The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-05
VARIOUS IsTHMuS ROUTES.
Discussions About Railroads and Canals "A
Visit from Baron De Lesseps,
NAV yark Tribunal

The discussion over the different interocean
routee for canala and railroads on the Isthmus
of Panama or In Central America, which has
been held for several evenings Mt the meetings
of the New York Geographical Society, was
completed Last evening. H. II. Hall, who IL
one of the directors ana the general manager
OF the fahuantepec Interueean Railroad,
spoke on behalf of that route. He said that
its grant gave authority 10 Edward Learned,
the president, and h.s associates to build and
maintain tor ninety ntne years u railroad
across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The
eastern terminus would ba at the mouth of
the Coat5acualcos river. IL would run ITO
miles southeast from Vera Cruz: thence
southwest across the plains TO the mountain
ranges, through the Chivela passea. and
thence across the plains 10 the ibiand lakes
called the Upper Lagoon. The entire length
would he from 140 to t50 miles. The English
terminus would he 2D76 miles from San Fran
cisco and 1885 miles from New York. The
pass was 76o ieet above the sea, and the eli
mate throughout the most OF the route WAS
delightful. Tho lagoon would form fine
harhor Ia mil& In breadth. i6 miles IN length.
aud from 10 tn 2t feet In depth. canal az
miles In length would have TO be cut from
the lagoon 10 the sea. BY cutting away n
bar d good harbor could also be secured on
the gulf side. The saving In time would not
be SO much to Europe as from ports on the
Pacific to New York. Yet the mail which is
now carried ut the greatest speed from Aus
traia across the United States takes forty
two days to reach Liverpool. By this route
u could 10 In thirty-two days. The esti-
mates of engineers put the cost OF the work
at 81 500 900, and of improving the harbors
at 81. .0QO 600.
John II. Body, who represented the INTEREST
OF those concerned In the building OF the
Nicaragua canal. said that he had been con-
nected with the project since 1850, and had
spent much time In the region. The great
advantage In this route he declared to rest In
the fact that the summit level of the canal
would be Lake Nicaragua. with Its mex
haustihle supply OF water f03 feet above sea
level. The canal would pass over two ranges
of mountains at the lower point OF the whole
range that separates the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans from one end or the continent to the
other. This was the only canal route which
did not REQUIRE any tunnel. About twenty
locks would be needed, however, to overcome
the ascent land descent. The speaker Thought
1t would be better TO pay twice as much for q
canal by the Ntcaraguan route as for one by
the Panama route, but In reality 1t would not
cost half as much. The estimated cost was
S5i 100000.
No one was present to set forth the claims
Of the Panama route, but President Daily said
that at a subsequent Meeting something
might be said on this subject. He had in
vited Nj. de LeSsaps 70 meet the society, and
the latter had promised that he would do 90
as soon as he returned from the isthmus.
Frederick NJ. Kelly spoke earnestly in be-
half of the San Bias Canal route. He said 1t
was only question of time when great ship
canal without locks would he built across the
Isthmus. It was impossible that any proper
ship canal could be constructed uniting the
two oceans for less than $100,000,000. The
San Bias route was the shortest, and there
fore the best A tunnel for seven miles would
be necessary, so feet in width and 125 feet
above canal bottom. More than one hundred
ships could be run through from end to end
In twelve hours, and as many In the other dt-
rection In the remaining twelve hours OF the
day. This was more than could be done any
where else. The estimated cost was S104,-
600, 900, and IL the canal had to be embarked
with stone. $50, ,000.0 900 more. A single lock
enee between the tides of the two oceans.