The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-02
CATuH STAT,OS, UNITED STATES STEAM !
SHIP COLUMBIA, March "a, 1875.

his travels. Tine country OF winch ne 10 TUG ven
Grated patron has long claimed immunity from
snak es and other unsavory intruders, for the holy
man sent them about their business at an early
period OF the Christian era, and their sentence Of
everlasting punishment IL is SAID has never since
bean committed. can well imagine, then, how
pleasant it must be 10 start out on an undertaK-
ing, whether IL be for sport, pront or the oenens
OF the whole human family, with the CONSCIOUSNESS
that the poisonous familiarity OF both winged ana
crawling monsters will rot be among the troubles
20 be met with. Profane language, am compelled
10 say, Is frequently provoked IN TINS part OF the
American Continent; but feel convinced that the
bright recording angel can smile as wen as Drop
. tear, and that in view OF the
UNTOLD ANNoYAECEs
incident 70 tramp through a tropical Jungle, the
heavenly ledger will show no deficiency on she
DEBIT side OF the United States expeditions now
surveying Tor an interoceanic canal BE THIS as u
may, tue work or determining the Feasibility
OF route OF water communication be-
aween Aspinwan and Panama has not been
unattended with az least some or the dlnculties
which marked the original survey for me railroad,
and those who have assembled the Cnagres River
IN times gone by can, 10 a degree, appreciate
me character or the examination winch has been
so vigorously prosecuted since January last.
Never has any expedition been conducted with
more
sMOOTHNEss AND RAPTDITY,
and certainly know OF none in which the par
ties selected for sucn enterprises took deeper in
terest or manifested more willingness 10 UNDERGO
hardship and privation Tor the achievement or an
opject which cannot but enlist the attention OF
the world al large. There has been no delay from
the start. and In a few weeks the main fact, as 20
whether practicable ana economical route e1-
ists, WIN have been determined. 50 far the re-
suits have been extremely gratifying and beyond
the anticipations or those who confidently pre-
dicted success. one important feature OF the ex-
petition Will be the settlement for al time 10
come OF various points IN dispute inn Vulnerable
theories as 70 rival routes ana other interesting
aata, concerning which so many unsub-
stantiated statements have been made
The residents OF Panama and Aspinval
have always stoutly maintained that the proposed
line contiguous 10 the railroad was the shortest,
cheapest and best, and that il onered more adj
vantages :nan any which had been discovered.
This was, Of course, very natural superstition,
but one which would require more than an ordI
nary assertion FOR its veridcation. ! nave no
doubt the good and law-aoiding population OF
those remarkably enterprsing places would re-
gard with feelings OF mortIncation the commence
ment OF actual work for an tnteroceanic highway
elsewhere before the merits or the Aspinwah-
Panama line had actually been tested. They con-
tended that during al the surveys ordered oy the
United States government tins line had been
completely ignored; not because - various al
vantsges we're unknown, out owing to
A. USFouSDED PREJUDICE
which existed against it Il was, therefore, 10 es
taollsh It's claims 70 general recognition mat me
present expedition was organized, aud the pre-
vaIling impression Il that sue enort now being
made 70 solve the important problem VIII be re-
warded win gratifying results. Beyond question
sue terrible dinlculues encountered II the con-
Btrueucn OF this railroad had not little 10 do with
she bias against any other attempt 70 open I'D the
adjf cent land ont this country has to some ex-
tent been Invested OF IL formidable character,
ana the experiment winch has thus far been con.
Quoted 50 maRfury cannot but prove adVan-
tageous True, Humboldt was not particularly
struck with the prospects in this direction, for,
after journey from Porto Bello 70 Panama. ne
ihought that the expectation OF a canal which,
hKe pass or strait should 90 from sea TO sea,
ought 10 be completely abandoned. Modern and
more accurate Investigations, however have
proved these views 70 De mistaken. 50 long ago
as 1870 the pirate Morgan quilted bis haunts
among Tie v est india SANDS, where he had col
leeted
BAND OF BCccAsEEgs
with several snips. and sailed to chagres. Here he
ler MS vessels under = guard and proceeded in
sloops up the river 20 Cruces about hfty miles
IRON lie mouth. where be landed and marched 70
Panama. and, having oyerpoEered the garrison,
ne look plundered ana burned the city. The
pirates then departed, laden with tue spoil and
reached the mouth or the Chagres with pro-
dlgious booty, taxing with them a large number
OF prisoners VINO were ransomed 10 lev days
anerward. There certainly could not then pe
many obstacles to overcome, or such force could
not nave accomplished sucn an enterprise. Recent
water az the mouth OF the Chagres to-day, % That
for sainng purposes tnis is comparatively useless
although, or course, the natives continue 20 ply
Their canoes upon it; but a. a means Of supply it
n AL and everything TO the proposed enterprise.
Tor n - from the Cnagres that the water must
now 70 feed the main reservoir. Ana IL u salts
factory 70 state IN This connection. that after
most accurate calculation and careful examna-
ton. Il mas been ascertained that there Is more
than abundance or water Tor the requirements Of
81. canal. should il ever be constructed across
this tstnmug.
A POPULAR IDEA
mas hitherto prevailed tnat the bed OF the river
could be made available or the great undertak.
ing; bot glance at the map or brief inspection
o. the river itself would readily convince the in
qmrer o. the utter impracticaollty Or sucn pro
Ject ] have previously detailed az length the
main features Or the present. survey OF Com
mander Lull, and the general plan Of operations
which have been carried out BY Ar. Menocal the
chief engineer attached 70 the expedition, well
As by the other officers to whom tue duty has been
assigned. II must not be inferred that, though
this examination may prove In an eminent de-
gree successful, and may realize TIE most san
guIne hopes or those VINO earnestly proclaim lts
merits the actual work Or constructing the canal
must necessarily fonow. True Il would be . con-
summation devoutly 70 be wished; yet the fact
must not be lost sight Of that the present expsdi
tion, sent out under the auspices Of the govern
ment has simply 70 determine whether or not
CHEAP AND FEASIBLE ROUTE
exists on this part Of the istnmus. It's only 10
tnis way tnat the limits Of investigation can Oe
brought within narrow bounds and that IN the
end q GEAR pathway may De opened Tor those
VINO deemIng interoceanic canal the great
deederatum Of the present age, viii nave nttle 70