The New York herald., 1875-03-11
CAMPAIGNING ALONG THE ATRATO
Sights Scenes and Incidents of Won
deful Journey
THE PHENOMENA OF A WILDERNESS
Landing Of the Surveying Party at the Mouth
Of the Napipi River.
THE PANAMA ROUTE AND ITS PROSPECTS.

On BOARD THE UNITED STATES
SLOOP-OF-WAR CANANDAIGUA,}
GULF OF DARIEN, Feb. Q. 1876.
We have Just returned from q very exciting
srip and II patience and perseverance, can re-
move mountalns-and with little money thrown
IN these virtues do wonders at times-there ought
to have been an interoceanic canal constructed
from this point to the Pacific long ago. Several at
sempts have been already made under the aus
pices OF the government to solve the great prob
lem OF interoceanic communication. From some
little experience can state that no enort was
spared to make the numerous surveys as complete
as possible, especially In this part OF the sthmus
in order to settle definitely the question OF lts
practicaoillty as q means OF water c0mmuntcat1O ton
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The
Atrato River, with It's thirteen mouths, has been
thoroughly examined. while expeditions have
been sent up the Carcarca and Perauchita rivers
toward the dividing ridge, so as to connect with
exploring parties that had been sent from
the Pacific side Indeed, the country was we'll
explored. and 1t was not until after q very care.
fol ana satisfactory investigation had been com.
peted that Commander Selfrldge, tnen In com.
mand OF the expedition, determined to select
what Is known as
THE ATRATo.NAPIPI ROUTE,
since, in his opinion, 1t offered more advantages
Tor canal than any other supposed line, at least
In Darien. Subsequent surveys under his own
supervision confirmed his impression, despite the
popular prejudice against tue idea OF o tunne,
three miles IN length, alter passing through which
ships were to descend to the Pacific by means of
locks His plan suggested the ascent OF the Atrato
from the Gull OF Darien up to the mouth OF the
Napipl then o straight cut twenty-eight miles
long TO the "diviae," through which the Aforesaid
tunnel should be made. Last year, 1t may be re.
membered, the Interoceanic Canal Commis
sioners, appointed BY the President to determine
the relative merits or the various proposed routes
selected MAJOR Mcfarland, OF the United States
Engineer Corps, to make personal inspection OF
the line through Nicaragua as well as that Dy
way OF the Atrato and Napipi. With him were
associated several engineers as invited guests
the examination occupying nearly three months
There can be no hesitation at this stage in stating
that the party were entirely satisfied with the
hssibnty OF the Nicaragua route. and declared
chat the engineering difficulties presented by It
were as nothing compared with the great object
70 % achieved. 1t appeared. however. that wneu
examining the line Aong the Napipi suf1cent
data could not be obtained for q complete report
oi its various features the Reconnaissance having
previously been made only from the bed OF the
river Under these circumstances It was deter.
mined to have the proposed line along the valley
oughy surveyed. alter which the relative merits
Of the two lines Will. doubtless be fully compared
snd determined on Dy the Intsroeesnto Canal
Vommlsaionera At the present time
TIE NICARAGUA ROUTE
u decidedly IN favor; but IL would be premature
to SPEAK with certainty as TO which will bs Az.
thorttatively acknowledged to DO the most prao-
ticable the cheapest and best route until the sur.
veytng expedition now In progress from Aspin-
wall to Panama shall have concluded It's labors.
But. whatever may be the result OF she operations
soon to be carried forward from the mouth Of the
NapipI, no little credit Will attach to the party,
composed, as It ia, OF veterans In the work for
contributing toward the development OF o
country about the general features OF which
little or nothing was known, and even
should they fall In discovering proper
line through which to make the proposed straight
cut, the establishing OF the Iact alone that none
exist would in itself be most important as settling
for oil time the doubts that have so frequently
arisen OH that point. There are now two ex-
petitions unuer way-the one surveying from
Aspinwal to Panama, OF which l have already
gtven the preliminary details, and the other about
to commence operations along the Napipi Tho
latter party is under the command OF Lieutenant
Collins, and with him associated Lieutenant J.
7. sullivan, J. Eaton, S. G. Paine, Ensign Barran
ana Assistant Surgeon N0rneer. The headquarters
are to be established near the mouth OF the Do
guado, at which point the projected line crosses
the Napipi site will be selected for the proposed
dam required for crossing the river, while the
contour and area OF the basin, well as the most
favorable point for crossing, will also be deter
mined. Lieutenant Eaton will run the main
line tom the Atrsto up the valley OF the
Napipi to the crossing. Lleutenant sullivan
will take up the line from the crossing up the
Doguado and over the divide to the Pacific, while
the meteorological observations and gaug,ng the
Naptpi for determining the water supply viii be
entrusted to Lieutenant Paine, who has been
provided with all the necessary instruments for
tnat purpose. In addition to his medical duties
Dr.. Norneet will make frequent borlngs to ascer.
tain the character OF the strata through which It
may be necessary TO cut. These!4n brief, are the
main objects OF this expedition, tho progress Of
wnicn Will note from time to time. But 1t may
sot be uninteresting to mention how we all came
here; for, though the benghted region has MOTH
ing to recommend 1t, but everything to provoke
profanity, recital OF our trip may DO In order.
THE cANANDAIGuA At COLON.
1t was gratifying sight to those In waiting to
behold he Capandaigua slowly steamtng into Al.
pipwall on the afternoon OF the 18th inst, just
hght days from New Orleans. The oficers sp.
pointed 10 the surveying expedition, who had ar
rived BY the mail steamer some days before, were
" In readiness to start for the Gulf OF Daren to
commence operations; but at the last moment
'ox OF instruments Indispensable 10 the
work. could not be lound. Tne sur.
mise, however, that 1t would como BY the next
'tsamer rom New York proved correct. The
ssuai preparations were made and o. eight o'clocx
N tna morning OF the 2sta the Canandaiaua, Cap.
'ain Edward Barrett commanding got under way.
speaking from some experience l am inclined to
"psve tnat lew quit Aspinwan Win feelings OF
isartiet sorrow, even though bound Tor regions
u worse repute Tor I cannot vt this moment
'ecall spot so admirably situated for the con tenn.
hation OF sel-destruction. But u Is not wiinour
70 oommendabie features and these consist chlsny
y the meaus OF exit. Perhaps no letter evidence
'ouid be given OF the geaeral decay presented on
wery naad than the appearances OF the once beau.
uuI stAtes Of Columbus inclosed in q pgpen con-
'enasat ~ tAs Hsasht depot OF the railway com.