The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-02
The Napipi Route Considered a
Success.
A GLIMPSE AT THE CITY.
LUXURIOUS SOMNAMBULISM.
The United States Steamer
RcSaca.

When the surveying party arrived In this city FROM
The Tuyra River seventeen days ago, the operations
on the Pacific side having been completed, speedy
passage to the North was joyfuy looked forward TO.
Months OF toll ana hardship had been spent III ex-
plorng country comparatively unknown. but as
The Resaca steamed toward Panama the perils and
privations which had marked the expedition were
all forgotten IN the cheering prospects OF pleasant
return. Not little veXauon was caused therefore,
when 1t ascertained that the United States
storeship Guard, the homeward bound vessel. had
not reached Aspinwa from the Gulf OF Darien,
though ordered to be there by the middle OF last
month she has not yet put III an appearance and
all hands their oars, so 20 speak, hoping that
each DAY viii bring the good news OF
her coming. In regard TO her safety not the
least anxiety Is entertained. Her nom arrival
is attributed 10 various causes. the principal one
being that the surveying party the Atlantic side
may have finished their examination OF the sum-
luit OF the mountain range near Pava. 1t Will be
remembered that the two parties met on the
"divide" at the end OF April The lowest elevation
then found was 76) feet and the surveyors COM
menced their return, onehalf down the Pacific
slope and the other to the Gulf OF Dariel. In
pressed, however, with the idea that the survey
might have been made somewhat too far 10 the
southwark. Commander selfridge sent orders
the surveyors on the Atlantic side TO ascend the
beyond the point established. In the hope Of dis
covering greater depression The party accord
ingly left the Guard for the second time and pro-
ceeoed NJ the AtratO and along the Paran.
chita rivers, reaching the summit about the
first week In May. When about to begin
operations ascertained tnat the instrument for
drawing the line OF levels broken. and 1t
impossible to repair It, nothing left for the party
but to retrsce their steps to the ship. Now, the
nj ,.larI
Guard, has directed the party to again ascend the
"divide- win a instrument ana carry out the
instructions previously given. Should such ne the
case
THE DETENTION OF THE GUARD
IL satisfactorily accounted Tor. Apart from that,
great dricully would be experienced IN beating out
OF the Gull at this the year, and although
the distance from ner Anchorage sraand 10 Aspin
wau II not much over two hundred miles. her pas
sage would be extremely tedious owing to the direr-
uon OF the Trade winds, winch are now trinng, and
The strong current against which she must contend.
She has not been heard from for over a m onth.
but 1t ; unusual for scao )ners 70 occupy That
time in reaching AspinwalI. and the Guard
Is sailing snip. it is very lisely pro-
gress has heen much impeied by the opposing
forces referred to. til necessary mention tines
facts IN order 10 forestall any sensational rumors
that might he circulated concerning the safety OF
the vessel for nowadays the vaguest supposiion OF
wreck affords 70 some people delign ttui source
OF comment Indeed, tins class is 50 ex citing tnat
If a shIp does not come 10 time, Notwithstanding
many apparent causes OF de Az her tonnage Is i'm
medlatey worked up. the place where she
-engers set forth with terrible amen aton as II
all hands were dead anu done Tor. Examples OF
this End have not been wanting within recent
peri d. but tile uneasness and painful anxiety
caused by such thougntless reports cannot tail to
bring upon those who then, the censure
OF The community. That the Guard may arrive
Aspnwall IN a day or two no one for a moment
dodbts ana the reasons for her absence are entirely
sufficient and satisfactory "a 10 leave
NOT THE REhoTEsr CAUSE FOR ALARM
the character OF the ,livide'' already thoroughly
explored II Is impossible 10 say. but IL Is hardly
viously announced has been discovered And even
tbough depression be found so low as 400 feet
y would not alter the ,t concnson aready arrived
mountainous character OF the country on the
y hnc side precludes all idea OF an interoceanic
e.s1al within miles either side Of the Tuyra River
IrecipItOus hills present the most insuperabe bar
riers all the way nom Plnogana TO the Cue and
iortuous IN Its course as 10 SHUT out all hopes OF
navigation. Yet great work has nevertheless
route must ever hold prominent place in the I'M
lortant enterprises OF the aye. That substantial
been established beyond all question: and
any authentic Information re!auve to the
nature OF this particular portion OF the
istImus must b. credited TO Tins undertaking. Not
withsrandlng ali the voluminous reports that have
been published regarding the Tuyra River AMI Its
surroundings, excluding entirely the imaginative
sketches OF wordy adventurers the fact remains that
prior 10 The ADVENT Of this expedition the
ishmus little or nothing was known about the
route surveyed. Had any canal route existed In
fuls direction n would most assuredly nave been
discovered by this undertaking, and not previous
20 It's coming Better organized and more thur
oughy equipped than any previous expedition, that
which has now completed It's labors may well be
congratulated upon i's results, having done much
TO set at rest the
yAR.ou THEORIES AND sPECULATfoSs
that have for years been fTuitlessy INDUCED In.
From the commander down to the least important
participant IN the extensive operations there have
been displayed u zeal and perseverance rarely
met with under such adverse circumstances. And
although the anticipsfions relative to the re-
ierred 10 nave not been realized, although the char
acter OF the country proyel vastly different
20 that which scanty Information led the
commander and his ofrcels 10 expect, almost
equal credit Is due the expedition as II nrst
amount Of labor and anxiety involved were IN both
cases the same. So much for the Tuyra-Atrato
route. what recommendations Commander self
ridge will maze upon MS return II Is impossible 10
say until the reports OF the surveying party the
Atlantic side shall have been handed in II Is rea-
sorabie TO sufmise nevertheless that the tunnellng
of the summit dividing the Cue from the Paranchua
river wil not be included. Indeed, there is scarcely
doubt but that, everything duly considered. this
route Will he pronounced lmpracticable. Not
however the route from the Pacific TO the Atrato 10y
way Of the Napp, OF which full details have already
been given. Great confidence is entertained in
gard TO the success or TINS line. II II not by any
means claimed as
AN ORIGINAL DISCOVERY
though II n very doubtful whether any regular sur
veying party drew complete line across To the
Alrat0 River; but it IL contendcd and not without
reason that no previous expedition ever Established
oceanic canal. The only point yet undetermined In
regard 60 s rs TO the character OF the Atrato River
oughly examined by party from the Guard out the
result will not be known until the vessel arrives at
Aspinwali The line Of the proposed canal Is
thiru-one miles. the dividing ridge Of OIL