The New York herald., 1871-05-15
PANAMA. Nav 3. 1871.

PANAMA, May 3, 1871.
BY way OF supplement TO my last telegraphic
despatch announcing the discovery OF an inter-
oceanic canal route from Cupica Bay to the Atrao,
Is viii be necessary to allude more fully to the de-
tails of the survey and otherwise explain the
grounds upon which 1T is confidently pronounced
success. Commander selfrdge claims that al
thOngh the examination OF the line first commenced
In January from the Gulf OF Darien up the Atrato
and Paranchita rivers and up the Tuyra and Cue
rivers from the Pacific may not realize the expecta
tons previously formed owing to the altitude Of the
mountainous barrier nevertheless the labors of the
expedition have, up 10 the present, been amply re-
warded by the important result which mas attended
the survey or what Is generally known as the 'Na-
plpi route" from Cupica Bay. 1t Is not TO be in
terred however, that the other route, that upon
which the expedition originally started and which,
after reconnaissance, the commander stated had
'uvide" OF only three hundred feet, has proved
failure, since the exploring party from
this side has not YET returned to the
ship. They are expected here in
few days. when the official Information Will
at once set aside all doubts on the subject. Mean
while the Intelligence communicated by the pro-
vision party which leave here and return once
week Is not sufficiently encouraging to strengthen
the hopes entertained month ago. For five or six
weeks past the two partes-that from.the Atlantic
side and tnat from the Paclfc-have been energet
cally prosecuting their surveys in the immediate
vicinity Of the 'dvide without, however discover
mg the great depression said to exist IN tnat drec
tion. BY this time nothing has been left undone to
solve the problem as the party left the iyide over
TWO weeks since on their return TO Cnpagaua. But
as they are drawing line through the woods ana
are not following the course or the river their pro-
gress has necessarily been very slow. The twenty.
one men on the sick list at Boca Paya are with
or two exceptions, recovering. Everything con-
sdered ] have reason TO believe that the entire
operations of the expedition Will have been finished
by the 10th inst. As TO the Napipi route
various opinions entertained. 1t has been re-
peatedly mentioned In contradstinction to many
other discoveries across the sthmus but 1t is very
questionable whether the line has received the
thorough investigation which this expedition has
made OF 1t. To be sure it Is extensively known TO
those interested in the subject but previous
have never attracted that attention which would
tend 10 enlist popular recognition. Moreover the
numerous statements set forth by
THE ADVOCATES OF RIVAL ROUTES
must pe received with cauIion. In many cases
personal motives and not the common good have in-
duced Adventures to proclaim with unblushng I'M
pudence, the feasibility Of certain routes Of which
they knew nothing. There has been written
sense, than has ever engaged the attention OF
scientific men. 1t would be useless to refer the
innumerable absurdit!es which characterize the
efTusons OF the INSCRIPTIONS se,fstyled explorers
who for the last nifty years have paid flying visits
to the isthmus. According to some there must be
dozen routes for ship canal yet here we are. after
200 years, as far advanced ever, unless perhaps
1t be determined that this route, by way
OF the Napip, is sufficiently practicable
for the purpose intended. That the great Atrato
river has It's natural advantages for ship canal
few VIII dispute II has been explored and reported
ON by Trautwlne, Kennith and General Michler ana
Others to say nothing or the extensive examination
made of 1t by this expedition. Neither can it be
denied that 1t presents obstacles which would re-.
quire skill and ingenuity to overcome Where the
Atrato deboucnes into the Atlantic, In the recess OF
the Gulf OF Darlen there is ugly bar, for the
removal OF which various methods are sug-
gested. Then the mighty current flows rapidly /,
even In the dry season, and nothing but the most
powerful tugs could ever tow a vessel against It.
The river, with all the MINOR objections that might
be urged against II, is nevertheless, regarded by
The oifcers who have examined 1t entirely suitable
for the object in view. As previously mentioned
the survey of TINS ioute from Lnon Bay, which Is
short distance from Cupica Bay, and about 200
OF March. Commander Setrldge having made his
reconnaissance from the Pac,nc aIong the Napipi
anchored ABOUT q nile ron shore. The survey fol-
lowed Immediately. Mr.. F. Collins, MASTER and
Ensign Payne being In charge, ana taking with them
four seanen and four machetcros The 'dlvde,"
which rises apruptly from tue shore, was ascer
tanned 10 be exactly Oh feet An Old Indian trail,
by which. no doubt the inhabitants OF Darieu III
former times were wont to convey their smugglcd
goods from the Atlantic TO the Pacific, crosses the
mountains aud continues along the Napipi. A short
distance further Oh al elevated plateau is reached
two or three miles In extent. The trail goes over
this plateau and strikes hIlls between seventy aud
Napip runs through gorge known as the Hucal
range the height OF which is about four hundred
feet. Following the trait the Rancho Grande is met
with, being ABOUT hall way between the divide ana
the Atrato. IL Is about Zo0 feet above the level Of
the sea-
THE VOLUME OF THE NApIPI
being estimated at ,000 tons per hour would, 1t
IL claimed, permit 0f lockage up TO this point II
necessary. the country Is broken until we come
the Doguado river winch Is twenty -nye miles to the
sblc DESPATCH anu having crossed the "divlde, !"
lost time IN pushing forward along the trail. The
Napipl was found TO be very crooked, o fact shown
by the result OF the survey, for While the party
travelled slXty-nine miles and o halt TO reach the
Atrato they subsequently, ascertaned The distance
In u straight line 10 be only twenty seven miles.
Arriving at the Rancho Grande, which Is The mead
Of navigation, there beng very little water
IN the river from the "diN1dc" 10 that point the
party entered the canoes which had previously
been engaged for them Tor tn purpose OF con-
veying provisions. Tue usual amount OF sur.
endured. Toward evening one OF the canoes gene
rally started some distance anead OF the
night upon The banks and COOK SOME
necessares Operations were carried on until aDons
dusk, anu the party commenced afresh the follow
ing morning at d0ybreak Nothing OF an unusual
character occurred TO mark the progress OF the
pary ana tne operation throughout was tnat rou,
tine description so well known in connection Win
such surveys. The height uf the Atrato above mean
tde ~ the junction Of the Naplpi was found TO no
only fortyonc iect The party started To return on
The lotn u, anu arrived on board the Kesaca eight
days aftcrward. The Napipi nows through noun
famous country for about thirteen miles from the
dividing rlgc. As | have already lntimaled ny
telegraph tho propositions OF Commander Selfrldge
In relation to the route the grounds uDon which
nc claims success for the survey thirteen locks ne
considers would be sufficient from the Atrato to the
junction Of the DOquado river. from W hch, among
other Sources the supply Of water IL pcced. Then
n sufficiently deep cut could he made. and. alter
tunneiing through the divide, descend to Ihe Pacific
by nine LOCKS. AS already mentioned, the distance
from the Pacific 70 the junction OF the Napipi and
Airat0 MYERS Is nnder thirty mules and from the