The New York herald., 1871-01-19
THE TEHUANTEPEC SURVEY.
Progress Of the Expedition Under Captain shufeldt
and Lieutenant Commander Bartlett.

Captain Shufeldt United States Navy, and the ex-
ploring expedition under his command, were at
Tehuantepec on December 20. Up to that date their
explorations and surveys had only been preliminary.
The natives are extremely anxious for the coming
OF the party under Mr. Simon Stevens OF New York,
anticipating great results from the report OF their
explorations, but as many boxes Of reports on the
isthmus now lumber up the departments at WASH
ington 1t is feared that Mr. Stevens will be but an
addition to those heretofore made.
The Kansas encountered terrible hurricane In
going out and had to remain short time In Key
West to land the instruments, which were all water
soaked. They were fully readJusced while the KAN
sas was undergoing the ne ecessary repairs.
The tug Mayhower proved rather a drawback to
the expedition, having been sent from Norfolk with
her boilers In such bad condition that about half the
time has been spent In repairing her. She has also
been source Of great anxiety, causing delays and
sroppages at MinititIan which were very vexatous.
On the 2sth November the surveying party. In
charge Of Captain Shufeldt started up the Coatza-
In four canoes, towed by the steam
launch, for La Puerta. on the yumacapa river.
Forty miles up the river the engine 81 the launch
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the hacienda al this pop placed the house and all
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days resi- work was commenced by the civil cngl-
neers who are men Of undoubted capacity and the
Chief OF them speaks the Spanish language perfectly
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imperfectly 6y Se10r Morro In lS43 Here the whole
secret OF the problem Of an in!eroceanic canal lies
hidden lt Is estnfated that II water can be OBJ
tainod there for the supply Of the summit level .
canal can be built at less cost than by any other
diifculties in the way thai cSanot be surmounted,
and 1t s believed that harbors cp be constructed as
either end Of The canal at comparatively small ex-
pense.
A party Of officers Of the navy, under Lieutenant
Commander Bartlett are making explorations aE
streams to the vest Of Tariia. The surgeon OF the
Kansas and his assistant are exploring the general
route Of the proposed canal on the Pacific slope for
geological purposes, &c. The commanding onicer Of
the Kansas and Mayfower, Lieutenant Commander
Farquhar Is surveying the bar at tho mouth Of tue
OF that and adjacent rlvors and defining the coast
line. The work Is all verified by another party sta
toned at Uhivla for astronomical purposes. Thus
all hands are busily employed and the work goes on
encrgetically and harln0nlousy, the result Of which
will be to bring about final decision In regard the
practcabiity OF canal. The party Will report very
promptly and not waste any time In making OUT
OF water to feed canal 1t is greatly feared, how
ever, that an adequate supply cannot be found, in
which case what would otherwise be the most de-
sirabe route for canal yet discovered Will have to
be abandoned and the party Will proceed to Nicara-
qua. No news has been received of the arrival OF a
ship-o-war at Ventosa, which was part OF the plan
proposed when the expedition left the United States.
II water Is found to supply the summit level OF the
proposed canal then the want OF ship-of-w4r wlli
be felt it VIII not otherwise be possible to survey
the lagoOns at the proposed exit OF the canal at the
Pacific.
It is much feared that the Navy Department will
withdraw the Kansas before the work finished, in
which the surveys and explorations will neces-
sartly be very incomplete. All the party In the
enjoyment OF excellent health. The isthmus is 10 q
state OF revolution and bands or rebels or sfnce-
tecos," through the country. SO far, however.
they have offered no obstacles to the progress OF the
work. on the contrary the chief or the revolutionary
party has called upon Captain Shufeldt and, willie
assurances OF protection did him the honor to ap-
point him mediator between the revoluttonlsrs and
the legitimate authorities, which appointment Cap
tain Shufeldt declined.