The New York herald., 1873-11-12
THE OARIEN INrER-OcEANIc CANAL.


Navy. read paper last evening before the Amerl-
can Biographical society on "Tne lsthmns Of
Darten and the Valley OF the Atrato Considered
with Reference to the PracticabIity OF an Inter-
oceanic ship Canal" Chief Justice DAILY presided.
The lecturer opened Dy calling attention to the
singularity OF the fact shat . question involving
such immense interests a. that OF an inter-
oceanic ship canal should have been handed down,
through more than aO0years OF the greatest ACTIVITY
In geographical research, to US OF the present day
for Its solution. Quotations were made nom the
report upon tnteroceanic railroads and canals.
made 20 the Senate by Rear Admiral Charles II.
Davis I'm 1857 to show that at that time the sthmus
OF Darien was almost Q terra tnc0OnftG. and that
there did not then exist In tho libraries OF the
world the means OF determining, even approxi-
matey, the most practicable canal route. The
absolute necessity for capaoious and well shell
tered harb0r as starting point for the canal, upon
the Atlantic side restricts the range OF inquiry.
so far az Darien ia concerned. to the vicinity
OF the bays OF San Bias, Caledonia
and Darien. The most northerly or these. San
Bias, was first taken up. Here is the narrowest
part OF the isthmus It had been previously sur
veyed by Mr.. 7. M. Kelley, OF New York, who had
reported favorably upon It. 1t was found BY CON-
mander Sefridge, however. to be less favorable
than Mr. Kelley had supposed. The height Of the
tire line Is but twenty-six miles In length
ten mites OF this distance w0uid require tunnel-
ling. IL was therefore pronounced impracticsble.
Bias Indians were then briefly alluded TO-
The long famous ''Darien r0uten from Caledonia
Bay on the Atlantic TO the Gulf q San Miguel on
iousiy explored by several parties. Here was the
scene OF the fearful sunerings Of Strain and mis-
the route had reported unfavorably upon 1t except
Dr. Cullen, but their exploration had peyer been
sufficiently thorough 70 settle the gAeati61 com
by Whom The unlayorabe reports were Confirmed
and the extraysgaqt atAt6M6nts Of Culle1 fnfnfs6.
ing vasT rom sa.as9 aS9S0 !9 ~ leg 1sss high
4 funnel sisHs to teI mlids long. Void i "t s.
r,1a.. al: whign, vita oeAaar pnfavorable con-
ditions, rendered the r0ut5 ..anraGfinahl9.
Route" from the Gulf OF Darien to that Of San
Miguel, the Atrat0 River being utilized as lar az
the mouth OF the Carcarica. whence cut had been
irxIorable reports OF this line had been made By
prey10ug explorers. The lecturer exhibited map
& ss iss . ySgs's SF e NJ aSFsrs% I % g
resented, through which broad aluvial plain ex-
tended entirely across, with an extreme aleyalon
rect map according to Commander Selfride6r
where the Cordilleras formed an lnbrokea
chain and Si the soo entire ~ 20 country was net
Frenchman, named De Puyat, claimed to have
assembled the Tenea River, and Ihave discovered
this to be completely false, no such pass existing
In that locality: Having then exhausted tho
lsthmus proper, the valley Of the Atrato was con.
Srisas sketchsd ana attention GeS saTnsd g
shs Esag.s Of Caa Captain selfrdgsY xpoFations IN
5 sna IL p ss ss hapR ssi " is4s
iSs,. %1;s: SsaSs ts@ some ,,sa sa
the line CROSSES the divide, which here tises
abruptly from the Pacific, at an elevation 81 o6s
waters follows that stream to the Napipi and
thence that river to the Atrato. Tho Atrato
csS IS ,n less s1am y eof
the Napipi. There is at present bar at Its mouth
which will have to be dredged out: The length OF
but ssS miles, 20 Of which are re- through an almost
level plain where BY the use OF eight locks the cut
canal with Is feet OF water For the next four or ava
miles the cutting would be somewhat heavier. and
then tunnel three miles long would be resorted 70
to carry the canal under the highest part OF the
ridge. Beyond this system OF twelve locks would
accomplish the descent to or the ascent from tina
ample and could be doubled by a feeder from the
Cuia, three miles long. profile or the line having
sxbbtea ana the minor tas Of the WORK ex
planned. BY this route Captain Sefrtdga estimates
that canal may be constructed according to this
plan for $5eooo,0oo. 1t would require the excava-
ton OF 100000 cubic yards Of earth and 100000
cubic yards oirock. Extracts from letters written
then read to show that tunnel OF the size pro-
posed was perfectly practicable. The advantages
OF this route were then compared with those OF its
rivals, and special attention called to the fact that
the geological formation OF the country ABOUT th0
Naplpi and the results OF long experience 80 TO
show that 1t Is region little likely to be disturbed
BY the action OF volcanic agencies, while the re-
verse was great and freely admitted objection to
both Tehuantepec and Nicaragua The lecturer
then entered upon consideration OF the condition
and resources OF the country in which the Napipt-
Dognado line Is located. Rubber abounds In the
lower portion of the valley OF the Atrato, while
its upper portion is undoubtedly one OF the Richest
gold regions IN the world. The entire country y
the builder and the cabinet maker, aud
with valuable dvew0ods OF various species. Tho
OF all the tropical productions may be raised with
little labor The country is peoDled principally by
pus sness are ,srs we @ @
These are oil friendly to the canal scheme and anx-
ious to see 1t inaugurated the geological
ferred to were then briefly discussed. There are
two dry seasons-January, February and March.
periods OF rain during the other months mild
type OF ofmalarial fever prevails at the commencement
OF the dry seasons but the fact that Captain Self
shows the climate to be less insaiubrious than is
generally supposed The necessity for canal
garded as being too generally admitted to require
argument. From the statistics OF trade for 1870 Il
was calculated that the canal would yeia g ne enc
or nearly nine per cent upon its cost Of 500
and there could be doubt but that this would be
in few years doubled by the impetus given to
trade BY the canal ITSELF The canal would, there
fore, without doubt. prove financial success
The remarks throughout were illustrated with
maps aud charts, and with Photographic views, ex-
hiblted by means Of the stere0ptic0n.
Upon the motion Of Mr.. J. O. Ward, seconded BY
Judge W. +. Curtis the following resolution was
adopted THAT in the recent death of Mr.. Cassius
Darling. this society regrets the loss OF . useful
and accomplished member and one who, by his
long.continued, digent and practical observa-
tions, was desirable associate In the objects We
have In view.
Mr.. RUGGLEs moved that committee be ap-
pointed to collect information In order TO deter
mine the best route for an inter0ceanic canal.
Sir Samuel White Baker and Lady Baker woro
unanimously elected honorary members OF tho
society.
Dr. g. w. Hosmer and others were elected cor
responding members OF the society.
A vote OF thanks was unanimously passed W
Lieutenant Collins for his able and elaborate
paper, after which the NEE ting adjourned.
npYTuARY