The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-02

tllDuteu 10 raise JOo standard OF INTERNATIONAL
ethics by our example, we cannot stultify our
selves by abjuring in theory the generous
forbearance we have exemplifed in practice.
THE PROPOSED DARIEN SHIP CANAL
THE NEW ROUTE.
From the NJ Y. Herald.
From our special correspondent accom-
panying the Darien Isthmus Exploring Ex-
pedition, under Commander Selfrdge United
States Navy, we published yesterday with
an accompanying map) some very interesting
letters, descriptive of the new ship canal
route discovered between the Gulf of Darien,
on the Atlantic side, and the Gulf of San
Miguel on the Pacific. From these letters
we are strongly drawn to the conclusion that
the great problem is solved, and that, per-
haps, a few years hence, our trading vessels
between New York and San Francisco, by
crossing the Istbmus from the Gulf of
Darien, will entirely cut off and save the
long, tedious, and dangerous circuit of Cape
Horn and the South American Continent.
We have heretofore regarded the Nicaragua
route as immeasurably the most feasible, the
most inviting and the most advantageous of
all the isthmus routes proposed for a ship
canal. Between New York and San Francisco
1t is over a thousand miles shorter than the
proposed Darien route; and British engi-
neer, Captain Pym Royal Navy, after care
full exploration of the Nicaragua route, has
estimated that ship canal with locks, may
here be opened between the two oceans at
the small expense OF about twenty millions
of dollars. The dividing plateau Chat occu-
pied by the great Lakes Nicaragua aud Mana
gua) is only three hundred feet above the sea
level. The distance between Lake Nicaragua
and the Pacific is fifteen miles, which by this
route is all the canal excavation that will be
absolutely necessary; for from the outlet of
the lake on its eastern side (the San Juan
river) the river, by locks and DAMS may be
made navigable to the Atlantic for the largest
ships all the year round. Louis Napoleon Qhe
present exile at Wilhelmshohe) was so fasci-
mated with the commanding advantages of this
route that he said the power which, with
ship canal, shall hereafter hold those two
lakes, Nicaragua and Managua, will hold
dominating naval and commercial position in
the West equal to that of Constantinople in
the East-tbat, in short, the little town of
Massaya, between those aforesaid lakes, is
destined to be the Constantinople of America
A glance at the map of North and Central
America will be sufficient to convince the in
telligent reader that Louis Napoleon, in his
enthusiastic admiration of the Nicaragua
route for ship canal, was not far out of the
way. But Notwithstanding the fact that
Commodore Vanderbilt, with his California
line of heavy draught steamships, has shown
sufficient for practical purposes, neither of
those barbors is all that could be desired.
The harbor of San Juan especially is shallow,
open, and exposed, and that on the Pacific
side is too contracted for the purposes of a
continental isthmus canal and its great squa-
drons of commercial ships which, with and
after the opening of he canal, will always be
gathered at both ends of the line.
The new route discovered by Commander
Selfridge at Darien amply meets all the re-
quirements of deep, capacious, and secure
haIbor at both ends of the line, and, we
think, too, of a canal without lockages: The
Gulf of Darien, on the Atlantic side, and the
Gulf of San Miguel, on the Pacific, each leads
into deep, capacious, and secure harbor,
and thence into navigable fresh water river.
It is thought that, although from the mouth
of the Atrato river, on this side, to the mouth
of the Iuyra, on the other side, the route
will probably not exceed one hundred and
twenty-five miles, the extent of the route to
be excavated will not exceed fifty miles, and
that the summit level of the dividing ridge
to be overcome will be less than three hun
dred feet above the sea, or say two hundred
above the present river navigation. The men
of our exploring expedition lead us to these
estimates from preliminary reconnaissance
of a single route between the waters of the
Atrato and the Tuyra. Each of these rivers
has numerous branches interlocking in the
sinuosities of the slender backbone of the
continent in that quarter, and it is believed
that a still lower connecting depression than
that discovered will be found.
But the route indicated as reported will do.
We conclude from our correspondents details
of it that it is available for ship canal by
through cut, at less than half the cost of the
Suez Canal. In other words, we estimate that
ship canal by the Darien route indicated,
whereby ship may sail straight through
from ocean to ocean without lockage, may be
excavated at half the cost required to open
the Suez Canal. We have great hopes of the
complete success of this exploration of the
route suggested, and with its success the
dullest landsman will begin to comprehend
way house between New York and the Gulf of
Darien.