The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-12
FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN.
Progress Of the IntsrOceanic Canal Sur
veying Expedition.
A Bird's-Eye View Of the
Isthmus.
A N E w r O u T E i.
Racy characteristics Of Tropi-
cal Life.
THE pP0p0CED pr, Ans M THE EXPLORERS
N E w r O u T E
THE PROPOSED PLANS OF THE EXPLORERS
CAMP AMNEN, NEAR MATAcHIN /
CHAGRES RIVER, Jan. %, 1878.

CAMP AMNEN, NEAR MArAcHIN,(
CHAGREs RIVER. Jan. %, 1878. J
Proverbial for chis and fever OF no reshable
kind-proverbial, too, as the haunt Of all sorts OF
fascinating pties wild beasts and birds oil prey
the spot from which now pen these lines forms
the first encampment OF the United States Sur
veying Expedition, sent out under Commander
Luil, TO determine the merits OF what Is known as
the Panama route Tor an interoceanic canal. So
far our medical adviser hasn't opened his medical
chest. All hands are lively and nigh spirited, and
the only mortal enemies to be met with at this
stage are the copper-colored cormorants in
human form, whose exoroitant demands for
rheumatic chickens bid lair TO rival In intensity
the deadliest bites oil all the winged and crawling
monsters for which the isthmus In the good old
times was famous tar and wide.
HARD ROAD TO TRAVEL
1t was up this river, tie Chagres, that daring
spirits were won't TO wend their weary way TO
Panama en- route to California. and the tat bananas
clustering in golden punches along Its banks were
not little suggestive OF the yellow bars which
were soon to reward the venturesome and thrifty
traveller, bound to dig his way to fortune. Now.
adays this Is changed. The river flows as usual.
drowsy allgators bask on its muddy banks, the
dense forest still preserves its tropical looks and
view or quaint traditions, regret the day when
rapid transit made Its marx from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and they can no longer anticipate
meal from some stray emigrant whom bad whlskey
or curiosity had tempted into the woods Indeed,
in pugilistic pariance. the establishment OF the
railroad years ago from ocean to ocean hit romance
1airly between the eyes. The iron horse now pace
over the track snortng as 1t were with 1end-
sh glee and defying the mysterious horrors for
which tire route to Panama was once so notorious.
True the road was built at q sacrifice OF human
life something fearful TO contemplate Tor they
say that every tie tie line, orty-seven miles in
length, represents the dead body OF some unfof.
tunate aborer. Yet 1t must be borne in mind
that by the old means OF transit the lives OF many
were seriously imperiled ana frequently rendered
useless by drearY trip through the swamps, so
that alter all, apart from the commercial enter.
prise which the road has given rae to, travellers
are spared the necessity OF great FISK and have
the additional advantages OF comfort and expedi-
tion-advantages which, py the way, you cannot
boast of IN New YORK even for thirty blocks up
town. The railroad, then In this part OF the
world has done wonders in its day; but the quea.
ton which interests Just now II In reference to
an interoceanlc canal.
NoBopY's FRIEND.
Icanuot call to mind, at the present moment,
any subject upon which INSCRIPTIONS adventurers
have had greater latitude for brazen falsehood
than this. Swarms OF explorers OF the bogus
species-aDd consideration for the space OF the
paper prevents NE from enumerating theT-have
infested this and other regions In Its vicinity 1or
years. the results of their periodical visns being
huge volumes IN commentator Of lavorlte routes
and theories which existed only in imagination.
Beyond all doubt the several surveys made IN
recent years. under the auspices OF tbs United
~. An,t yoll
expose the frauds or incomple teness OF nearly
every previous ero Il at determining the ques-
ton Of an interoceanlc canal; and secondly, to
narrow 1t down By earnes: and thorough examina-
ton, so that the commercial world might Judge
from reliable facts and figures which was rhe most
economical, the most practicable and best chan
mel Tor the purpose referred 10. Such clear and
comprehensive reports as have been furnished on
the supposed routes by way OF Tehuantepec, San
Bias, Atrato-Napipi and Nicaragua. leave but little
doubt as TO which should be selected, and II now
remains to be ascertained how the line from
Aspnwan to Panama will compare in point Of
FEASIBILITY AND CHEAPNEss
with the best OF these. Whatever may be the re.
suit OF this investigation 1t 10 gratifying TO think
that the character OF the survey Will. to q great
extent, leave little room for speculation as to
which route should be chosen. Within six
months, believe me, the main question Will be
not as to the route, but as TO the wherewith to
complete the enterprise But 1t should not
be inferred that, because the United
States government, through the Navy De.
partmeat, has authorized these surveys,
the colossal undertaking. supposing the
repeated efforts to ind an economical and prac-
ticable line may finally win popular and substan q.
tial recognition, must necessarily, be commenced
at The expense OF Uncle Sam. On tue contrary
would take this opportunity TO state, especially to
speculative Congressman haIling from the West,
that the Treasury at Washington viii. perhaps,
never lie DISTURBED 10y any calls Tor the great OBJ
ject referred The principal aim OF the expedition
is to secure authentic data as to the feasibility VI
the route from Aspinwal to Panama, and this at
tained the of1cers intrusted with the duty will
have performed II. An impression prevails to the
effect that should this line he declared practical
be- cheap and expeditions negotiations would be
entered inro for Its construc ION. This | am In
cliued to doubt. when 1t is remembered that
GOVERNMENT AID WAS ASKED
and was re used to the courageous pioneers who
underto TOOK to make highway by rail- from the At
Iantc to the Pacific. and whose successful EFFORTS
in the cause OF progress Will always be remem
pered as great monument to private enterprise
and energy, there ia little reason TO expect much
from the national treasury. Two hundred millions
OF doilars 10 q pretty respectable sum, and II
would not take Liuch less 10 construct an inter
oceanic canal. But there Is no knowing what the
present survey may develop-no foreseeing whal
rtant results may follow but II Is just az well
to stare that the government. in sending out these
various expeditions, mainly purposes determining
certain very Interesting problems, the accurate
solution oil which Will Of course enlist the aten.
ton OF all scientific men and may open ne "
neld Tor the enterprising capitalists with winch
Arnton M a n mr. a
THE start FROM AspMwALL
Young men fond OF keeping diaries and who
chance 10 pass this way generally work them
selves Into lever in attempting to depict the nor
rors OF TINS dcsolate spo;. Doubtless tine novelties
presented are apt TO strike the juvenile mind, and