The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-28
THE INTEK-oCEANIC CANAL.

OFFICERS or THE SURVEY N WASHINGTON
SKETCH OF THE NAPIPI MISREPRESENTATION
OF TIE REPORT.
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1875.
Lieutenants Frederick Collins, Jos. q. Eaton.
j. s. sullivan and :. r. Pane; Ensign II. II. Der.
ron and Assistant Surgeon ernest Norneet, United
states Navy, who were sent the lsthmus or
Panama Tor the purpose OF locating the line for
the proposed ship canal connecting the Atlantic
ana Pacific oceans by the Nappi route, prelImt
nary survey OF wnicR was made some time ago bj
Captain scIfridge, having completed their work.
have returned TO the United States. Lieutenant
Collins was ~ toe Navy Department thh
morning. These ofncers commenced tue worn
or locating the line OF the canal In the Nappi and
Doguado Valley on the 5tn or February, and were
in me neid Just 100 days. they were furnished
with the necessary boats aud men BY the United
states steamer csnandaigul at Aspinwal. Tht
season on the Istnmus was drler than has beer
known for many wears, which was q circumstance
In favor OF the work, as It could not have beeH
completed By this time had the usual wet seasos
prevailed as It was the men suffered greatly
while working through swamps, and were broken
down considerably with fevsrs. but in no case
did sickness prove fatal.
BY THE SAPIPI ROUTE
the Atrato River, on the Atlantic side, could %
used Tor a distance OF 100 miles. being free fron
DISTINCTIONS except o bar az ITS mouth, and nav
ing depth OF thirty feet the entire distance. lht
officers ran line Of levels from the Arato v
Chrl-Cniri Bay, on the Pacific SIDE and markee
out the actual line OF toe proposed canal lnclud,
ing curves LOCKS. &C. The distance from tha
AIrato TO CnirtCniri Bay by the proposed route q
the canal Is 20 Sl0 miles, but from the beginning
70 where tue canal crosses the Naplpi RIVER
a distance OF twenty-one mics. Inc cut
tlng would be comparatively nght, tnougn
or course 4 number OF locks win have 10 be CEN
structed summit level being one hundred and
fOrty-one ieeg above mean tide water. On ths
Pacific side. beyond the Naplpi crossing ols-
tauce al about nine and eignttentna miles, thd
cutting wouid be heavy ana two tunnels would -
required the lengin ~ each 70 pc determined ~
the depth which the open cut snonlu ne carried.
In this open cut sh uld be limited TO depth OF
vwO hunurea feet the whole distance 20 De tun.
noled would not exceed i've or i've and hAlf
miles. Tue officers also MADE
AN EXTENSIVE REcoNNofssANcR
or tue country either side OF the proposed route
Tor the purpose OF opening up tue topography OK
IL as lar as possible. TIE Napipi route IS toe only
one south OF Panama, all other surveys being
north OF that place. Inc extraoruinary arr sea-
son gave the onieers an opportunity 20 determine
the minimum water supply for tue cana, ano ~
rivers would not anord q sutncient supply. \
feeacr hno was therefore run 20 tue Cuia klvefs
the next south 81 the Napipi distance OF
six miles, and II Is believed these Two rivers oome
bined would give an ample supply ofwatsr.
Tho officers above named during the summer
will De employed IN preparing tneiT re bort 70 -
submitted 70 tno secretary Of the Navy. IL VIA
oe accomp panied W maps showing N detaN tee
work uone By shem.