The New York herald., 1871-03-01

tried IL cannot be denied that VARIOUS obstacles
present themselves, ana tnat tile undertaking IL gf-
eah.c IN lts character Frutles searches nave been
made time after time. yet IN most cases the conn
try mas never been sufficiently explored to jnsrifv
the belief that an nteioceanic canal IL mpractIca-
BILE. In fact, the knowledge set forth concernInn r,e
greater portion or this vast tract OF country IA
mostly OF "a superficial character and IN Ilany IN
stances cannot safely be rened upon. That a ieasi-
bic route exists there can be little doubt AMI
tlat can De discoVerod ohly aiter vigorous ant
commenced under very fayorabe auspices AMI
with prospects that entite Il 10 the earnest at
tenlon OF the community. The splendid narbors al
either end OF the route, the successful RECONNAISSANCE
ces that have already been made, showing that navi,
gaton IL even now Ieassle FOR over half ne distance
OF The entire line, raised the nope that the
expedition VIII be marked by success The achieve
ment WIN be q credit 10 the nation ana a lasting
hoaor 10 the names 0f those Nno nave vigorously
prosecuted their aDOrs There Is little tv lie adj
ded Everything il now IA riy under way. While Cons
mander Selfrdgc Is surveying the tac1c side moth
Ing VIII be left undOne OH this slde OF the DIVIDE.
Meanwhile Commander Lull WIN continue the super
VISION of the work in tile narDof.
TIE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA on THE EXPE-
DIfIoE.
~ seems that the lie hargy which has hitherto
marked the government OI Colombia was temporarily
shaAen on 10y the Thought that Canal WAS about 10
De ouitt lcr its special convenience. some time ago
saNauor Camacho, secretary VI the Interior oil the
National government Of Colombia, wrote letter 10
,na ou0aeaiy VI tle ntate oi Oaucd. itls pleuy
goou specimen ol te hiGhnown style VI coresp0nu+
chee ana Is curiosity III ltS way. It Will be seen
ihat while the government relsnes the idea OF par
tcpatinE In the advantages OF the canal acrosssrad
sthnlus It's lDeialty Is not equal To its desires Th3
fuil text appeared Ia an oucial paper and portio
reais rs ionoWs:-"Pernt me 10 direct TO this SUBJ
Ject the illisrlou5 and patriotic a,tenton OF Jour
government, in the nope that 1t will contribute ~
The success OF the expedition By al. the means
In Its power, but particularly recommend that
Tie authorities and the citizens render pr0ectioh
ana assstaI,ce IN every maluer possible / would
suggest that there be organized at Quibado an eXI
pOring expedition TO accompany mat OF the Anerl
can eApeditlon-at least between tile mouth Of th5
lruando and The Paciuc-and particularly with the
object OF seeking the shortest aud lowest passes of
the Cordileras from the RIO Namlcana TO tho
heights ol Aspavl, on the diyldng line between tho
States. TO deray the expense OF tnls expeditou
me general government VIII contribute s2.Ooo,I
whcl, united 10 wAat VIII be gwen by The State OF
Cauca, and that whlcn may contributed by those
OF Antioqua and Bolivar, and 10 what may ne iur-
nlshed by the voluntary and patriotic subscriptions
OF the neignborins States ol choco-prtlculariy,
those Oi NOvha anu Qulba io-will form a.
exploration In order TO proceed with Tue best erecg
IL Would perhaps be well 10 give this expedition ~
definite object as Tor example, the exploration of
The passes OF the Corilleras, on the line above
toned, or upon any o;ner line which may De agreed
upon with Commander seilridge, leaving 10 the
American expedition the hyurogrdphic exploration
OF the Atrato aud It's tributaries, Inis expedition
Will IN this way become an auxiliary TO the re-
searches of the American engineers III their attempt
TO lind depression IN the Cordiileias yw enough
for canal between the Atrato and the Pacific.
There Will not he required this expedition sclen-
utc engineers, but simply men Of courage
and hardwood and somewhat acquainted with
tne ainsrcnt branches OF lne COrdllleras which
Pacific Ocean, and vi persons acquainted with the
haolts and customs o. the Indians or Cnoco, and
and prlvatlOns OF life In the woods Tor two or three
months. AS u stimuous to this enterprise might %
mentioned the fact that there Will naturally be met
IN TINS country large quantities. OF caoucilOuc, sarsa
parilla, 1pecacuana and mines OF gold nOI yet dis
covered In every case | have no douOt tnat you
will most earnestly recommend TO the consideration
OF your government to the notable persons and tO
the people in general In your vicinity to the
American explorers with all the kindly sympathy
ana patrlouc Interest which are their DUE 10 ID not
necessary 10 say to you that the route by the Tru-
ando presents most advantages for the republic,
and the which the President would prefer tn
have chosen. This route would open new ana ex-
tensve fields or progress for the st ates OF Panama.,
Cauca and Bolivar, aml viii perhaps render tha
region OF the Choco the first III the world III less
than half a century,
This characteristic epistle, though doubtless
written with thorough earneStne3s Is a specimen
OF the enterprise OF the government. They prefer all
tile troublesome operations III connection with tne
expedition TO be performed by Americans while
their own explorers should hunt for gold ana INDIA
rubber. Protection and assistance are generously
offered In the foregoing, but since the
letter was written the government seem tO
have forgotten all about the matter. Nothing.
in fact mas come OF II; but one thing Is quite cer-
warded humane bach OF natives with mosqulto
nets some other apparatus that could successfully
drive Off the pertinacious swars OF mosquitoes that
torture the seepess explorers no more phianthropi0
action could be accomplished.
HEALTH OF THE EXPLORERS.
So far the health OF those engaged In the expa~
dltlOn has, with few exceptions, been very fair.
The weather Is changing for the better Some cases
Of local fever arising from exposure have been
entertained.