The New York herald., 1871-03-01
THI DARIEI CAgAL.
Proposed Route of the Inter-
oceanic Passage.
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FEASIBILITY OF the PRESENT PROJECT.
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The Expedition of 1871 and It's
Operations.
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What Has Been Accomplished
and Future Plans.
Narrative of Reconn0isSances Made
by the Explorers.
TOPOGRAPHIC WORK IN THE HARBOR.
The Survey and the General
Prospects.
On BOARD UNITED STATES SToREsurP GUARD. !
GuLE OLE DARIEN Lnh

ertO presented themselves to the explorer in search
OF feasible and speedy route for an nteroceanic
snip canal across the American isthmus-eonsider.
ing the many discouragtng failures which for years
nave marked such commendable enterprises
necessity Of the undertaking and the glorious
results that will now from Its accomplishment have
cheered on still another courageous expedition,
whose efforts, it is confidently hoped will finally be
crowned with success. 1t Is unnecessary to dilate
upon the grand commercial benefits that viii accrue
from the carrying out OF the present favorable pro-
tect, as 1t rs supernnous to predict how
gigantic will be the development OF trade
that VIII follow the construction of the pro-
posed canal The subject is TOO widely known
70 be commented upon at this advanced stage and
1t only remains to set forth what has so far been
done by this expedition its proposed operations ana
the substantial grounds upon which the sanguine
hopes Of the explorers are based, together with
some meteorological and mineraOgical observations
which VIII doubtless prove interesting In connec-
ton with the expedition. have already forwarded
to the HERALD by telegraph the important an
nouncement that Commander SelfriGgc had dis
covered q route from the mouth OF TIE Atrato that
ne had ascended that river for about forty miles,
had subsequently entered the CacaYica river which
he followed up until he reached the dividing
ridge, and had thence proceeded to the Paya,
waa..sa emptles INTO the Tuyra, and which
IN turn empties into the Gulf OF san
Miguel 1t was also stated that, making every
allowance under such circumstances, the height OF
The divide was estimated at 800 feet. IL may prove
70 be much less, as the actual survey has not yet
been completed. This particular route by way OF
the Cacarica has, it appears never been explored
for canal purposes, although, OF course the Arato
Is familiar to those who have already made surveys
IN that direction. Whatever claims other routes
hov atyo tlnn nf no nil am
10 enumerate or comment on the majority of them
would only tend to strengthen the difficulty OF CON-
pretending the great problem, 1t Is certain that the
one now under consideration Is al least deserving
Of O thorough and satisfactory eXaminauon. From
the exploration that mas been made up to Paya
1t is believed that the obstacles to the dividing
ridge comparatively slight and that the other
slde navigation from the excellent natural harb0r
Of San Miguel, through the Tuyra river, is matter
Of easy accomplishment. 1t Is estimated. moreover,
that the crest OF the divide does not exceed fifteen
TeeL while the side next the Atlantic is almost per-
A.
been made, an approximate idea OF the real facts
can only be given. But the explorers arc confident
OF achieving triumph and indeed. the present
prospects seem to point In that direction. For each
route hitherto surveyed some special advantage was
claimed Among the many was that along the
Chagres river, from Asplnwal to Panama, q dis
thirteen miles are navigable, while the d.
vlding ridge Is but two hundred and sixty-twO
feet Since the present expedition commenced the
subject OF an interoceanc canal has been the most
prominent topic OF discussion at both Asplnwan
and Panama the conclusion in all cases naturally
arrived at being that from the surveys made and
local knowledge, the route by the Cnagres was at
least among the NEST practicable. But, apart from
the various statements set forth, it Is sufficient to
know that canal is indlspensably necessary, and
must sooner or later be constructed. A passage
through the sthmus that will reduce the distance
from New York to San Francisco over nine tnou-
sand miles must be regarded as one Of the greatest
physical WORKS of the age. l now proceed to give
the
DETAILS OF THE EXPEDITION
which has Just been vigorously commenced under
the most promising auspices, and the United States
sloreship Guard seems to be better favored by cir
cumstanccs for this expedition than that OF last
year, which, 1t will be remembered, was COM
menced rather late in the season for all
practical operations. Her voyage from New
York the Sd OF December last to this harbor was
extremely pleasant with the exception OF the first
three or four days. when, during severe gale on
the third day. one Of the seamen, Henry McAllster,
fell from the bowsprt and, being struck py the for
ward part Of the ship, was probably killed. as not
withsanding the active search made, his body
could not be discovered. Nothing occurred of un-
usual interest until the arrival OF the Guard at Car
thagena, which is about two hundred miles IRON the
mouth Of the Atrato. The principal object of the
commander in visiting this old Spanish city was to
hire native laborers to accompany the expedition.
Snort was the stay at Carthagena the inhabitants
OF that romantic and picturesque locality were
most hospitable and entertaining. The re-
cepton given by the officers OF the Guard
larn wi attOnl
were quickly made for a suitable re.urn,
and few days afterwards a splendid bail was
given in the principal hall Of the metropolis, which
was attended by Commander Seridge, Commander
Lu ana nearly all the officers OF the Guard. IL was
OF the happiest reunions that has occurred there
for many years, and when the Guard cleared the next
day she left the most pleasant "reminiscences behind.
After an interesting sail OF two days the Guard
touched at the mouth OF the Arato, ana finally an
Chored IN the Gulf OF Darien. The river empties
into the Gulf through eleven mouths. up which the
native bongos go for many miles for their cargo Of
rubber or, they term it, caouchouc,r the gather
ing Of which, by the way, makes quite lively trade
between Carthagena and this place. There
Is o little village across the way called
Plssis, which has about forty houses ana
over a hundred inhabitants, who are chiefly
engaged in ihe rubber business. They also gather
IVORY nuts and dyewoods in such sufficient Quant-
ties as to warrant the running OF . stern wheel
steamboat twice q month. There are very few In
dams in this neigDborhood, as the most Of them
reside in the mountains where the fruits, upon
which they live grow Iii abundance. The parties
who nave charge OF the nydrograpDy and triangula
uon OF the bay, under Commander Lull, found con.
siderable difficulty in obtaining suitable places to
erect the necessary signals as the mangroves and
rank grass grow SO thlckly and so lar out In the
water that 1t was matter OF considerable labor to
cut way TO solid ground Ailigat0rs abound In all
frequently seen hoveri,g IN the air. ON en-
lerng inc narbor there Is u low, sandy, mar.
row lslaDd, winch out 10 point ana
disappears In the breakers so low is II that at high
tide IT ~ almost entirely covered. On the highest
point the astronomer OF the party has his obserya.
tory, adjoining which the cabin, wardroom and
steeisge mess have their poIlry yard. N,s anlr \