New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-22
rations for canal have demonstrated its all but in
superable difficulties.

TaiOns for canal have demonstrated us All "'' 81"
superable difficulties
We now come to the Territory of Nicaragua, ana
this has been more fertile than all Others together IN
projects for interoceanic ship canals, owing to the
apparent advantages presented by the lake OF Mica
ragua and its rivers and outlet combined with the
comparatively low elevation of the Sierras at this
point. We may mention eight as having engaged
the serious attention of scientific men and capitalists
as follows BY way of Rio San Carlos and the Gulf
de Nicoya; Rio Milo Tempisque, and Gulf dc Nlcoyo;
Rio Sapoa and Bay of Salinas Rio San Juan del Sur
Rio Brito; Rio Tamarinda and Lake Managua; Raljo
and Lake Managuas; Bay Of Fonseca and Lake Man
aguas There can be no question but that by one or
other if not by all of these routes ship canal from
ocean to is possible but may be well to quote
the following opinion ofs Rear Admiral Davis OF our
own Navy in this connection. He quotes the Ian
guage of Mr.. T. G. Squier concerning the survey OF
Col Childs made for shipcanal purposes as follows:
Chdss survey is the only one to be accepted as con.
forming to modern engneering requirements ana thus
says The line selected by Col Chllds proceeds from
Lake Nicaragua by short and easy route 70 the laTDor
of Brto 1t traverses the lake directly to its outlet at
rSr s@n G IT a og SReaepg 90 m
and thus nrsues canal Independent OF the river 10 the
narbOr of San Juan del Norte This plan OF operations
requires IA locks to descend from the lake to the Pacific
Ocean, and IL locks to descend from the lake to the Cab
bean Sea- in which last enumeration are included light
locks at dams on the San Juan There are seven dams
the river Costly improvements, in the character OF
The total length Of the line is a little more than l9i
miles 1t may be safely asserted that no enterprise
dertaken with present knowledge OF the Ameri-
can isthmuses."
This however, is only the Admirals personal opin-
ion compiled from the evidence thus before him, and
without actual survey of anything but the publica-
tons of Others
The most important point to the southwark is that
of Chinqui, but here have surveys sufficiently
oNy4on Cd 20 oil In for ninr
Passing over a number of mere preliminary exam-
nations at different localities we come to the 18th
mus of Panama. and here not less than four distinct
routes have been surveyed for ship canal. In con-
necton with Chagres River, from Gorgona to
Panama, and from Trinidad to Caymito; also from
Navy Bay by way of Chagres River, Rio Bonito, and
Rio Bernardo, aud from San Bias to Rio Chepo. In
this vicinity the extreme depression of the isthmus
and its narrOwness would seem to indicate prompt
answer to the canal question: but here are met by
the fact that the absence of any supplies of water
for summit level" forces the necessity of
salt water canal clear through from ocean to ocean,
without lockage, and the moderate elevations be-
come at once again formidable while the terrors of
the climate fearfully reinforce the difficulties pre-
scented by the topography and photography of the
several routes indicated.
South of Panama lies the Isthmus of Darien, which
is almost as old as that of Tehuantepec connection
with intcr-oceanc transit. The first settlement on
the mainland Of America was made here with what
a tragic result the readers of American history
doubtless familiar Here, too, five several routes
have been surveyed and the present expedition will
do remarkably well with its $4,000 appropriation if
it adds materially to our stock of knowledge concern
ing any one of them. They are from Caledonia Bay
to the Gulf of San Miguel; by way of the Arguia,
Paya, and Tuyra rivers TO the Gulf of San Miguel;
and in connection with the Atrato River by way of
Rio Napipi and CupicO, Rio Trnando, end Rio Tnyra,
Gulf of Uratd, or River AtTato.
Ii is confidently asserted that by one of these
Atrato River routes a canal can be constructed from
ocean to ocean without lockage, and from an exam
nation of the surveys would certainly appear that
such is the case Others require tunnels of me gni-
tude to dwarf any that have ever been elsewhere
dreamed Of and the proposed achievement, i'll either
case calls for an amount of expenditure which re-
minds us of the National Debt.
It is hardly too much to say at the present day,
however, that at one point or another the attempt
will be made to penetrate the American isthmus with
a ship canal, and that such a creation may be re-
garded as one of the inevitable facts of the future.
But while the several surveys at which we have
briefly glanced fail to supply the place of future and
more accurate explorations, they are Sufficient to
induce great caution against too hasty con-
ton of Speculative engineers In fact, after all
questions of climate and engineering difficulties have
been duly considered and equazed il remains to be
considered by executive, legislative and financial
authorities that the location of vast work as
ship canal between the Atlantic and Pacific has IFS
bearing upon our own commercial and political fu-
Uure more than that of the rest of the world, and
that in case of war; the position and control of such
channel would surely be of all but vital import In
short, the Isthmus country extends for over l,1OO
miles and not therefore all equally near to the At
lautic and Pacific ports of the United States.
Since it seems to have been determined that the
peope of the United States as whole, through their
National Government, shall undertake the survey
and location of the proposed canal, it may be set
down very positively that this people will not be sat
isea with any partial survey, Of one point and in one
particular behalf but will insist upon thorough and
exhaustive examination of question in which they
have SO grave an interest.
THE NAVY-LINE ACT. STAFF.
70 tHe EdftOr Of The Tribune.
Van cocn, 1eSiroua of DONG iusficp 10