, 1880-02-28
TIE PANAMA CANAL.
From the st. Th0mGs TfmeS.l

tETCW ire 81. IRO1uGS 1TWSS.l
In our last New York correspondence
was an extract of a letter, by General
Wright, on the work being done by Mr..
Lesseps' party. The Star & Herald Of
Goth ult. contains the following additional
interesting statement Of the progress of
affairs. We are happy to see that the
difficulties to be suTmounted are not as
grave as was at first anticipated.
"The work Of the present survey
includes the following:
1st. The verification of all previous sur.
veys made here for a canal, i'll which are
includcd the Lull-Menocal, Wyse-3ecluS,
and other earlier routes, between Panama
and Lim0n Bay.
End. Making such additional surveys
as are required to obtain all needful
information.
3rd. From these data to lay down q
line for q canal.
18th Behring'S, drilling, and soundings to
ascertain the kind and character Of materi~
al to be excavated, both along the line Of
the canal and under water at the termini
or harbours.
9th. A calculation of quantities to be
eTc4Vated and classification of materials,
both Of excavation and for banks of
canal, &C., sc. aA
Ctu' AN 6S1L1aC0 OF inc LOCaI COST Oh
the canal.
The result of the above comprehensive
labor will be to enable the Commission to
lay down the working plans for o tide
level Canal. and lnc Thorn I'm a positio" to
understand and provide for such Difficult
ties as we're made the subject OF special OBJ
lection 1T the Paris Congress. So far as
the v~eritication of previous surveys is con-
cerned chat has already been accomplished
sufficiently to satisfy Mr.. de Lesseps Of
their accuracy, n of the real merits of
the grand scheme which he has inaugu-
rated. Not only is he satisfied with the
worl. of tho Wyse-Reclus commission, but
the Large majority OF the eminent engineers
who accompany him are convinced of its
value to the world, and of the entire FEAST
bility of Opening a tide level canal, at O.
much smaller cost than was originally sup
posed. This is the principal fact which
Mr.. de Lesseps will carry with him to
New York, and for which his visit TO th6
Isthinus was undertaken. But the work
already accomplished by his field parties
has added a large amount OF valuable infor3
nation to our knowledge Of the subject.
Particular attention has been given to the
study Of the problem presented by the
Cha gres river, and also to geological inves-{
legations. Regarding the latter, two points
have been aScertalne0; HfSt, unaI Lno,
depth fearth on the Isthmus is much great
er than was supposed; and, second that
tho rock to be excavated is softer and much
more easily worked than Lieutenants Wyse
and Reclus had estimated. Behring'S have
been made along a considerable portion of
the line, are now being carried out at the
mouth of the Rio Grande, and, during the
coming week, will be prosecuted from the
mouth OF the river to the anchorage in the
bay. The result of these, as has already
been shown, is entirely satisfactory, and
will alter materially and favourably the es-
Inmates for the construction of the Canal.
Various methods have been suggested for
dealing with the Chagres but we believe
that the plan most in favour is that Of
erecting a large dam, and turning the wa
ters Of the river into one or more new
channels. This is nothing new in canal
building, and the additional cost has al
ready formed a part of the original es-
Inmates. It may be said therefore, that ON
His arrival in New York, Mr.. de Lesseps
will be able thoroughly to repel the char
ges that he is the promoter of o work has,
thy conceived, whose difficulties are but
half understood, whose plans are imper.
feet, and it's estimates of cost unreliable
These are statements which the opponents
of the scheme in the United States have
persistently made.