New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-22
THE DARIEN EXPEDITION.

take an immediate exploration VI INC iO"''' 80
canal across the Isthmus of Daren, and the presence
of an expedition IN our port just about 10 san Vr
this undertaking. give exceptional interest 10 INC
whole question.
While the success of the Suez Canal If 1t can DC
called success is limited IN its effects 10 the coni
merce of few of the maritime powers oil EUROPE
in direct proportion the extent OF their Asatc
connections and viii eventually be confined III us
results still more strictly to the ports OF the eui
terranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Woilu"
inheritance of n westward commercial channel from
Europe to Asia has been thoroughly UNDERSTOOD lor
nearly 400 years and the realization OF this ldea mas
been from time to time attempted by men OF the
most far-seeing genius and daring enterprise. In
our day the possibility of this realization has Deen
steadily narrowed to the discovery OF an available
passage across the Continent of Amerieaand one OF
its so TO speak incidental developments, has been
the Pacific Raroad-but lin the beginning 1t was
not So"
When Columbus set sail from Palos he had not
the remotest idea of discovering New World, ms
grand dream being the opening of new and shorter
route to the Orient and he at last actually died IN
the belief that the lands he had discovered were
portions of China Japan, and the Indies. Those who
went with him and came after him were so
thoroughly imbucd with the same idea that 1t
entirely overshadowed in their minds even after
they wero convinced of their magnificent mistake
the importance of their actual achievement, and
every river, bay, Sand inlet, from the mouth OF
the ST. Lawrence to the Straits OF Magellan, was
explored and penetrated with little concern for Its
relations to the Continent actually found, but with
the hope of discovering water way by which the
ships of Europe could sail through on their search
for the rich commerce Of Cathay. 1t viii be under
stood from this that for the first century after the
discovery Of the New World, America was esteemed
III the minds of Europeans generally, very much IN
the nature Of obstacle barrier in the way OF
established commerce, and the realization of pre-
conceived hopes and expectations
A more complete acquaintance with stubborn geo
graphical facts compelled the abandonment Of the
dreams of the early explorers and the old idea has
had over two centuries of sumber, until the course
of events has developed on the Continent
commercial power with great cities, growing COM
munities and vast mercantile and political interests
on the shores both of the Atlantic and Pacific whose
absolute necessities of INSTRUMENTATION call for
some new attempt to solve the problem which veXed
the souls Of Columbus. Balboa, Hudson, COrtez, and
Magellan. Nor can it be too distinctly written down.
AT this point that the interest of the Government and
people OF the United States in an mteroceanic
shpcanal between the Atlantic and Pacific, IS to-day
excited with reference to the necessary commumca-
tOn between the Atlantic ports of our own land and
those of our Pacific possessions and Asia, and of the
our Atlantic harbors and Europe The solution of
this problem must be made with rigid regard TO
the interests of American commerce and American
political interests.
This doctrine is rapidly becoming generally well
understood and accepted; few months of trial,
comparatively, have convinced MS as people, that
the Pacific Railroad, with all the splendid certantes
of which il has assured us is inadequate to the sou
ton of the great problem Of commercial future
4 int. Of 1cc fIfrit, oVoYIn
the efforts which the present Administration has set
on foot for Of procuring trustworhynfor-
nation as 20 the nature and promise OF our several
possible interoCcanic tiansts.
The expedition which has been expected to san from
nis port to-day, is, We presume, intended only as
beginning in the right direction The amount OF the
appropriation at the disposal of the Executive, and
the consequent power Of the expeditions utterly for
bids the attainment OF a satisfactory final result,
hut we are glad that beginning has been made.
The expedition consists of the gunGoat Npsc, about
500 tuns burden, carrying two 9inch broadside guns
one ll-inch pivot gun. amidships, and 30-pOund
rifle and the Guard Of a similar class and armament.
The former to he flagship and the latter storeship
The expedition is under command OF Lieut.-Com
Thomas 20. Selfridge, and the Guard Is IN charge
OF Lieut. Com. L. p. LulL 1t is understood that
all the officers Of the two ships have been selected
with special reference to their individual illness Tor
the duties expected Of them and they have been re-
enforced by q bOtanist gcolOgist, a telegraph
operator, a photographer, and daughtsmen, all
civilians aud MessTs. sullivan, Leman, Ogden,
Merrden and KGrcher officers OF the Coast Survey.
They take with them an abundance of scientific
Instruments including about 50 miles Of telegraph
wire and powerful batteries. Presents for Indian
tribes and other miscellaneous paraphernalia form
part of the outfit.
The object Of this expedition is to act under the
auspices and upon the territory OF the Republic OF
Colombia and its probable usefulness IS Therefore
confined within certain limits Ii is designed to as
certain if the existing depressions in the Central
Sierras on any Of them, WITH without river con-
nectons and utilization present the features re-
quired for the construction aad operation OF ship
canal Such c0 aeral considerations as climate and
the eafety OF human life. VIII no doubt force
themselves de attention Of Commander Self
ridge aud his associates during the prosecution of
their work, and is to be hoped that our Navy Will
not be compelled 20 bury TOO many martyrs of
science" in regisl which has borne so evil name
for heaIhfulness almost from the day of its dis
.Covery.
Meantiu e it may Le of interest 10 examine some
things that have been attempted, pror TO our own
day, in this same important direction. II would seal
rs Il every enc of the earlier if not Of the later,
porers Of The several American "naFrow lands" the
moment he hid picked his way from ocean to ocean,
became stricken with tie fever of inter0oeanic
munitatOn, By canal otherwise. There are road
and railway projects all but innumerable, and ex
portatiens for not less than res-I canals Aave ap
peaTed in printed form. not TO even hint at the
greater Rluber o. those Which arrived 1T that
stage.
Among Gie earliGst we mas mention that shortly