The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-11
AMERICAN INTER-oCEAN1C CANAL

AMERICAN INTER-OCEAEIC CANAL.
The construction OF ship canal across
the isthmus connecting the two conti-
nents of North and South America has
long been regarded as a feasible UNDER
taking. The recent completion Of the
great ship-eanal across the isthmus con-
Meeting the two continents Of Asia and
Africa has given new impetus to the
idea otpiereing the American isthmus in
like manner and for like purposes. The
object in each instance is, of course, to
facilitate the commerce between the
great continents Of the globe by shorten
ing the ocean routes between them. To
some extent this demand Of the worlds
commerce has been met by the eonstruc-
ion of the Pacific railway across the
American continent.
But, great as are the advantages ac-
eruing from this stupendous achieve
ment, 1t does not meet and can not
accommodate the great needs Of the
worlds commerce in this regard. 1t
necessitates too many transhipments
and q land carriage Of too vast extent
to make it practicable as successful
competitor with ocean navigation even
as now conducted around the conti-
mental capes of America and Africa.
The expense and delay incident to the
breaking of bulk and the shipment and
reshipment of cargoes, and the neces-
sity for greater numbers of vessels tor
commercial service, involved in trans
portation across this continent by rail
in order to reach either ocean as a con-
Meeting link between Europe and Asia
will always exist as an impediment tc
commercial exchanges by this route
To obYiate this serious impedlment, and
TO enable ships to pass across this con-
tinent in order to reach India and
China, or to return therefrom, without
being compelled to break bulk, is the
great purpose Of an inter-oceanic canal
across the American Isthmus.
Public attention has just recently been
called to this subject, in special man.
ner, by a very able and valuable paper
communicated by Commodore AMMEN,
OF the United States Navy, to the Ameri-
can Geographical Society, and read at
its meeting in New York on the first OF
the present month. Commodore AMMEN
Is an Ohio man, and we'll known as one
Of the most thoughtful and scientific
men connected with our Naval service
He has given to this subject deep con-
sideration for twenty years past, and
has supplemented his studies of the
topic by actual explorations and sur.
yeys in person Of various routes for con.
Meeting the two oceans by means OF
ship-canal. AS a practical navigator he
has frequently doubled the remote pro.
jections Of both the American and the
African continents, known as Cape Horn
and the Cape of Good Hope, and knows
by painful experience the fearful storms
almost invariably encountered in doub'
ling those capes. For these reasons nc
man knows the value OF such wors
better than does Commodore AMMEN.
1t is now just twenty years ago thai
he presented his views at length upon
this topic in an extended and carefully
prepared communication addressed tc
the Secretary Of the Navy; in which he
urged measures on the part Of the Gov.
ernment for a survey OF the Isthmui
with the view Of determining the prac
tieability of such an undertaking. A
that time European governments wer,
eagerly examining this matter, and ha'
commissioned preliminary surveys TO
examining the several routes. Commo
dore AMMEN's application met with NJ
encouragementa at the hands Of 1.-The Nav!
Department. He subsequently, how
ever, made survey Of the Isthmus
and, since that, Congress has made pro
Vision for more thorough examination