The union Democrat., 1870-09-10
NUMBER Ia.
censra, American Reaa-aaaki.g.


a brief experience in the exploration of ,ha
central American forests, however, soon re.
moves any assonishment that one may feel at
zoe httie progress that has been hitherto made
IN ascertainiug the conformation of the coun.
try. The difficulties thrown ia the way Of
the explorer. by the arid deserts nf Africa or
Austraha, dwindle to insisniscance in COM
parison With those penetrated hv the insx.
neusuoie fertility of Nature in the gorgeous
lands OF tropical America. Button has re-
marSeu tnae weise animal life displays it's
greatest variety snd vigor in the Old World.
IS IN tue New that Nature puts forth her
greatest wealth OF vegetation; aud no one who
has ever had occasion to force his wa, ,hronrh
the forests of Central America will feel de.
posed to question the accuracy cs the last
part OF the assertion, al least. The rank lnx.
nriance of vegetable life, unless constantly
| checked, oblitcrates the works of human IN.
dustry as surely, and almost as rapidly, as
the tide sweeps away impressions on the sands
OF the shore; and under the enervating infiu-
ence Cfthe climate, and without the stimulus
to exertion which moro barren soil, and the
fear OF want, supply in less-fayored lands.
men feels little disposed to maintain the con-
test with Nat1rc. Locating road. or max.
ing survey in the iangles Of Central Ameri.
en-, is verv different tang from running the
boundary lines of o Government Survey on
Western prairie. The thickness Of the un.
dcrwood and matted creepers. through which
it is impossible for even an Indian to force
his way without the aid of his niockete; tho
wonderful vigcr of vegetable growth. which,
in the rainy season, seems to put forth new
forest almost as fast as the old is cut away;
the slowness With which the most energetic
l.. u. Al.
cal climate: the total separation from men in
volved hy n Journey Of even few miles into
the primeval forest, wherc no sign of human
habitaton or footsteps is to be found, and
where league on foot is laborious days
journey; the difficulty of conveying provis-
ions; the chances of becoming inextricably In
yolvad in marshso. or stricken down hy some
of the pestileaiial fevers common in the coup-
try; and, finally, the dangers of attack from
the laugars, rumas, or alligators that swarm
the wilderness. or Of being titten
by some Of the vencmous reptiles that infeet
the underwood-ail these make even pre-
lminary survey. or exploration. very seri-
ons undertaking in the uninhabited districts
of Central America. and amply account for
the little knowledge that has hitherto been
Obtained Of it's snrfsce. Ner are the risk and
toll involved in making such a survey the on
lV OF chlet OhStnrtes 10 the proper exploration
of the country: bnt the amcuntof information
derived from II whom mnde is ircor parshTv
less than that furnished hv similar works IN
moro temperate regions. The density Of the
forests renders the cutting Of a track through
them mere cropping in the dark for the best
route; and one may make dozen such in the
width of league or two, without striking
the most practical grade for any proposed
work. Neither do precious explorations give
much aid to subsequent surveys, as rainy
season or two snffces to cover all traces of
them with a fresh growth Of Jungle, which
soon becomes undistinguishable frcm the rese
of the forest. Thus the military roads, made
through Nicaragua by the contending parties
during Walkers occupation Of the country.
have now completely disappeared; md even
cuttings made in 1865 had been almost OBJ
liberated two years atterward, when work was
resumed upon them. In such n country, it
is natural to expect that any engineering
works, even the smallest, can oaly he carried
out at large expenditure of capital and la
Dor, and those that are actually undertaken
are proportionately few: so sketch Of the
of one, taken from the diary of the
engineers engaged on il. may not be devoid
Of interest. From ''l.oad-making in the Trop-
ics," 10 the Orerldnd Monthly for September.