The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-11
THE TEHUANTEPEC EXPEDITION.

the United States for the purpose of surveying
and exploring a route across the Isthmus Of
Tehuantepec for O ship canal from ocean to
ocean will leave tomorrow for their destina-
ton from the Washington Navy Yard. 1t will
proceed by way of Vera Cruz. That the expe-
dltion is at all under way is a cause for con-
graduation, for for some time it was feared that
1t would have to be abandoned from want of au
appropriation. An examination of the law,
however has shown that the Navy Department
has ample authority to supply the necessary
funds even without a direct appropriation from
Congress.
The expedition is commanded by Captain
Shufeldt, and the small squadron, detached for
the purpose, is composed of two vessels, the
Kansas and the Mayfower, the former COM
manded by Lieutenant-Commander Farquhar,
and the latter by Lieutenant Randall. Captain
Shufeldt goes in the Kansas. 1t is thought that
the expedition will be absent about six months.
The officers of the two vessels are to do the
photographic work on the Atlantic side. The
officers composing the party intending to ope-
rate in the interior and on the Pacific coast
consist of Lieutenant Commanders G.. G. Remey,
!. r. Ba' tlett, and P. H. Cooper, photographers;
Surgeon j. c. Spear, naturalist; Captain Bart
lett, United States Marine Corps, photographer:
Master Jasper, photographer; E. A. Fuertes,
chief civil engineers assistant civil engineer T.
w. Rae, who is second assistant engineer in the
navy, and Mr.. Somers, draughtsmau.
The United States Government has now most
sensi5ly come to think that a canal through the
Isthmus OF Tehuantepec would be of the greatest
v vtue in the development of the interests of the
country; more so even than the improvement of
the passes of the West. 1t is thought Tehuante-
pee offers the best military, political, and COM
o;o1; ;,,I,
greater or less extent been surveyed in the
Isthmuses of Darien and Nicaragua also. This
expedition has been organized to ascertain the
practicability of a ship canal at this point as
preparatory to more elaborate surveys. To
ascertain if enough water can be found at the
highest points, If the harbors on both sides are
or can be adapted for commerce, and if the
country is tree from the periodic inundatons of
the lower countries, the present party has prn-
cipally been sent. At later time in the season
it is proposed to examine more particularly into
the surveys of Nicaragua which have been
made by distinguished engineers But wherever
the canal is located, our Government must
necessarily become its guardian and push it
forward to completion, thus furnishing q high
way for the worlds commerce.
The President of the Tehuantepec Railroad
Company has received from Mr. j. j. Williams
their chief engineer, report of the examna-
tion of the route specified. Mr. Williams visited
the isthmus, and in company with Mr.. Eduardo
Garay, the Mexican commissioner, conducted
his Investigations in the best manner. He con-
siders the proposed route the proper one for
the following reasons
First. No tunnel will be required on the en-
tire route.
Second. 1t will require no very deep cuttings.
nf 81 no
five miles long, through nearly level plain, with
depth of cutting but little more than sufficient
to contain the water to pass the ships.
Third There is large extent of contiguous
territory with an elevation above the summit
which, it is believed, contains streams that will
afford water sufficient to supply the summit
level
He thus continues his report
according to Moro's survey the natural surface
above the sea- The town of Tsrfa. five miles north
OF this, is somewhat elevated in the midst of ground
so level that in the rainy season it becomes inun-
dated, for which reason this plain has been called
the Lake OF Tarlfa- 1t is ascertained that, with
cut OF a few feet at the summit of the pass the
waters to the south OF the town OF Tarlfa would flow
toward the Pacific, while those on the north side
naturally run over gently descending ground as far
as the Goatzacoacos on their way to the Gulf. The
Almaoya river six miles north of Chivea is on the
same level with the summit OF Tarlfa: hence it has
been suggested that the waters OF Almaloya and Of
the other streams to the west Of Tarifa, might be
brought by trenches to the summit level of the
canal. There is scarcely doubt that, from these
combined sources, SUFFICIENT quantity of water can
be obtained 10 supply ship CANAL estimating its
highest probable requirements: Possibly either
source would give sufficient. The streams east Of
Tarfa from which 1t is proposed to bring the water
by means OF feeders, TO the summit level, are the
Ccapa snd RnS Rsts t6 1a tae lopmer az place
same Level with the summit at Tarlfa 1t is possible
that by deepening the summit cut, the whole volume
OF the waters of the Chihuahua might be brought to
the summit Level OF the canal; in which case the
summit reach might possibly be made as much as
eight miles long, and thus avoid the necessity OF
bringing feeders from the Chicapa Ostuta, Cltune,
or Almaoya rivers.
"As the only objection that can be made against
the Tehuan' pee Canal is the number of its locks
ESTIMATED to be from 60 to 6S on each side of the
summit depending upon the depth 1t may be
will mention here that each lock OF the Caledonia
Ship Canal cost upon an average $4,000. This
amount, by l36, the greatest number estimated as
required on the Tehuantepec, would give q cost OF
s5340000. The cost OF the Caledonia Canal, exclu-
sive OF the locks, was Sl52,00e per mile. This
amount by 1880 miles OF canal proper and 123 OF
slackwater navigation, both estimated at the same
rate per mile. to be on the safe side-Would give
s26 OOe and with the cost OF the locks ncluS
900 as the total cost OF ship canal across
Tehuantepec. This is estimated precisely on the
basis OF the Caledonia Ship Canal. To show that
the number of locks required Tehuantepec is very
far from being an insurmountable obstacle in the
way OF the construction OF the canal take for ex
ample the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, with its 39S
locks snd its height ofockage OF 1929 feet who viii
that a canal across Tehuantepec with one-thrd th'
height OF lockage and less than one-third the mum
ber OF locks provided OF course there is no lack
mesns), cannot be constructed or twice it's widtl
and three four times It's depth, or su1icient
large to pass ordinary ships"
Mr.. Williams says also that the locks shoul,
be built on the double transit plan, though Tia
cost will be sixty per cent more than sngl
locks. In speaking of the harbors he makes tn
following recommendations
'The fact OF there being no delta at the mouth Q
the river GOatzacoacos and the cOnstancy OF tn