Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-06
The BARREN Canal survey.

(2) We have seen that the height of the 18th
mus mountains is much less than that Of tn
| South American Cordillera, and that il decreas
! eS, especially between Panama and Aspinwall
where the whole geographical character Of til,
| isthmuS undergOes a great change We saw
| also that the mountainous system near the Ii
mon bay, in the province of Choco, has geo
logical character different from that of the
| Tuyra and of the Chucunaque regions, in the
province of Darien, and that this again differs
| from that between Panama and Aspinwall
| Consequently, the whole lsthmus-COrdllera cor
sists of three mountainous systems different
| one from another.
o. We have seen that the Isthmus- Cordillera
| does not possess, in general, high table lands Of
| so large an extension as those are which are
| frequently encountered in the South American
| Cordillera as well as in Central America This
| is very important fact, if we bear in mind
that these high table lands of the western coast
alone make it possible for a white man to work
with endurance in the tropics, and to cultivate
with success all these various products which
| create the tropical commerce. This orograph-
ica fact properly understood and applied is the
| key for an explanation OF good many things
| in the past history Of South America, of the
| isthmuS, and Of Central America. The history
| of the two great deCayed empires of the IncaS
| and of the Aztecs, rs well rs the deeds of the
adventurous SpaniardS, all of whom have left
us everywhere ruins which attest their enter
| priSing and courageous spirit, becomes only in
Ielll8lDlG NuCIl We ldhC proper uCCOuul VI tile
geognostcal structure Of these regions.
a. We have learned the psychological
proofs preserved in the tertiary strata of Tuyra
region on the Pacific slope on the one hand, and
in the tertiary deposits from Empire Station to
Monkey Hill on the Atlantic slope on the other
hand These show US that at least two channels,
one between the Gulf st. Miguel and the Gulfof
Uraba, the other between Panama and Aspinwall,
existed up to the later tertiary period by which
both oceans mingled their waters, This fact is
important for an understanding Of the geo.
graphical distribution Of the present vegetable
life.
(5.) We have learned that the upheaval of the
Pacific COrdillera belongs to the later eruptye
period, and that its rocks belong to the Dctro-
graphical families of the trachyt and of the ba-
salt; and further that the San Bias Cordilera OF
the Atlantic belongs to an older geological pc
Rod, and that it is composed of the older crys-
taline rocks namely, of granite, syente diorite.
| The northern Atlantic slope was consequently
| already upheaved, and in state of tranquility
| when the waters Of the South sea still covered
| the whole area which forms at present the Pa
ciic slope If after this we take account of the
| constant diSintegratng effect of the north
| eastern trade-wind saturated with the moisture
| of the Caribbean sea, we will understand how it
was possible that the rocks of the Atlantic slope
| could be so greatly decomposed and furnish bye.
and-bye the material of a fertile soil which had
the power TO produce most gorgeous yegeta-
| ton.
The general result ofDr. Maacll's observations
in relation to the feasibility of the canal are sum
| married as folows
Although the construction of an inter-oceanc
canal is specially an engineering work, never
/ theless it may not be out of the way if |, as a
| naturalist, sum up in a few words the advan-
tages and disadvantages which nature has given
| to each of those lines for an iner-oceanic con-
nectOn.
a. We have learned that the Isthmus-C ordil.
lela has not at any place such low depression
as to dispense with either very deep cut tun-
nel or many locks; either the one or the other
must be applied in carrying out this enormous
| work.
~ We have learned that the geology, the
| photography and meteorOlogy of the isthmus
are OF peculiar character, and differ from the
geology, the photography and the meteorOlogy OF
| North and South America. This region must
| therefore be looked upon from its own point OF
| view The long rainy season, with its freshet
and with the sudden rise of the rivers is an i'm
portant fact to consider generally for all practi-
| cal enterprises in that country, and especially
! for an interOceanic canal junction: but il is no
less important to consider the excessive evapor-
alton of the river water during the dry season
| the consequence of which is the want of water
| at the summit in that season.
| 80 We have learned that all the rocks OF
the isthmus are for the most part in a state of
| diSintegratOn, and that they have cbanUed i'm
| consequence of the decomposing influence of
| the air and of the rain more or less their true
| natural character But as the water flows dur
| ing the rainy season almost day for day, some.
| times even with powerful rapidly, over these
| dlsIntegrated rocks, smaller and larger parts of
| them are swept away down into the river which
| carries them again further on, till they sink
| finally to the bottom and form those hinderinr
| bars at the mouth of the river.
! "a We have learned that the gulf of Darien
del Norte, or Uraba' on the Atlantic side, is one
OF the finest harbors in the world, free from
| reefs, hurricanes and gales further that the
| Auato, beyond its bars, is navigable for the
| largest vessels up the mouth Of Napipi with n
| depth of five tathOms; that the distance from
there to the Pacific coast is 30 miles about "a of
| which run through fat country, very gradual.
| ly rising, which reaches in the next four miles
| the height of some hundred feet, and finally
| upon the divide 612 feet After having
| passed the divide we come in a very short time
| to the Pacific, where we find a good and healthy
| ha"bor in the Limon bay, free from all reefs and
| bars. Wood and stone for building purposes are
| found on the spot
90 We have learned that the lowest depres-
| sion between the Gulf of ST. Miguel and the
| Atrato is 1853 feet, and that the Tuvra rerion
possesses far more difficulties and obstacles for
the construction of the inter-oceanic canal than
| the Napipi line.
| (6) We have learned that the summit eleva-
| ton between Panama and AspnwalI is the low
| eSl in the whole isthmus, viz, 2S7 feet which is
| known up to the present time; but we have
| learned, too, that neither Panama nor ASpiu-
| wall possess such harbOrs as would be needed in
| case of the construction of an intpr-oreonic 90
nal Comparing the natural healthfulness of
| this region with that of the Napp must give
| preference decidedly 10 the Napipi counfrv
| The surroundings of the Limon bay offer indeed
| large areas OF the most healthy situation for all
Kinds OF dwellings, and L must confess, after all
| that have seen on the Atlantic as well as On
| the Pacific, that no other place possesses Such
| an area which would be so well suited for dyveI.
| lings of thousands and thousands of people who
/ would have to work for many years in a humid
| tropical climate, exposed to all kinds of prva-
| ton and hardships | should think that the
natural heath-condition of place is at the 18th.
| mus of far greater consequence than anywhere
| else, especially ii such large number of work
| ing-men have to live together in a wet and I'm.
| mid climate of the tropical zone, for so long A
| time as the construction of an inter.oceanic "a.
| nal must require.
All the most difficult work of the Napipi line
| lies near the Pacific; this would be, of course.
| OF great Importance for the. Transportation of
the different machinery, which could be brought
after It's deDarkation, without great trouble i'm
| medlatey to the spot where the work has 10 he
| done. Here the question arises, is a tunnel of
| Jour miles IN length practicable for an inter-
| oceanic canal junction or not? To decide tbis
Is the business of competent engineers. for
| my part, can only say, after what know of the
| tudIdCtcE OF the rock, that no
obstacles exist to a tunnel tbrou0b tbe diyidinD
ridge But it is impossible to make any certain
statement whether the tunnelled rock will be
| able to sustain itself or if arches will be needed
| Another question will be decided upon Inv the
engineering world: Is it absolutely necessary TO
make tunnel there, or have we not at present
| means enough at hand to lift by machinery nm
| the divide that quantity of water which wouid 6c
needed to set ship afloat and to bring it over
the dividing ridge? We are able at present to
| bring without tunnels a thousand tons load bv
locomotives over the Rocky Mountains, over the
| Alleghanies, over the Sierra Nevada, ETC., and
should It not be practicable to apply machinery
upon the same principle to a ship? NV con-
clusion is, therefore, that according to what |
have seen of the isthmus, the Gulf of Darien.
the Atrato, the Napipi and Lmon bay possess
the greatest natural advantages for an inter.
oceanic canal junction.
The Great Falls and Conway railroad is COM
pleted to Madison, six miles beyond West Ossi-
pee, ana the first passenger train between those