The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-23

Lnorning read that Commander Lull has reported
70 the Navy Department that both the NicAra9na
IL is added tnat Commander Lull seems 70 favor
the former, "as II Is nearly IN usano Innes
shorter than the Panama roue lor the trace
between our Atlantic ana Gull ports ana those on
the Pacific coast, besides being much Healthier,
and the construction OF q canal through Nicaragua
would open up country very productive oi sugar,
conee, Mahogany ana indigo"
The adage about giving 4 dog bad name Is
particularly applicable 20 Panama as regards It's
climate. Ia the early years OF the California gold
excitement passengers TO Cnagres not unlle-
quently mad 10 remain several days IN the sWampy
village at the mouth or the river, sleeping IN mis-
cradle. dirty nuts or In the open air suoslsung
mostly on unhealthy food, munenlng bananas and
pantains aud drinking much bad whlskey and
aquadlente. Then they were packed into open
bungos or "dugUuts,n which had to be showed or
"poedn h.ty miles up the rapid current OF the
river 10 cruces | have known these bungos TO
be six Gays this part OF the route, the passen-
gers being exposed day and ngns 20 drencnlng
rains and burning sun, all the while using
From Cruces, twenty-three miles TO Panama, over
steep hllls ana Though gorgeS only wide enough
with pad ood or none at all. Then, when m Pana-
ma, the detention, before taking steamer or sail
ing vessel for san Francesca, would be from one
week to Two months. i have known 1000 passen-
gers 10 he detained Tor weeks az Panama. and
have had at one time While Consul at Acapulco, IN
Mexico 1900 OF these, mostly desulutei on my
hands for rom two 10 six weeks, VINO were
wrecked on the coast. Add to TINS that steamers
often carried 1000 TO l.6C0 and you VIII not won
DER that much sickness was tue result and II was
ali charged TO the bad climate o. Panama.
SOME BARON MuNCuAUsEN
in relating his wonderful experience from New
YORK 10 Panama wrole that IN the CONSTRUCTION
OF the Panama railroad one man Tor every sleeper
lost his lie by disease and TINS has been SO often
repeated that many believe IT, The TACT Is mat
the record OIL the deaths kept by the company
shows only about 800 instead or say, $4,000,
when would represent the ties IN lorly.seyen
miles or railroad. 1t IS true tnat ooth Panama
and Nicaragua nave hot, eneryating climates. and,
q man VIII be better Tor a short cnange OCCASION
ally 10 colder attudes. But neither are excep-
Panama
most Dealtny, ana say this after residence OF
eighteen years on the lsthmus elgh5 OF Wnlch
were passed as United States Consul, and allei
good deal OF travel and an intimate acquaintance
with the nelgnborng state or Nicaragua. Inere
Nicaragua. Both subject 10 malarlous
levers OF mud type, OF which nobody dies and
when yield readily 10 very simple treatment eX-
cept that IN Nicaragua the hot days aud compare
lively cold nights are productive oi ague, when IS
almost unknown IN Panama. Consumption IS
scarcely known IN either country and yellow Ieyer
Is not indigenous To either. firmly pelieVe that
with as favorable conditions OF living Panama and
nicaragua are every wmt as nealIhy as are the
states OF Vermont and New Hampshire. AS TO
THE SHORTER DISTANCE
claimed for Nicaragua between the Atlantic and
Gull ports and '.thoae o. Tie Paclhcn the depart
ment needs no information. The steamer dis
lance as near as can measure 1t on the carts IS
6S5 miles shorter by the Nicaragua route Tor the
west coast OF Mexico and California; but lao miles
on this must be deducted Tor the greater length OF
the combined san Juan klyer, lake and canal
route, that being lS2 miles, while the Panama
Canal would be but Al miles. But on the other
hand the Panama route would be 600 10 700 miles
nearer TO he great cities aud rlcn trade OF the
south Pacific COMPRISING Ecuador Peru Bolivia
ana Chlll, Whlle the facilities the canal az Panama
would give TO the immense Magdaena trade ana
Colombian coast trade on botn oceans, that would
centre 1t Panama and Aspinwall FOR all parts OF
the world. wouiu more than overDaiance the
opening up or small portion OF Nicaragua,
ana the little gain IN the distance and
from the ports OF Guatemala, Honduras and
san Salvador, Tor Costa Rlca would not be much
affected by the choice of either route.
Zoe fact that the Panama route would have
deep, safe harDors on both SIDES by placing
slight breakwater at AspinwalI; that the Panama
Railroad, Immediately alongside OF which the
canal would be cut. would immensely ada 70 the
iacl,y WITH when the work could DC constructed;
that IL would not take hall the Time TO complete
IL That the Nicaragua route would require; yhat
there would be only orty-one miles Of towage Tor
sailing vessels on The Panama, against ls2 miles
over the Nicaragua route and The immense diner
ence IN favor OF Panama 10 the expense ., the Two
projects. All these facts, without doubt enter
into the calculations OF Commander Lull, and
have been well studied by the Navy as well as the
state departments al Washington. Very respect
fully, your obedlent servant,
FRANCIS w. RICE.