The New York herald., 1873-02-01

american Naval Explorations and Prospects
Of the Interocsanic Ship Canal.
Commodore selfridge's Duty and Party- History
ofthe Past and Prospect Of the Present Enter
prise-What May Be Accomplished and
the Commercial Results-The United
States Ship Tuscarora-Her Con-
dition, Command and Crew.
PANAMA, Jan. II. 1873.

PANAMA, Jan. IL, 1873.
The readers OF the HERALD who have followed in
its columns the progress OF the various surveys
which have been made on the Isthmus OF Darien
during the past few years are thus wen aware OF
the obstacles that have been and the inl-
pOrtant results that have been achieved by the Off,
GERS OF the American Navy; but, fer the benefit OF
those who are not thus informed, it may be neces-
sary to recapitulate In order that they may UNDER
stand the objects OF the expedition to which your
special correspondent Is now attached.
HISTORY OF CAPTAIN sELFRrDGE's EXPLORATIONS
In January, 1870, an expedition was organized
under the command Of Commander Thomas o.
Selfridge, United States Navy, for the pur-
pose Of exploring the territory Of the Isthmus OF
Darien and determining the practicability
or impracticability of the several routes
that have been proposed for an inter-
oceanic ship canal. This expedition, during the
Winter Of 1870, surveyed several proposed routes
commencing at Caledonia Bay and the Gulf OF San
Bias on the Atlantic side, and demonstrated them
to be mpracticable, Notwithstanding the favorable
reports that had previously been made OF them by
various explorers who, melted by the love Of no.
toriety or the hope OF pecuniary reward, had pub
lshed glowing accounts of their discoveries with
other foundation than that which existed in their
own imaginatiOns.
In the Winter Of 1871 another expedition was
organized under the same commander, which pro-
ceeded to explore the much-talked Of route by the
way of the Atrato and Tuyra rivers. on this route
great expectations had been entertained but they
were destined to be unluldlled, and this route was
also numbered among the impracticabe.
cess in their survey OF the route by the way Of the
Atrato and Napipi rivers, which proved to be en-
tirely practicable and in all respects the best line
as yet known. The advent OF the rainy season.
however, compelled the explorers to cease their
operations on this route before they had obtained
as much knowledge of the nature Of the ground in
the vicinity OF the line actually surveyed as was
desirable. Nevertheless, by means Of great exer-
tions, they succeeded in completing line OF
survey from the Pacific to the Atrato (which is
navigabe at all seasons for vessels drawing twenty
five feet OF water) which attracted so much atten-
tiOn and has impressed the best engineers OF the
country SO favOrably that 1t has been deemed ad-
visaole to send out third expedition Tor the pur
pose OF gaining more information OF the country
IN the vicinity OF the Napipi.
ORGANIZATION OF THE PARTY.
TINS expedition Is also under the command OF
Lieutenants Fred Collins, J. G. Eaton and 7. ].
Sullivan all OF whom have seen service in the pre-
yious expeditions: Owing to sudden and severe
illness Captain Selfrdge was unable to proceed at
the time set for the departure OF the expedition.
He, however, turned the command over Temporal
rily to Lieutenant Collins, and the expedition, ac-
companied by your correspondent, sailed on the
LIST OF January for Panama.
Upon our arrival here we found the United States
steamship TuscarOra, Commander Belknap, await
ing us, on board which the officers OF the expedi
the work OF organization and preparation for ac-
tive operations as soon as Commander Selfridge,
whe Is expected by the next steamer, shall arrive.
AS soon as he comes the TuscarOra will sail for
Cuplca Bay, and three parties, under the command
of the lieutenants above mentioned viii be placed
at once in the field.
PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS.
The route already surveyed requires canal
OF about thrty-twO miles in length, for which the
estimated cost amounts to s75,OOO,OOO. This Win
ter 1t Is hoped to shorten this some four five
miles, by which the estimates will be reduced to
about sixty million dollars. The prospect OF being
able to do this Is now good, and should 1t prove
be well founded the success OF the canal project
will be assured. The commercial world, therefore,
may well look with interest for the report Of the
results that may be attained.
FACTS AND FIGURES FOR THE WORLD OF COMMERCE.
IL Is hardly necessary to speak OF the CONNER
cial value OF this great work but the following
table, which has been prepared by Lieutenant
Collins for the forthcoming repOi OF Commander
Sellrdge, will speak for ITSELF and place the matter
In so strong light that argument Will be rendered
unnecessary. The following is the exhibit
TABLE
showing the probable gain in time and distance
to be effected for sailing vessels to and from the
port OF New York by ship canal across the 18TH
mus OF Darien over the route proposed by Com
mander Selfridge, United States Navy