New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-06
AMERICAN SHIP CANALS.


and eastern coast of Asia and its great islands. as
wen rs to that between its own eastern and western
shores, holds the position OF barrier which must be
either penetrated orcumnavitated. The clrcum-
navigation first accomplished in the famous voyage OF
Magellan, 1892 and century later in the discovery OF
Cape Horn. while the former sought, during three
centuries and half throughout the length of the con-
tnent by all the early explorers Up to nearly the mid
die OF the present century the pressing need for the
practical removal of the barrier was in manner
delayed by the swift development Of the Atlantic coast
In time however the new life Of America crossed the
Rocky Mountains and began 10 build ON the shore OF the
Pacific The discoveryof gold in California called hither
q population and developed q wealth and commerce
which imperatively demanded shorter lines Of cOmmuni
cation The protracted peril Of the voyage around tho
Horn suggested transsthmian enterprises and several
attempted The rival claims Of the Nicaragua, Te-
huautepec and Chagres River routes all urged by
their respective friends and all were employed tenn
p0rary. Local and financial complications resulted in
the dlsuse OF the two rstnamed routes, while the last
between 1850 and 1855. perfected by the completion
OF the Panama Railroad which for the time answered all
purposes The overland route to California was the
germ Of the Pacific Railway, and that splendid mohu
ment Of American enterprise was completed, ny .ne
The Panama Railway is strictly transit route WIN
purely local value but the Union Pacinc kNay anu
lie connections, and the similar lines now proected 70
the Northward and the southwark, and indicated on le
map must he considered more with reference 10 lca
effect rs agencies for the development 81 the vast IEo.s
which they traverse, than 10 any 1acs tne1 ao ~
through freight or the commercial PeatOs vi 'J
tcrnini. These two railways, the Fanana anu Ale
Pacific. have themselves demonstrated me heceSi4 VI
something more capaclous ana IoiyeG te oban
Si mis- search is confined by geographical necessity
10 the marrow lands which unite the great divisions
OF the American continent Here II snip cahal u p.
tcsbe the problem Of its precise location Is complicated
y questions Of relative cost, Of engineering dheutes,
OF adaptation 20 the requirements OF comnerce anu VI
respective advantages and disadvantages OF canals
with and without locks Into these II Is not necessary
10 enter The projects for ship canal through the
dating from the time OF CoTes and several of the local.
ties indicated on the map include more than one ne OF
exploration Tine facts concerning the anu
opening Of the suez Canal are too recent 10 require com
The map gives outlines Of several leading trans
continental and ishmian railways constructed OF pro-
3, THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.
This enterprise proposes tho construction of railway
from point the western shore OF Lake Superior TO
point on Puget SOUND with branch following the valley
Of the Columbia River TO its mouth. II will connect the
commerce great lakes directly with that Of the
been unavailable for purposes Of civilized settlement,
ard IS geographically the most central OF az the trans
border OF the territory Of the United States and 1t VIII
exercise an important influence on the deye3phent OF
from the United states, and the work OF construction
has been begun.
THE UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY.
The only completed line Of railway across the continent
j. composed as follows: 40,
shortest Be over existing roads from New York Omaha Neb.4
Union Pacific Rassy Ogden City Utah.
Railway san Francisco. IA
90,
The Kansas Pacific branch OF this line affords connec
ton with the sOuthery lines and ports Of the Mis-
sissipp Valley and the Atlantic seaboard The partial
success well partial failure Of the Pacific Railway
search shipcana routes, while the rapid develop
Of the country il has penetrated, with the growth
Of ITS way traffic. has greatly encouraged other similar
undertakings.
TIE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.
This project undertakes for the extreme south OF the
territory of the United States what the Union Pacific has
donefor thecener and the Northern Pacific Will
psh for the extreme north The details of its connections
with the Atlantic states railway system cannot nov be
determined but its eastern terminus III the Naey o the
Mississippi and its western at san Diego, ON the CaOr
MIA coast, are to he united by line of railway passing
tndongn IsU re bnt for raiI9V cosrction and
those achievements OF the future which require time
only FOR their accomplishment.
TIE TEHUANTEPEC RAILWAY.
This isthmus lies in Mexican territory and there Just
north Of the peninsula Of Yucatan, on line that was
familiar 10 and was employed by Cortes and other early
explorers as transit route, railway has been pro
iected and in process OF construction Is 10 run
the port of Mnattan near the mouth OF the Goat
"a port or large lagoon near the mouth OF the Iehan
tepec River on the Pacific The gradients are not dlf
cult and the length Of railway Viii be less an 10 mites
Like the rauscOnnenta lines through the territory OF
the United States, this enterprise Is aided 10y govern
aud develop; but its main value 10 the world Is III snort
cng the through lines OF commerce between lhe COASTS
OF the Atlantic and Pacific.
TEHUANTEPEC SHIP CANAL.
Not only a railway but ship canal ,has been projected
cross the Isthmus of Tehuantepec The idea originated
with Cortes himself and has been frequently agitated
since his day. AS thorough cut is Impossible, all
explorations at this point have been made with refer
encc to canal with locks. II is proposed TO utilize the
ayigabc waters Of the GOatzacOalcOs River flowing into
the Gulf Of Mexico and the large lagoOns the Pacific
ZION 10 about 80 miles. within this distance an ee
walton of little more than GOO feet Is 10
compihed by other similar works already completed in
Other parts OF the world The Government OF Mexico
Of the enterprise. and the Government of the United
states is aiding in the preliminary explorations; Inc
These about the dimensions which would be required
10 accommodate eeyentrteenths Of the shipping OF me
Tehuanepec in command Of the United states eXpedi-
HONDURAS.
The Typographical characteristics of the Isthmus at
this point have confined practical explorations TO rail-
way purposes only and road now in process OF con-
structiOn. Like those already mentioned the Honduras
Railway promises TO be Of great local importance indie
pendent OF any foreign freight transit II to connect
Port COrtes, on the Atlantic side, with the Gulf OF Fon-
SEGA the Pacific The distance I'm direct line about
miles and by rail $50 The Government OF Honduras
has given liberal concession TO the undertaking III
GLIDING large grants Of land.
NICARAGUA.
The several explorations and projects for canal with
locks at Nicaragua have been made with general ref
erence 10 the supply Of water upon the summit level the
facilities afforded by the san Juan River and the utiza-
ton Of Lake Nicaragua OF the lines proposed, three
mass through the lake; fourth follows the Rio Grande
and terminates AT Brto; fifth, by the river
inmates at san Juan del sur sixth proceeds by the Sa
,,oa River 10 Salinas Bay; seventh keeps on the
RENE south Of state of Nicaragua ana proposes cut
ro1 Fica. to Nicoya Gulf. Two of these lines
nave been actually surveyed The line 70 Brto is 1914
In Riyer and employs 2s locks in the ascent aud de-
scent between the two oceans by tbe Sah Jun qei eur
t mo distance from the river 10 the lake is but Is
c In the first eight miles only one LOCK Is necessary
I'm Inc next mile GA feet OF lOckage y Ie4uIe.p men