The New York herald., 1876-11-01
Essay by Commodore Ammsn Read Before the
Geographical Society Last Night
EXPLORATIONS In PALESTINE.
What Has Been Done by the Navy Depart
ment from 1870 TO 1875.


! Of the President Chief Justice Daily, who has
lying i'll OF fever since his return from the Columbus
monument ceremonies at Philadelphia several weeks
| ago, Major General George W. Cuum, Of tae
United States Army presided Fourteen new ieI-
| lows were elected and three corresponding members
who are located respectively Al ST Petersburg Russia
| Central America, and Berlin MT 4. " Stout moved
some amendments to the constitution OF the society,
having reference the election OF officers classes,
whose OF Office should expire at certain periods
Under the rules the paper was laid over
The feature Of the evening the reading OF
paper written by Commodore Daniel Ammen, OF the
United States Navy, ON "rke Surveys and Reconnos-
sances from 1870 to 1875 Tor Snip Canal
Across tho American slhmus." As the Com
modore's duties prevented his attendance, the
essay read by Mr. Gardner who
prefaced by explaining that 1t had been prepared in
response request from tho society. made in view
OF the France for international
exploration of tho sthmus with reference TO building
a canal The Commodore, he explained is at the head
the Bureau of Navigation, aud has had the general
supervision Of all tho explorations the isthmus
during tho past eight years Mr.. Gardner proceeded
TO read the essay pointing the various places al
luded to upon largo map suspended above the plat
form.
Extracts from paper prepared by Commodore D.
Ammen, United States Navy, at tho request Of the
American Geographical Society,"
In presenting tie paper relating TO these surveys
a brief explanation may, however, be expected from
me. Moro than twcnty years ago was attracted to
the consideration OF this subject by the then published
accounts the concdent attempt by the Englsh the
French ourselves in the vicinity OF Caledonia Bay
TO discover the pretended Cullen route-a route dis
proved by those three parties but which, having
been again insisted upon as feasibIe was recently
shown by the American expedition QS70) to be
q physical impossibllity by reason of the eleva-
ton the watershed adjacent to and tho divide
near Caledonia Bay, Tho streams Of which watershed
flow into tho Pacific. At the date referred to the
English working from the Savanna River ran limo
OF levels Caledonia Bay and reached the waters
OF Sucubt the stream north and west of the Gale
donia Bay range Of mountains at height sufficient
show the mprac.icabilty OF the route. Tho French
seem to have abandoned their work without producing
instrumental results indicating in any degree hope
of success. The American party, under Lieutenant
Strain OF the Navy, assembled the mountain range
from tho bay reached the Sucub the Pacific slope
and without the OF instruments Of precision
lowed tho tortuous stream to tho Chucunaqua and
made their way down that still more
| tortuous stream with the loss Of more
than half of their number by starvation.
wien encanp ped upon an island, had supposed they
heard the evening OF the Cyanc, tho vessel
| posed TACT, seemingly without significance theni,
attracted my attention Tor, ift were act IL would
between that point and the waters OF Caledonia Bay.
IL seemed not At all likely that the sound
detected up a mountain side and again descended
through the valley beyond. was led to consider
more fully the probability OF low line or levels
the point referred 10, and further, to study
| question .of meeting the formidable obstacles
bese,,ing explorers in this almost impas-
sable region, and Of securing sufficiently
to establish the practicability or tho reverse Qn
relation all the watersneds) OF transconi
| mental snip canal Presenting my views In 1856 TO
Mr. Toucey, then Secretary OF tho Navy but failing 10
| receive his countenance and support went to the
Pacific Ocean board one Of our vessels OF war; and
did not return until 1860 when wrote briefly my
PROJECT exploring the entire region necessary be
examined, which paper this society did me the honor
has, in fact formed the basis OF our surveys and
porations modified has been found necessary by
Intelligent and able officers who have tuaiy executed
| the work.
| APPROPRIATIONS PoR SURVEYS
On my return IRON the Asatc station in April 1862
aratined at finding that appropriations had been
made Tor tra2scontinenta ship canal surveys, and
that General Grant, then President was initiating
comprehensive examination and sufficient surveys Of
| the extensive region involved. Their full execution
required years OF labor and the employment OF large
well equipped parties as win be hereafter shown
| SURVEYS coMPLETED.
The surveys were at length completed, as will bo
ferred TO IN detail They satisfactory the CON-
MISSION and can assure you that their execution was
holiday work In every case where tentative lines
ony were prosecuted this WAS done 10
point developing impracticabuy, or else manifest
inieriority in construction as compared with other
lines found favorable ON the latter, actual in
strumenta locatioas for canal were made, and plans
and approximate estimates oil construction prepared
| M. DRouILLErs VIEWS.
| In Wow or the conclusions which hope to establish
fully with those Will tho various sur
veys that VIII be hereafter summarized have read
published by N. Leon Drouillet engineer and member
| oi Commission OF Commercial Geography OF Paris
! lately formed under The sanction oi the French
Sociee de Geographiepostuatcs on this subject thus
seemingly Endorsed by that learned aud distinguished
body. Through tho kindness Of M. Drouiet l have
been favored with copy OF tho proceedings OF tho
French Section oil the Committee for tho
Exploration Of the American Isthmus, and also with
| pamphlet, OF which this gentleman Is the author
eiaDora.,ng plan Tor such exploration
/ In the pamphlet referred TO NJ. Drouet, when
urging the necessity or an international of
the American Isthmus scts with tho following
| postuiatcs:-lhc problem OF intcroceanc navigation
IL at present incapable OF solution on account Of the
nsuiciency oil geographical data and OF the lagrant
contradictions which exist In these
anu contradictions which 40 not permit the engineer
10 study profoundly definite project"
on the strength OF these assertions, and with tho
seeming approval Of the Geographical Society Paris
appeal made 10 the learned societies OF the world
to all the Powers interested, to lend their aid
''gencral and serious exploration of the isthmus" In
pioratons aud rcconnoissAnccs lately made by. tho
| United States. reported upon by tho commission TO
the President and accepted as satisfactory by him, Il
seems proper present what has becn really done
u.s. aud tho good judgment Of those societies
and Interested Powers whatever action seems 10 them
! Tho demand a resurvey IL rested upon two prin-
cipal grounds
i First-rhat the data At hand arc insufficient
Second--fhat what 10 available Is nagranty contra
dictory.
Let US consider these two assertions separately.
As Tor the suiccncy of the data ut hand without at
present going beyond the work executed for tho most
part during past years by the United StAscs
| alone, may point to the following not inconsIder
able sources of reliable Information respecting every
part OF the isthmus Of any promise Tor canal from
| Tehuantcpcc TO the Nappl River In South America
OF surveys and recounossances the following Is
list the geographical order from the north and west
to aud regard 10 which list II - 10 be
specially that ovcry survey and Reconnaissance
was made with Instruments OF precision. unless
ton 10 tho contrary Is herein made. All lines upon
| which calculations have been founded by
compass ard chain, or transit and chain. or by grad
enter and mcrometcr the barometer bong relied upon
only MI IN the topography on other side Of the main
line.
| SURVEYS RKcoNSoIssAxcKs.
Instrumental OF the Ismus Of Tehuan
tcpcc. by Captain H. w. ScnuNidt United states Navy.