one over which the buccaneers
passed from ocean to ocean, and which,
from old Spanish records, is believed to
be of easy transit.
DR. Cullen is the only person who
claims, in our time, to have crossed the
Isthmus by this route, and in his book
upon the subject, he AYERS that it offers
the easiest and cheapest route for the
canal He has crossed the lsthmus at
this point several times, and he says:
From Port Escocecas, on the north,
plain extends for nearly two miles to the
base of a ridge of hills, which runs par
allel to the coast, whose highest summit
is about $50 feet The base of this ridge
is only two miles in width, and from its
south side level plain extends for thirteen
miles, to a point on the Savanna River
called Canasas, which is about twenty
miles from its mouth" If Cullen's state
ments are reliable, canal across this part
of the Isthmus would require no locks, and
an open cut two miles through the Cor
dilleras, of depth not at all difficult for
the resources of modern engineers. 1t
has, besides, fine and safe harbors at either
end. 1t is probable, that whenever the
construction of a canal is decided upon,
the route of DIR. Cullen will be thoroughly
explored A canal ON or near the route
of the present Panama Railroad, has many
supporters; and that section of country
certainly offers as few obstacles as any
other portion of the Isthmus.
But it appears that a cut through the
Cordilleras, on the most feasible route, is
by no means an easy job, and capitalists
may well fear, if canal is pushed through,
whether the amount of fees upon shipping
passing through it will be sufficient to
pay interest upon the money invested. a
railroad across the Isthmus, and another
across the Continent, already give such
accommodation to Pacific commerce, as
Suffices to diminish the advantages which
otherwise would be derived from a ship
canal II is believed that a ship-railroad
across the Isthmus is more feasible than a
ship canal, and the calculations, plans
and drafts, drawn up in accordance with
such an idea, have been pronounced by
able engineers as both practicable and
available The drafts which we have
seen, propose to take up ships at Panama,
upon cradles expressly prepared for the
purpose, and on a railway OF double
tracks, drag them across the Isthmus, to
be launched again in the Bay of Aspin-
wall.
We consider the transit of ships across
the Isthmus as being a still iar-distant
fact. That it may be accomplished is not
impossible, for the industry and perSever-
ance of man overcome the gravest OBJ
stacles: but in these days the question is
not, can it be done? but, viii it pay? If
the Suez Canal pays-of which there is
some doubt,-then it may be believed
that the Darien Canal will pay, and when
that belief becomes fixed aud prevalent,
canal will be pushed through without
delay.