The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-26
THE GATE OF THE SEAS.
The Panama and Darien InterOceanic
Canal Expeditions.
Probable Determination Of Practicable
Route from Atlantic to Pacific.
The Surveyors and Their Pro-
posed Plans.

ASPISwALL. Jan. Is, 1875
The Pacific Mall Company's steamer Acapulco
arrived here yesterday morning and landed the
two expeditions sent out By tie United States
government-the one to survey the line from
Aspinwall 10 Panama, TO determine us merits as
route for an inieroceanic canal; the other to
complete the survey OF what IL known as the
Atrato-Napipi route with the same object in view
The former Is under the direction OF Commander
E. p. Luil, United States Navy, and the officers
selected for the duty are Leutepants LeutZe
Colby, Very, Tansig, Masters Coffin ana Greeu Mr..
NenOcal, civil Engineer, and DR.. Bransord a
medical onlcer; while the latter expedition Is in
command OF Lieutenant Frederick Collins, with
whom are associated Leutenants j. r. sullivan, ].
G. Eaton, ). G. Paine and Dr.. Norfeet 1t would be
idle at this late day 10 discuss the importance OF
these enterprises. Apart nom the fact OF sowing
the problem which has puzzled the greatest minds
tor centuries, they will have the effect OF settling
points long in Dispute, for the more surveys we
have the better wnlwe be enabled to arrive at
definite conclusion as to the most pra ctca ble the
. shortest and she most economical route Tor q
highway between the Atlantic aud Pacific oceans
RESULTS OBTAINED.
There Ia no subject upon which adventurers OF
Quixotc tendencies nave so !ondly enlarged as
this none which has often stirred the fancy
OF dreamy SPECTATORS and certainly none pre-.
| senting prospects with so many millions in II.
But q calm retrospect OF the innumeraole wild
schemes winch have from time TO tine been put
forward Will readily convince any one interested
IN The matter that 1t Is only within a compare
lively recent period satisfactory results have been
attained. The surveys made under the auspices
OF the Navy Department have, for instance, re-
moved doubts as to the practcabity OF certain
supposed routes, which, owing to gross misrepre-
sentation on the part of inscriptions ireside ex.
plorers. were presumed to possess advantages
that IN reality did not exist. Thus, we are gradu-
ally reaching point when theory will no longer
be admissible, and when facts and figures will
speak for themselves; and when, inoecd, the only
element necessary for the commencement OF the
colossal work will be hard cash. 1t is not my in.
tenton just now to offer any comments upon the
respective merits OF the several canal routes,
which have OF late been somewhat prominently
mentioncd; but 1t must be evident that the room
Tor comparison is rapidly becoming smaller. IN
deed 1t may be stated with fairness that at the
present time but
THREE SUPPOSED LINES
command any attentlOn-namely. that by way Of
Nicaragua. the AtratoNaplpi route. and last, and
it IL be hoped not least that from Aspin wall to
Panama. However prejudiced many may be
against the idea of tunnel three mics In length,
through which ships would have to pass before de-
scendlng to the Pacific by way locks, none can deny
Commander Sellridge the credit Of having done
more o unrave the mysteries Of Daren than any
previous explorer. Should his proposed route up
to the Atrato River far as the Napip and thence
by q deep cut to the base OF the divide. through
which The tunnel would run, not meet with gen.
eral approval. 1t is only because the Impression
prevails that the engineering difficulties presented
by other routes are not 80 great The fact Is that
Its facilities or obstacles are at present unknown,
and the main object OF tho expedition sent under
Lieutenant Collins Is to determine accurately
whether q feasible route exists in that
locality. 1t will be remembered that the govern
ment last year sent forth commissioners to ex.
anime the relative merits or the Nicaragua ana
Atrato-Napipi routes. No difficulty was expert
enced by that body in deciding the CLAIMS OF the
lormer to general recognition; but when descend
ing the Nappi it was found that the reconnaissance
had been made mainly from the bed of the river
SO that no definite conclusion could be arrived at
as 70 the character OF the ground through when
the deep cut was proposed to be made.
OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION.
It is to solve TINS problem that tho present ex-
petition has been organized. and whatever may
be the result 1t is sale to assume that the under
taking Will be thoroughly accomplished. Even
should the officers ntrusted with the task pro-
point will have been determined. Little doubt Is
at present entertained to the feasibility OF the
line by way of Nicaragua and the only question
remains Is whether any cheaper and moro expe-
ditious one can be found. Nicaragua has It's mag
niicent lake, with apparently an unlimited supply
OF water, and the main objection urged against
this proposed route across the coun try Is the want
OF harbors at either end-a defect, however, which
the requisite expenditure OF money would readily
overcome. As surveyed by Commander Lulrs
partly, as well as by previous experts the line
was found to be nearly 200 miles in length.
Perhaps the chief aim Of the expedition sent out
now to examine this supposed interoceanic route
between this place and Panama Is to determine
whether 1t possesses the boosted claims for which
its earnest advocates have SO long contended. The
line by way OF the railroad from ocean to ocean is
tribe over fortyseven miles in length, and 1t Is
argued that the canal route, embracing part Of the
Chagres River, would be less than forty miles.
THE EXPECTED SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM
Howbelt the vexed question WILL soon be settled,
and once enued there can be only one line upon
which enterprise can make It's mark. 1t Is the
intention OF Commander Lul to commence opera
tons in day or two, or just 80 soon as the pre-
limnary arrangements have been completed.
The railroad authorities have rendered him every
facility for the examination OF the line, SO that
little delay may be anticipated. In order to ex-
pedite the work tue survey will be mace from the
summit level by two different parties, the one I'M
der Lieutenant Leutze proceeding toward the
Pacific and the other. in charge OF Lieutenant
Colby, toward the Atlantic. Between two ana
three months will, 1t is estimated, be occupied in
completing the survey. which, 1t Is hoped will
finally bring all speculation on the subject 70
satisfactory termination.
THE ArRAro-NAPIPI EXPLORERS.
The onncers selected for the duty OF finishing the
survey OF this route include some OF the veterans
to whose persistent efforts the world is indebted
for having unfolded the mysteries of country
the general features OF which were previously I'M
known even to the government to which it be-
longs. According to the arrangements already
made the United States steamer Canandaigua was
to nave been here to convey the party TO the Gulf