New-York tribune., 1870-10-08
TIE DARLEN CANAL EXPEDITION.
THE FORTHCOMING OFFICIAL REPORT.

THE FORTHCOMING OFFICIAL REPORT.
A correspondent of Tie Boston AdCertiSer
gives the following the principal points Of the official
report, now prep; ring OF the surveying expedition
which was sent ont by our Government, under Com
mander T. o. Selridgc to ascertain whether an inter
canal the lsthnus Of Darien was pract
cable. The expedition sailed from NewYork last Jan
uary. The survey was begun at Caledonia Bay in the
latter part of February This bay OF easy access and
perfectly protected northern winds and heavy
seas There but two other harbors the Atlantic
coast of the Istmus which adapted the terminus
OF a canal-the Gulf Of san Bias and the Gulf Of
Uroba or Ddrien TDe surveyors found the cOun-
try covered with piimeyal forest. They woud
aud with great labor through dense underbrsh, guided
by the compass, even the SKY would bc scarcely Vs
hlc had commander determined ~ follow The dlf-
icrent w2tcleOuises IISse gave, Ot cOus te lowest
level OF the country ana If any passes through the nonn
nOli stnc,s wltn tine barometer were maize up ali the
streams cmItying into G.ledonia Bay, iciading the
these were IN progress, reconnaissance IN force was
made the to the Pacific slope down the
Sucubti, until the villages OF the mountain Indians, the
THESE PRELIMINARY explorations failed TO show signs of
pass. and the ne up tno AglaZenigua River thence
over Le mountLs gTg the lowest average IeVei, was
carr, IRON tie sea dividing range at att
tude Of 1900 eeJ and Gown TO the Sucubu at point
about three miles below It's sources Where altitude of
90 feet was obtained Tue mt O the Sucubi, by spirit
level go fee evidence Sufficient that no below
that altitude existed ~ IN dVdc Ills river with IT'S
trlDutnies, the Napsat and the AsAdt, cram large
OF county uI witch It's pcd must necessarily rep
resent the lowest level. Careful observations vi TIC
mcrcuria aoictcr made down the SGcuDt to ts
Junction With the CnuCuaou., at Wlcu Was found an
attitude Of 1J9 f-et. Ten leS down Tie Chucunaga an
altitude Oi 90 feet obtained.
hope fading pass abandoned, and the only
remaining qes what Iengtn Of tunnel would he
nee cs,y Ii found tlat tunnel OF 10 miles, from
altitude 200 feet TIE Atlantic slope 10 CORES
pOuding point oi Pacific slope beneath the hnts OF
the sucdDt would ho neoded Another sryey Ia tue Vi
cmty OF tie Stsser River l0mios north Of the previous
surveys, showed that tunnel OF eght m.es wOud he
sufficient by that rOute sun another iou;e was surveyed
Cali OF Bias, wnere the lsthnus Is Dut 80
miles W4c Tue line Of levels carried up The Man
ding the lirgcst river emptying into IL Atlantic be-
tween the Cgres aid the ArdiU, and crossed the divide
at an altitude LOO fCCt. II coutnued i'll SS.E.
direction the Pacific SLOPE TIL at distance run by
level miles tne sea, II at inc Junction Of
the MTnou and san Jose rivers, with the urycy OF air.
Kelley 1864, whose engineers ran lue OF levels from
the Pacific up the MarmOni To this pOiut.
The result showed mountain area Oi ten miles that
would icqGIre 10 be tu1nelcd. Iue other portions or
tits route present tie most favorable aspects Inc
southern portion OF lstnmus stu Iemals to he ex
pored. TIE Government propose 10 continue these sdI-
Neys the coming season. wnicn viii be carried ny the
yaiey OF the yTa the divide to the Cacuia1
Lake. not far from the mouths OF The AtratO. TI!s
zion was visited by Hellert, an experienced German
traveller loij, who reported the dSlue not over .OJ
teet this very Enthusiastically, as ne lost his III
strumeuts before IL reached. 1ne expedition re-
turned 10 New-l Ork IN July.