Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-14
The Interoeeanic Canal.

ANOTHER EXPEDITION TO THE ISTHkUs-THE
NAPIPI ROUTE TO BE THOROUGHLY sur
vEYED THIS wIaTBR.
Itwas stated some time since in THe STAR
that the interocesric canal commission woQld
not make their hual report until the return OF
an expedition that was TO make some farther
surveys of the Napipi route this winter. The
arrangements for this expedition have bsen for
come time quietly progressing, and to day the
order detailing its officers and assigning the day
for i:s sailing have been Issued by the Navy de-
paItment.
Tie expedition will be under the command of
Lieutenant Frederick Collins, L. S. navy, with
whom viii De associated Lieutenants Joseph G..
Eaton. j. Il. Sullivan, f. w. Vary and :. Z.
Paine, (all veterans in DaTien service under
Commander Selfridge,) with Assistant Surgeon
D. i. Bransford as medical officer. These OH
GERS are supplied with sll necessary instruments
for the accomplishment Of their difficult work
with scientific accuracy, aud a liberal supply OF
provisions, put up in water tight packages, to
protect them against the copiOus rains OF ths
the tropics. The expedition will sail from New
York in the Pacinc mail steamer which leaves
that port On the second Of January, for Aspin-
wall. Ihere they will repair on board the L. B.
,. CanancalgQS, whose commanding officer will
nave directions from the Navy department to
furnish them transportation to the Gulf OF
Craba ana PROVIDE them with all necessary
men and material for the prosecution of the sur
yey. AS the bar at present existing at the mouth
OF the Atrat0 prevents the passage or vessels of
Eeayy draueht, the party will be obliged to as
Having transported the party, with their instru-
ments and supplies, to the Nspipi river, in the
vicinity OF which their survey will begin, the
boats will return TO the CAnaDdgus, which will
/ then sail, with orders TO return on the 2Ot d
OF March. The object of this expedition is to
OBTAIN such extensive and definite data con-
cerning the topography along the Nspipi line as
Wlll enable the commissioners to compare IL
! with that CT Nicaragua, which has been much
| more thoroughly surveyed. Ii will be remem-
bered that the vicinity OF the Nspipi line is an
t unbroken wilderness, inhabited only by few
negroes and scattered families Of Indians, with
out maps. roads or means OF transports ton.
In this wilderness our explorers had TO grope
| as IN the dark, feeling their uncertain way
| slowly and with great labor, and constructing
| thelr maps as they advanced. 1t Is not sur
| pTlsing, therefore, that in the short time Al
ready spent on that line they shoald have been
| unable 10 obtain such a minnie knowledge of
| the topography as would enable their line 10 be
critically compared with that OF Nicaragua
which lies through q long settled country, and
| mas been frequently surveyed. With the maps
| OF Their own construction to guide them AMI
their knowledge Of the country, gained bv pre-
vlous experience, it is thought that the mem
bers OF the new expedition will be able 10 OBJ
/ tam all necessary data during the present sea
son: The welFestsblisbed reputation of Lieut..
collins and his able assistants gives assurance
that the work Will be prosecuted yigorousl v,
anc nothing left uudoDe to secure as thorou III
| knowledge of the country as time and circu ~
stances will permit Their return NAV be
looked Tor IN April or May next.