The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-20
Trip Up the San Juan River-Aoross
Lake Nicaragua to the Pacific.
Proposed Plans 10 Overcome the Barrier to
the lnerOcsanic Highway.
Across the Rapids-mteresting Expert
encesMerits Of the Rival Routes
To BE Determined.
ON BOARD THE u. i. STEAMER SARANAc,
PANAMA Aprl, 4 1874


san Juan del sur in the coastng steamer Ancon
and joined the Saranac, to proceed to ChiriCnlrt
Bay and determine the relative features OF the line
for an interoceanic canal by way OF the Napipi and
AtratO rivers The final settlement OF the Gues-
ton is awaited with great interest not only by TIE
inhabitants OF Nicaragua and the Colombian gov
eminent, but by the residents on the Isthmus OF
Panama, who still entertain sangune hopes that
the time Is not far distant when their
rOute-that Is, on the line adjacent TO the railway
track Will be conceded to be the most feasible.
The experts in this examination, however, confine
their lahors to the Nicaragua and Atrato routes,
and at the proper time will pronounce their judy
ment on the more favorable features which each
presents. the trip up the san Juan, 1t may be
mentioned, was extremely interesting, and well
repaid the efforts Of Commander Lull, who ex-
planned the merits OF the Nicaragua route. When
at Greytown the Commissioners made il thorough
examination OF the
DIFFICULTIES PRES ESTED BY THE BAR,
which OF late has Increased its dimensions. 1t is
proposed to divert the course OF the san Juan,
which has carried all the accnmulations to the
harbor, anG, after dredging the bar, to build
breakwater winch will resist the influences OF the
The canal will, therefore, be totally indepen-
dent OF that river forty miles being inland cut,
the water supply, of course, coming rom the lake.
The proposed improvements are feasible, be-
yond question, though the expense attending them
Will be necessarily large. Had the government OF
Nicaragua been alive to the Interest," and CONNER
cial progress OF the country this stumbling block
might long since have been removed at one-JhIrd
the cost which any Improvement Will now req ure.
But there Is every reason to believe that II the
proposed plan were properly carried out the OBJ
structons could no longer exist. The engineering
difficulties are simply resolved to the question of
hntv s1ot.. Hal. thn A.
party up the San Juan as far as Trlnidad, at the
mouth Of the serapequi River
ADVANCE AND WORK.
On Monday, March 16, Commander Lull ana
party arrived at the Machuca Rapids III the little
steamer known as the Pit-pan, in which all hands
.slung" in hammocks and aid considerable
amount OF hard work in the way of roughlng it.
though so far, good health and spirits had
marked the progress OF the trip. The Macnuca
Rapids form low, tortuous channel
and 1t is proposed to dam ita feasible project and
one not requiring much engineering skill. The Pit
pan, conveying the engineers, was carefully hauled
over these rapids, but the experiment nearly cost
the lives OF the two boatmen who went ahead, as
their craft capsized during the attempt TO haul the
Pitpan over Just above the rapids is the little
Island OF Orc which has formed around the wreck
OF a steamer belonging to the old Transit Company
OF days gone by The rusty old boiler stands up
high and dry, doubtless monument or reckless.
ness and haste. Commander Lull while passing
these rapids pointed out the locations of the
several proposed dams, by which the apparent OBJ
structons were to be overcome. An interesting
feature OF the trip was the stay at Cas-
tello, where stands the old fort built over
200 years ago. and during the siege Of
which the naval nero Nelson subsequently
distinguished himself The little struggling VII
Lam all m ctprlS ficSO f n
American settlement. The inhabitants welcomed
the party with genuine hospitality. and altogether
the stay at Castillo was pleasant and profitable.
Nor was the halt at
FORT SAN CARLOS
less enjoyable. Everywhere the members OF the
expedition were warmly received, and the pros
pect OF having the proposed canal seemed to
afford infinite satisfaction to all. On the evening
OF the 2lst Of March the party left san Carlos to
cross the lake in the little steamer generously
placed at their disposition. And now the
MAGNIFICENT BODY OF WATER.
which is presumed to be the great feature or the
canal Gen "con to the best advantage. The lake
is over 100 miles in length By nearly
forty miles wide, and forms the great reservoir
OF Central America. The steamers anchored in the
vicinity OF the picturesque Ometepe, a remarkable
cone, nearly q mile In height and about seven
miles from the shore at Virgin Bay. where the
party landed on the following morning. As q
landmark seen from the Pacific, the Ometepe is
assuredy unsurpassed. Commander Luil and
party ON landing were courteously received by the
authorities. Mules and wagons were promptly
placed at their disposal and
THE SCIENTIFIC CAyAlCADE
proceeded to Rivas the capital OF the govern
ment, where warm welcome awaited them.
Don Jose Chamorro, the Project was unsparng in
aIro
nothing to be desired. On the morning OF the I'D
or March the party rode TO the mouth OF the Rio
del Medic and examined the line between 1t
and Rivas. While at the latter place
numerous citizens called on the members OF the
expedition and rendered their respects all ex-
pressing the hope that the proposed interoceanic
canal would one day cross Nicaragua. on the
following afternoon the mules were again mounted,
and the party proceeded to examine the line De-
tween Rivas and the harbor Of Brio, that portion
that contains all the deep cutting that Is to be
made on the Pacific side. 1t may be as well 10
mention that at the present time ere Is really no
harpor at Brito but it is proposed to build one by
and by. The right bank OF the river ends In high,
rocky promontory, and it Is proposed TO convert
the angle thus formed into haroor. great
feature claimed for Brito Is that for ten months
IN rho year the trade winds blow on
Shore At present however, swell is notice.
able from the Pacific forming a little surf.
which at first looks objectionable. At all
events the dificuties which exist are by no
means 80 great "a might be supposed 10 present
themselves from the statements which have al
ready been made in reference to this proposed
harbor. After
THOROUGH INSPECTION
of this part OF the canal route the members of the
expedition returned TO Rivas and examined the
line formerly surveyed by Colonel Childs known
as the Las Laias line They subsequently left Tor
san Juan del Sur, where they embarked on the
Ancon, as already mentioned, arriving here this
evening. 1t would perhaps be out OF place at this
stage to give publicity to the opinions ex-
pressed by the experts In regard to the
merits OF the Nicaragua route. They have yet
to inspect the Atrato route, ana It will then per-