The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-01
THE DA EN- SURVEY.
Exploration of the Isthmus.
Prospects of a Ship Canal.
The Hamilton Opera House Lottery
The Japanese in New York.
@tc.s Rtc.s Rtc.s Etc., Rtc.
The Japanese in New York,
THE DARIEN SURVEY.

The Exploration of the eIsthmus-Commodore
SelfrIdge's Voyage Up the AtrRto-Ehe Pros.
poets for n Ship anal.
U. 8. s. GUARD, GULF OF DARIEN s. A.. Feb
Con December 81 Master A. X. Couden left
this ship and proceeded in charge of a surveying
party, of which Mr. James Barnes was chief
engineer and Mr. A. d. Beach assistant. These
officers, with their instruments and supplies
were slowed away ia two large fat-boats
manned by six seamen and two natives
On January 2, they were followed by Com
mander Selfridge and Midshipman Kunhardt in
the steam launch, accompanied by trusty
guide. They started out with the intention of
being absent but ten days, during which they
were to make hasty trip to the Indian village
of Paya, on the Pacific side of ''the divide" on
the ridge of mountains which separates the two
slopes.
Much anxiety was felt on board the Guard for
the safety of the expedition, which it was ex-
pected would be back in ten days. On Janu-
ary 16, to the great JOY of all on board, Captain
Selfridge and his companions returned. The
following is the report of the voyage and ex-
plorations, as narrated by the officers of the ex-
pedition.
THE SURVEY OF THE GULF OF DARIEN.
Excellent progress has been made in this
branch of the work. Commander Lull has
finished large part of the tranguation of the
gulf, and is now engaged in filing in its shore
line and other typographical features. The
photography is being executed by Master Haw-
ley, assisted by Midshipman Hunker. Their
surveys, so for, prove that the Gulf of Darien is
admirably adapted to be one of the termin of
the canal. Accurate tidal and meteorological
observations have been made. The average rise
and fall of the tides is less than two feet. Baro-
metrical changes are very slight, the average at
sea-level being about 80 inches. The thermo-
meter has never been above 80 deg. or below 70
deg; average range, deg, from 7S deg. to sc
degrees.
SURVEY OF THE ATRATo.
The Atrato River, from its mouth to its juno
tion with the Cacarica River, has been surveyed
by party under the charge of Master j. P.
Merren, of which Mr.. A. L. Duvall and Mr.. B.
7. Stokes were respectively the Chief and
Assistant Engineers. They found the river to
have an average width of half mile, and a
depth of channel from 40 to 1919 feet. With the
exception of q small bar at the mouth of the
Atrato their surveys show that the chip canal
connecting TIE Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean
is already made from the Gulf of Darien to La
Iona, small hill about two miles up the Caca-
rica River from its junction with the Atroto.
Up to this point vessels of the very largest size
may safely be carried We already know that
navigation is open on the Pacific side from the
ocean through the Gulf of San Miguel and the
River Tuyna to Chipogana small town about
% miles from its mouth.
To sum up what has been and what is to be
done by the expedition, 1t may be stated that
there have been found on the Atlantic and Pa
cifc slopes two points to which ships may be
carried. That on the Atlantic side is As miles
from the Gulf of Dariep, at the junction of the
NPacifc side is about 40 miles from the ocean.
Between these two points, which are distant
about 50miles from each other, there is divid-
ing ridge of low hills, not exceeding in any
place 400 feet in height, and of little width. The
problem to be solved by the engineers Isl
Where is the lowest point of the divide, and
through what part of the intervening country
will it be most feasible to construct a canal?'
Commander Selfridge has already found a
feasible route, but it is believed that much
better one may be found, and for that reason
the corps of engineers will continue the eXplo-
ration of the country until the rainy season
begins; this will probably be about the middle
of April, 80 they still have over two months in
which to continue their labors.
THE CONTEMPLATED EXPLORATIONS.
On January Is, the United States steamer
Nipsic, Lieutenant Commander Byron Wilson,
arriy ed at the Gulf of Darien. She had been
anxiously looked for during the preceding two
weeks, and brought our mail with the first
news from the outside world that we had had
for two months. Commander Selfridge has
entirely recovered from his late illness, and
will sail in her tomorrow for Aspinwall,
accompanied by Surgeon Linneus Fus-
sell, Astronomer f. Blake Jr,
and Engineers A. L. Duvall and B. T.
Stokes. From Aspinwal they will cross by
railroad to Panama. where they will embark on
board the United States steamer Resaca now
waiting their arrival. In her they will run
down the Gulf of San Miguel, and up the
river Tuyna as far as the town of Chipogana.
run in a sou utheasterly direction across the
divide Their route will probably be some
where between the Paya and Tuyna rivers.
THE SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS.
Dr. Mack, the distinguished naturalist aud
geologist of the expedition, has recently returned
from an eight days stay at the village of Turio
or Pisini. Being thoroughly eOnVersant with the
Spanish language, he was able to obtain the
confidence and good will of the natives, who
assisted him greatly In making his collections,
and he now has rich store for the Geological
Museum at Cambridge, Mass. His geological
researches have not yet been extended but
already coal, petroleum, and amber have been
discovered. The discovery of coal is looked
upon as one of the most important events of the
expedition, when considered in connection with
the canal project.
Botanically considered the country is an ex-
ceedingly rich one. The celebrated balsam
trees of TOlU, with sarsaparila and a great
variety of dye-woods, are found in abundance
on the ranges of mountains to the eastward OF
the Gulf of Darien. Besides these there are
several varieties of cedars and 'wool trees" and
very curious plant used by the natives as a
Substitute for coffee. The kernels are very
small and totally different in appearance from
the real coffee berry; but when burnt and ground
they are very similar to it in taste and SMELL
EXPEDITION TO sUzIA.
This morning at daylight Lieutenant Com
mander Schulze left the ship in the steam
launch on diplomatic mission to the natives