New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-07
CANAL ACROSS THE ISTHMUS
THE NAPIPI ROUTE.

tvpoW An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, May "a - The completion by
Capt sefrdce OF the supplemental survey Of the Napp
snip Canal another step toward the establishment
of marine pas age through the sthmus which divides
the American Continent For five centuries the establish
Inent Of this passage has excited the ambition OF naN
gators and received the hearty sympathy Of all com
mercial nations In 1902 Columbus pushed his way
across the Caribbean Sea and skirted the sthmus OF
Darien. only turning back cOmpulsion, 10 cuiD III
chains the ambition Of his life lie was loi
lowed by Balboa, decade later, who hrSt
crossed the divide and the ocean ne
had sought to enter COrtez first entered ana maue
known the country at the upper extremity OF Tue ISM
mus. The knowledge. which came on later eAp''ra'o"'
that the ibmus was certainly closed. by no means re-
pressed the TO pierce the narrow neck Whcn CON
meets tho American continents biologists and sclen-
fists have asserted that nature intended aud the ocean
once possessed passage from sea to sea by geoga-
pliers OF all nations the subject has been considered ana
by almost every commercial nation survey made 10
test the practcabiY Of forming an artificial opening
ATTAIN in 1916 the Third Napoleon devoted the leisure
o his TO the study OF the route by Ncara-
qua and published an essay upon the snbiect. Pitt
Jefferson Humboldt. Guzot Louis Philippe. Dallas
Biddlc and long list of eminent men have urged and
contributed TO the project
Apr5blem which in the past has been regarded almost
wholly in It's relation TO spiu has only within the last
ouaricr OF century been regarded IN ITS apprO
pirate relation 10 interests OF the United States To
grasp and control the Asatic trade-the aspiration Of
every European power-has become so evidently the IN
of tIe United States, thar our merchants and pub
he men have taken into serious consideration the prob
lem of route 10 convey, without breaking bulk the
goods OF the West to our Eastern coast number of
expeditions have, in the American interest, surveyed
the DIFF rca routes reported feasible and he present
seCus an opporuDe moment for the consideration OF
the engineering and financial difficulties involved
and tho selection OF particular route TO which
tle .rUp Of DO devoted.
To this enu a Board consisting Of Gen. Humphreys OF
the Engineer Corps, Prof Pierce Of the Coast Survey
and Commo Amman Of the Navy appointed last
Spring by President To them shortly to DO sub
mittcd proposals for the different routes The routes
by Honduras, Costa Rca, Panama, and Darien have
proved upon examination to be, without doubt, not
feasible, leaving for consideration three rOutes the
Iehuantepec Ncaraguan, and that by the AiratO and
Nlipi For the last three years the Navy Department.
the direction Of Congress- has devoted It's means
and the OF distinguished officers under ITS con-
troll to the thorough examination Of the Bthmus, and
particularly Of the routes last named. handsome
quartO containing Capt S1ufedts survey al
Tchuanepcc was published by the last Congress.
Capt Selfridge completed the Nappt survey, the
subject of present article. Commander Lull is now
engaged thorough survey by Nicaragua, which Will
be completed this Summer This route has the advan-
tage Of unlimited water supply at its summit level
AMI is the subject OF the CaytonBulwer treaty Of 1880
BY which the United States and Great Britain agree to
assume, in measure protectorae over the work
On the receipt OF this remaining survey the Board
named above viii proceed with its abors and it is be-
ueyed the country may depend upon it to select the most
suitable and feasible route.
The orders for the expedition under present cOnsid
grafton were gwen by the Navy Department. Jan. TO-
1870 and Capt. Seudge directed to examine every
possible route that the country might be satisfied tna
Tor the expense Of the expedition most thorough sur
Sey was had The field Of operations of this expedition
may be generally considered as the territory lying be-
tween the railroad at Panama and the headwaters OF
the AtratO. Two vessels placed under direction OF
Capt selfrdge and employed either side of the
lsthmus. The numerous routes crossing this narrow
neck which have been suggested or explored were 1t
believed thoroughly examined Among them is the
route proposed by De Puvd that OF the Tuyrl by the
Gulf Of san Miguel the other Dlrien routes; but
the result only confirmed the failures OF the amented
Cullen Of Strain and Of the preceding English and
Granadian expeditions.
From the Indians at Panama Capt. fridge had had
information Of the old trail from Cupca Bay to the
Atrato; and late in the devoted to his work, he
proceeded TO the examination Of what be now enthu-
sascally believed be the route for which the world
has been searching for five centuries. Pizarro, in his
voyage from 20 the conquest OF Peru found as
be sailed southwark Cupica Bay the first natives of
the territory sought to conquer landing from their
canoes and passing and Tepassng into the interior.
Their business with the inhabitants of the terri
tory which now forms the southern States OF Colombia,
brought them hundreds OF Emiles nearer the terri
tory OF Peru But the CIrcuitous route was chosen
with its long voyage up the coast and again
ap the channel Of the Atrato, because here,
where the Isthmean range ends and the
Corderas begin nature seemed TO have formed prac
teal gateway to god-bearng and luxurant country
beyond This trail well known 10 the Indians Of the
vicinity but their tradition cannot describe its
construction Humboldt invited attention to the EVIL
IDENTIFY excellent passage By this route, but did not give
personal examination. There Is record Of its pas
sage, many years ago, by party OF English naval
officers seeking the Caribbean and also Of several pas
sages by South American naval officers is first passage
by naval transport in 1921 when the launch Of
Gillian frsIte was safely carried over the divide and
eoated down the Napip It is reported to have been
upward century since suggested TO the Spanish Gov
ernment as feasible canal route but the project seems
to have been discOuntenanced by them, probably from
the fear OF attracting attention TO their possessions
An south America. TIis well-wOrn trail Of the
long past has become the OF projected ship canal
II remains to be seen OF the Indian and his
burdencd beast into the interior may become the chan
mel Of the palrface, with the burdened monster which
shall home and his market the products OF
the countries OF the great Pacific.
Al Cnpica Bay, the cliffs rise abruptly from the sea
hundreds Of feet their crowned with the dense
growth OF the tropical forest. Numerous little streams
trickle down the rocks the At the summit the
Old InOiau trail is easily found over the mountains II
l. clear Of trees arched by vines and shaded by the
broad fans of the PALM. In manypacesithe trail Is cut
from the hills thei messy covering Indicates its
ancient construction After passing the headwaers Of
the Napp but $40 feet above the the trail becomes
more opau aud the broken country Of the divide Is
finally lost in a splendid and grand descent to the
Atrlto. Below the DOguadO the NapIpi has no trbu-
Tes except In the rainy season, and therefore there
Exists no Indication OF broken country in the interior
The first surveying party foot and in canoes. were