The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-06-26
The Darien Canal.

lue uTSV TOuCc Is, AOAe w eAiO 4>iN"h a
guam scheme, the longest. 1t crosses the
State of Cauca, in the United States of
Colombia; on line measuring 29O kilo-
metres. 1t leaves the Atlantic at the
Gulf of Uraba, ascends the Atrato
river, thence crosses to the Nappi river
and descends through the Doguado into
the Pacific at point called Chiri Chiri.
The actual number of kilometres to be
excavated are only 90, computed at So
100000 cubic metres OF earth and
stones. There will also have to be
100000 cubic metres of filing used.
There will have to be % locks, each hav-
ing a decline of 10 feet inches, and
tunnel 6 kilometres in length. The adj
vantages of this route are the small
amount of digging and the fact that
comparatively little stone is encountered
on the route. The number of locks, the
tunnel and the inadequate depth of
water at the Pacific terminus are the OBJ
iections This route was surveyed by
American officers and engineers Self
ridge, Lul, Schulze, Sullivan, Conden,
Callins and others in lS1 l.; and Collins,
Eaton. Sullivan and Paine in 1873
The cost is estimated at S90,000,OOO,
and it is believed the work could be fin
ished in nine Yeas.
The second ro,yte starts from the same
point on the Atlantic as the preceding,
but is much shorter. only having a total
length of 235 kilometres 1t leaves the
Gulf of Uraba, or Darien, ascends the
Atrato river, thence 10y the rivers and
lakes Caquirrs, Puquia, One. Paya and
Tirvra into the Gulf of San Miguel
One hundred and twentyeight miles OF
canal will have to be dug, necessitating
the excavation of 60,000,000 cubic
metres of stone and earth and 6,0O0, GOO
cubic metres of filling. The number of
locks will be the same as by route No.
|, but there is no imperative need OF
tunnel. The advantages are 81 lendid
ports at both ends. and the ease with
which the excavations con be made, ow-
ing TO the nature of the soil \ serious
objection is found in the fact of the diff
ticulties inherent in the use of two sys-
TENS of water supply. This route was
cal efully examined by Wvse, Reclus,
Celler and others in lS76-17. The esti-
mated cost is $3.50, 200, and it will re-
quire twelve years labor.
The third scheme, closely allied to the
TWO preceding starts from the Atlantic
coast at Acanti and terminates in the
Gulf Of San Miguel. It's total length
is only % kilometres, and it necessitates
"A kilometres of excavation. comprising
100000 cubic metres Of. earth and
stone. The chief obstacle IS found in
the tunnel Il kilometres in length. Il
traverses a region of great salubrity Of
climate. This route was examined by
the international commission, COMPOSED
Of Messrs. Wyse, Rerlus, Sosa, La
charme and Nerbruegibe in le76-77-7S.
It's cost is estimated al Sl20. 000,0 900
and the length of time required to com
plete it is fixed at twelve years These
TWO routes are what are known as the
Central Darien route.
The fourth project is what is called
''the" Darien route. 1t crosses the
Isthmus of Darien at its narrowes.
point, everything being sacrificed for
shortness. The entire length OF the
canal is SO kilometres. 1t leaves the
Atlantic at the Bay of San Bias and
tunnels under the mountain range to the
Pacific, at the Gulf of Panama The
actual length of the canal will be only
~ kilometres, but of these, | 6 will be a
gigantic tunnel, sufficiently high to &C.
commodate the largest ships. Thirty
four million cubic metres of excavation
will have to be made. The great claim
Of this route is the shortness of the line.
The port on the Atlantic side is very
good, bnt the almost insuperable Oh,
stacles to the last two projects are the
tunnels. The frequent calms to the
north Of the Isles of Perles, Gulf of
Panama, are also an objection Of serious
Importance to nayigators.
Projects five and SIX Cross the two de-
partments Of Colon and Panama in the
State Of Panama. They leave the
Atlantic at Navy Bay and terminate
in the Gulf OF Panama. The two
projects are so nearly alike that
they can be treated as one, the
only difference being at the Pacific side,