Middletown transcript., 1870-02-26
THE DARIEN CANAL.

a new treaty for canal from ocean to
ocean, across the territory of the United
States of Colombia, has been concluded
between the Minister of this country and
the authorities of the former at Bogota.
1t is said to be more favorable to Colom-
bia, and therefore, more likely to be con-
firmcd by the Congress of those States.
which met on the first of this month at
the Capitol The Mosquera party arc
opposed to the interests of the U. States.
They are in the interest of France. Mos
qucra is, and has been for some years, an
agent of Napoleon in Central America.
But his power and influence are on tho
decline, and the party holding the reins
of government in Colombia at the present
time, will favor the United States, rather
than the exiled usurper. We now have
intelligence from our exploring expedi-
ton, which sailed from New York some
days ago. The naval steamers Nipsic
and Guard compose the expedition. Be-
yond the fact that it is bound for the VIA
ters in the neighborhood of the lsthmus.
with view to making surveys and SCUM
dings for the proposed Darien Canal, but
little is as yet known concerning it. Tho
chief officer of the expedition carries seal
ed instructions, which news gatherers
were not able to penetrate, and hence the
programme of the government in relation
to the Canal prclimnaries, is still un-
known. If a proper treaty is ratified,
work will be commenced upon the canal
in short time thereafter. a company
for that purpose was formed in n. York,
in August OF last year, by a number OF
capitalists, under the style of the "Darien
Canal Company of America" and bill
has been transmitted to Congress praying
for incorporation under national charter,
and the company is awaiting the action of
both governments touching the ratification
of the pending treaty between the United
States of Colombia, and the United States
of North America, stipulating the con-
cessions and the right of way, With these
conditions fulfilled, and the report of the
surveying expedition now on its way to
the Isthmus, the company will have pow
or to forthwith proceed with the work of
excavation. The latest and most improv-
ed machinery will be brought into requi'
sition, and every appliance essential to
successful mplishment of the work VIII
be employed.
That such work should be commenced
and completed is confessed, not only in
this country, but also in Europe. In
recent editorial, expressive evidently of
the commercial sentiment of British trad
ers, the London Times says that growing
interest is felt g" in commercial circles in
the possibility of another ship canal deep
er, wider, and less subject to fogs and
sand drifts, through some of the Central
American States, to connect the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans" The reason for this
conclusion on the part of the Times is that
for sailing vessels the Suez route will new
er pay The distance to India is short
ened, but the tonnage dues and general
insurance, when placed on the other sido
of the account, moro than balances all the
advantages. The dangers of the Red Sea
are also great drawback on this enter
prise, and the loss of vessels in that quar-
ter is heavy and constant. No such I'M
pediments dog the footsteps of the Darien
enterprise The canal once opened, it
will be an immediate and permanent sue
cess. The navigation on either side Of
the Isthmus is easy and safe, No losses
will occur, and all the ports on the Pacific
coast of this Continent will be brought
nearer to our Atlantic ports by some thou
sands of miles, and nearer proportionally
to the ports of Western Europe Tho Tro,
pics, South Amcrca, China, Japan, and
the Indies, together with the Pacific Isles,
are all within reach of our commercial
grasp by this Isthmus enterprise. Its
importance to US, when once completed,
l u
trade of Asia is now the prize for which
all commercial nations are contending,
China is opening her ports to commerce,
and Japan, emerging from under tho
cloud of her ancient policy, France hopes
to master the trrde of these pnrtiops of tho
world by the Saez Canal. We must put
in counter claim by an early completion
and opening of ship channel through the
narrow neck of land separating North and
South America