The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-09
aunte sunply Of water and tho mountain SEQ.

quate supply OF water. and tho mountain sec
tion is too large TO admit OF tnnnrllng'
On the other hand. he says that tho Hon
uuTns route is in n direct line. ninety three
mil.s There are flno hnrhors nj each rxtrnm-
ity, but there exist against II s length ofcourse
hhu nlssihle mountains. The Chiriqu hrgins
WU' iriqui lagoon Ohthc Atlantic, and runs
10 the tuli Ot Dulce on tho Pacific. II Is my
miles a'rOss its narrowcst part. This route
pos ss"s. 1t is said above all others, the most
numlraule ana capnciuus hnrhors. Little. how
ever, is known OF 1t beyond n reconnaissance
made by the Chirqui Commission. who re-
ported II as favorable for the construction Of n
rnNwny. The report further shows n very con-
siderable elevation which would require resort
To- great length OF tunnclling. the mountains
risin- TO an elevation Of GOO feet within five
mil"s OF tho const and there nre no rivers OF
suiii'iont volume TO render practicable a sys-
tenn OF lOcknge.
The Nicaragua route has long been looked
upon with favor MS ultimately the ono thnt
would be found the most available. Capt. Sell
ridge Ia OF opinion, however. that this canal ia
entirely impracticabe without locks. which. II
possible is the only construction that will nm
swcr every demand of commerce.. For n lock
canal 1t possrsscs the inrNhHustible supply oi
the grent lakes of Nicaragua Tut 1t is reported
ns destitute OF harhors. Tho canal would re-
quirc no less than thirty locks. The Nicaragua
route possess's. however sure means OF
crossing the COrdillcras with an abundant sup
ply. Of water hut the great length Of this route
viii, II Is thought be found equal to deeper cuts
and shorter distance in other localities
Th@ well known Panama route has q summit
OF 262 feet and II the only one that has been
reported up to the date of Lieut.. wyse's sur
vey. rs feasible point for n through cut. II
has, however. poor hurhors and the climate In
the bottom lands Of the Chngrcs River s very
unhealthy. Should no other route be found 4
cunul could be cut on this lihe. II Is thought. nj
an expense that would too within the limits ol
a cost that would finally prove remunerative tC
the projectors.
The three Darieu routcs across the Is,hmus
are the san Bias, from the bay Of that name on
the Atlantic to tho mouth Of the B1ynmo OF
Chcpo kyrr on the Pacific; tho Caledonia or
narien. from Caledonia Bay to the Gull Of san
Milnnl. w ~
mountains in the vicinity OF the mouth of the
Atrato and follow the valley ot the Darien OF
Tuyro River TO the Gull OF san Miguel
The Atrato route WAS surveyed by an eXpedi-
iion sent ont 10y puhlic-spirited citizen OF New
York. Mr.. +. NJ. Kelley. and the survey was
mnde 10y Tie late Capi; Craven, U. 5. ~. whC
Fisher. and by Lieut.. tnow Brig GEM Mchlrr
| L. \. A. The result of these surveys Is claimrt
AS proving that the line by the way Of the Tru
ando To the Pacific as probably the only on,
| that seems feasible.
Thr Isthmus Of Darien extends from tho Sar
| Bias mountains. which separate the head water,
| oi the Mandinga and Murmari from those %
! the Chagres. 20 the boundaries Of the State o
| Clocu. or 10 the mountain range from whicl
| tho Iuyra or Daricn River takes its rise. thi,
| range running in a southwestcrly direction
| from the mouth OF the AtratO toward thl
| Pacific. The northern extremity Is but twenty
| SIX miles across. and IS the nnrrowest portion
| " the Western continent Tho southern eX
| tremity embraces the valley OF the Tuyrn. and
| though wider than the other portion. II has tu'
| advantage, II reports nro true, Of having IN
| lowest divide anywhere to be found. Tn
question OF harbors, Lieut.. Myse said, is @
| great importance in the canal problem. On III
Atlantic side Of the lsthmus Of Darien there ar
| but two hne harbors-the Gulf OF san Bias an'
| Caledonia Bay.
Tho Navy Department has promised that Com
motore Ammen and Capt. Scliridge. now in TN
| Mediterranean. shall be present at the Inter
national Congress. The, other delegate, vii
s5As ssSs SGn551T3 SGn55 @Sss @sof o France aaa Admiral