The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-17

insufficient. proceeding SouthwardS, Jne
Nicaragua Lake naturally suggests itself as q
feature in the geography which might be
utilized, and several explorations have
been made with that view, but in |
all cases the Obstacles into the details of !
which we have not space TO go, have been
found to be insurmountable, or practically |
so. A line across to the Gulf of Duce has /
also been considered, but here again the /
height of the mountains precludes the idea of /
q canal. This brings us TO the isthmus
proper comprising Panama and Darien, the |
bow w-shaped neck of land lying between the |
Gulf of Panama on the south and the Carib- |
bean Sea on the north Between Panama |
and the nsouth of the Chagres river the eleva- |
ton of the central ridge is trifing, falling as
low, it appears in one place as $50 feet, but |
from the broken and hilly character of the
country n canal here would he work of enor-
nous difficulty and practically useless, as
about 81 miles of tunnel and some 36 locks
would be required. But what, above all, has
led to the abandonment of the idea is the in
security of the anchorage on either coast,
and the impossibility of constructing proper
harbors. East of Panama, at about the CEN
tire of the bend formed by the isthmus, is the
shortest line from sea tosea. Here the harbors
on both sides are good and safe, and the Chepo
river flowing into the Pacific is navigable for
considerable distance, but unfortunately
the cordillera on the Atlantic side is lofty,
and tunnel of seven miles would be re-
quired. The most southerly and easterly line
is that by which 1t was proposed to take ad-
vantage of the Atrato river, flowing north
into the Gulf of Darien Several plans have
been suggested for opening communication
between its waters and the Pacific. 1t still
appears to be an open question whether the
| difficulties are actually insurmountable, but
| in any case the line would be very long one,
and its cost very great. 1t only remains to
notice the route proposed by DIR. Cullen,
| upon which the attention of all who are inte-
rested in the project is now fixed. 1t crosses
| the Darien portion of the isthmus from Gale
| donna Harbor, near the mouth of the Gulf of
| Darien, to the Gulf of San Miguel, branch
| of the Gulf of Panama. Its most
important advantage lies in the depres-
sion, or rather break, in the cordilera
| produced by short lateral valley running
from the Atlantic up to the watershed of the
two oceans, which gives a summit level est-
mated at 1S0 feet. On the other side are the
head waters of the Sucubti river, tributary
of the Savanna, a large navigable river flowing
into the Gulf of San Miguel. The harbors
on both sides are good. On the Atlantic
there is shelter, deep water, and secure
| anchorage in Caledonia Harbor, and in the
Sassardi Channel adjoining it, and on the
Pacific side the natural advantages are even
greater. The Gulf of San Miguel is wide,
deep, and runs far inland, and the navigation
from il up the Savanna river, as far as the con-
tluence OF the Lara, is perfectly practicable
for ships Of any draught of water. 1t is at
this point that it is proposed to open the
Pacific mouth of the canal. The advantages
claimed for this route are-a short line, some
forty miles in length, and possibly only
thirty-five; a comparatively low summit level
to be crossed q smaller amount of excava-
ton and fewer locks than any other route re-
| f,11ira md noHi hnrb Of
each end; but besides these there are others by
no means unimportant. In the first place, as
to climate, the Darien district appears, from
the testimony of persons who are familiar
with it, to be on the whole remarkably
healthy. 1t is also remarkably free from the
visitation of earthquakes, which are frequent
| in many other parts OF the isthmus, and would
in all probability seriously imperil the perma-
nence of such work a ship canal; and,
lastly there is that great essential for q canal
with locks. an abundant water supply at all
, seasons The work to be done would consist
of canal of about twelve miles from Caledo-
, mia Harbor to the SucubG river, taking ad-
vantage of the valley and break in the chain
above mentioned. For the next twelve
miles the SucubG river may be canal
lied, and then fifteen and half miles of ca
nal would be required to effect a junction with
$ the Savanna. This is the sum total of the
actual canal work necessary. The collateral
Q works would be trihing, consisting merely OF
the removal of few small shoals and rocks,
: the erection Of one or two lighthouses and,
: possibly the dredging of n mile or so of the
S Savanna river Such. in outline, is the Darien
a ship canal scheme as proposed by Dr. Cullen
! and approved of by the Colombian Govern
o ment There certainly does not appear to be
n any difficulty in the way from which modern
\, engineering science need shrink, nor would
+ tho cost of the work be dsproportioned tc
@ the gain to commerce. The estimated cos
/ of q ship canal with locks is between six ant
o seven millions sterling and it seems possible
h. that with an outlay of two or three millions
G more q canal entirely without locks might b'
l. constructed: in which case, we imagine, tht
i application of the proverb about penny wis'
a and pound foolish Will have to be serousl,
/, considered.
i | THE LIFE INSURANCE INVESTIGATION
ia From the b. Y Sun.
n Some time in the early part Of last year,
% policy holder in one of the large LIE lnsur
!, ance companies of this city commenced
~, | suit at law against the company. The com
N plaiut charged the company with numerou
9 acts of mismanagement, and among then
- that the vice president had abused his trus
~ by securing to an agent OF the company, win
= was closely connected with him by marriage
~ sundry commissions which he was not entitle
w TO. and that such agent had thus realize
20 LARGO suns to which he had no right. Also
= That the company, in addition to large sals
w. | ries had allowed its officers a commission @
=, allowance on the dividends made, amountin
+ in the aggregate to a very large sum. Also
~ ~ that the company agreed to pay consider