The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-12

COCK. Inc TACT IS uniortunate. Asplnwal Is IKE
the quadruped with bad name, but have known
noble dogs 10 be nal igned. Apart from the ace
house cockta which, by the way, have heard
spoken OF in three zones, perhaps the hyellest
element on this side o. the isthmus 10 the railroad,
and the frequent operations oil the freight trains
in front OF the principal street exercise an impor-
tant junction IN Keeping tie natives awake during
the day, especially the sanle portion OF the COM
| mu nifty, whose perfor mances with the smoothing
! iron are extremely slow. and At times aQgravat-
ing, TO say nothing OF the character OF the work.
But while Aspinwail mas it's dark side, and, in
deed, nearly the entire population might be said
TO be somewhat shady, for aside from the different
Consuls, the employees OF the railroad and few
merchants, the descendants OF Ham are th1cEly
sandwiched on every hand. there are
AGREEABLE ELEMENTS
to be found on this side The sthmus, and not the
least Is the refreshing breeze Dightlall which
blows from the sea- cannot say that hotel life
at Aspin wall is apt to inspire religious sentiments,
but Ieel convinced that the eioQuence OF the es-
teemed young pastor who oficiates here must
tend In q great measure to dlsapuse the mind OF
visitors that this Ia not the port to which evil
doors are consigned for ali time to come. But
this is depressing, as the novelsrs say, and the
sooner we get to the canal the better. have
already explained what was proposed to be done.
Upon arriving here Commander Lull lost no time
III ComPieuuB tuc pEtpuIatiouS ior Tue CommeuCc-
ment OF the survey. Thoroughly equipped the
party left Aspinwan on the 2lst inst. and pro-
ceeded to Marachin. quaint spot and well known
to all travellers the isthmus as the great
depot for refreshments, lor 1t must he borne In
mind that 1t IS over thirty miles from Aspinwall,
q distance which requires two hours to ac-
complish. and, not forgetting the fact that you
start breakfastless, the explorer halls with no
little satisfaction the
BEAMIYG BEAUTIES
at the station. These beauties by the way. are
not Of the dubious order, ana II would seem In
deed that mirrors scarce ut Matachin, else the
toilets Of the screaming egg sellers would be more
properly adjusted. At all events, when the train
stopped the members OF the expedition were be-
seged by the colOred tribe, upon whose heads
were baskets Of oranges, rolls OF bread and hard
boiled eggs. In twinkling the train was gone
bound for Panama, and the officers and men, In
all thirty souls, arrayed In the conventional cos
tune OF explorers in a torrd zone, stood near the
point whence the survey was to be commenced.
Hard by Is an interesting rancn, into which travel
lers make hasty plunge Tor spiritual comforts,
and so long as the train stops the agreeable little
Cnolo lady who superintends and handles with
dexterity regiment OF sparkling bottles has
lively times OF 1t. Just as at other railway
depots throughout the universe a calm succeeds
the tempest. ana 1t was during the lull that the
party entered. The people OF Matacnin were, OF
course, aroused, and from the various expressions
made use OF, in view OF the visit OF the explorers,
there is little doubt that the immediate digging OF
the canal was q Ioregone conclusion.
MATACHIN.
This may be termed one Of the watering resorts
OF the isthmus though for the matter Of that, resi-
| dents in other parts OF the surrounding country
Will have no reason to complain O little later on,
when. l believe there will be pretty tair distri-
button Of the precious nuid all over Indeed.
remember gong over the line lew years ago,
when 1t seemed as II the whole train were a1oat,
there being at least two feet or water on some
parts Of the track. But Matachin has
the reputation Of being good bathing ground.
and to Matacnln, therefore, do the people
dock for comfort and recreation. Not over a
stones throw from the railway station the
| Chagres wends its tortuous course along, and on
the let bank OF the river are erected some slender
huts which are used both as bath houses and
laundriee. AT dawn and at dewy eve the sable
population plunge into the stream, and there
disport themselves like & school Of acrobatic por-
| poses, fearless OF the sleepy aigators, which,
during the livelonR cay, recns like logs OF de ad
wood along the banks. The accommodation ut
Matachin Is not extensive, for, apart from few
huts-an OF which are densey packed with the
blithesome progeny OF the native settlers. with
| whom taOrs seem TO be in great disavor, judging
/ by the scanty patterns generally displayed
| there Is really no room for the stranger. SO
| upon the first night Of the arrival OF the
party 1t was no easy matter to dnu a
resting place. Some OF the members OF the ex-
pedltion slept Oblspo, little station further up
the road, and others were but too glad 10 retire
ON the floor OF the relreshment snanty near the
depot During the night inqulsitive rats had. in
/ some instances very narrow escapes several
| desperate lunges having been made toward them
by the officers who were disturbed by their ire
quent trespasses.
Long before daylight tha>canoes In charge of tho
commanding officer proceeded about hall mile
up the river, and, proper site for the commence
ment OF operations having been selected on the
lett bank, the ground was cleared and In a few
hours tidy camp was constructed
Lieutenant Leutze, q sturdy veteran. whose
experience in the survey OF the Nicaragua
line now brought into good requisltion.
and convenience OF mis- party, and by the time his
! architectural Ideas were carried INTO effect no
| neater abode IN wilderness could have Deen de-
sired.
| was commenced on the following day, under the
direction OF MIR. Menocai, the civil engineer at
| tacned to the party, and from what little work
entertained that much more feasible route WIN
| be discovered than was at nrst Anticipated 1t Is
| from the various calculations already made
| 1t 10 equally patent that tue Chagres River
! could not be utilized except means
of supply. During the rainy season this river
often rises to the height OF orty feet and by those
! acquan ed with the ravages which result from
sudden freshets little DOUBT Will be entertained as
to the necessity OF an independent channel. rec
from oil the influences to when such rivers as the
Chagres are SUBJECT. 1t Is proposed to cross the
| Chagres In this vicinity by means OF vladuct
| with depth or water OF az least twenty-six feet
at SUFFICIENT elevation to preclude the possibility
| Of damage by freshets, the supply 10 be secured
near the head waters OF the Cnagres, and which
would be conveyed by proper channel 10 the VIA
duct referred to. 1t Is anticipated that a much
lower "diviue" than that traversed by the
train will be discovered, and the present
idea Is to have twelve locks on each
size. However, this IL mere speculation
aud until the proposed route 10 further examined
nothing can at present be stated VITA any sort OF
accuracy. Lieutenant Leutze, accompanied by
Lieutenant Very, Master Conn and twelve men,
xtIar IN In q