River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-26
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THE DARIEN CANAL.
Vigorous Prosecution of DE Lesseps'
Surveys--How They are Carried On
and What They Seek.


and What They Seek.
New York Evening Post.
The surveys begun by Mr.. de Les
seps are going on rapidly and efficient
ly. Eight working parties, or 'brigades"
as the French term them, are in the
field and hard at work, employing in all
more. than 100 men. These are distribut.
ed along the line Of survey, where, as
they are contiguous to the railway and
telegraph, their provisioning and sup
ply, as well as their general direction
from Panama or Aspinwall, is easily
managed. The general headquarters
arc in Panama, and there the daily re-
ports are sent, arranged, placed in or
der, and filed with their corresponding
drawings, ready for use in making a
report. No time is lost in thinking of
other routes, but so thorough and ex-
tensive survey is making on this route
that whether work in actual canal-build-
ing follows it or not, the subject will be
practically exhausted, all doubts on
either side dispelled, and the best or
worst will be clearly known. No sur
veying parties which have ever ex-
large, well appointed, or under so eff
cient and intelligent directions as the
present, nor have they had the advan-
tage of the enthusiasm which M. de
Lesseps has managed to infuse into all
parties, from the highest to the lowest,
who are engaged under him.
The particular direction of these pre-
liminary studies may be briefly stated
They are: First the verifcation OF all
previous surveys made here for ca
nal, including the Wyse-Rechus and
Lull-Menocal routes. Second, addition
al surveys, in which are included the
study of the topography of the country
by cross sections, that every foot of the
entire line will be thoroughly known,
and all points on which information is
needed will be determined. Third,
from these data to lay down line for
the canal, arrange working plans, and
present the project fairly and fully be-
lore the engineering and financial
world. Fourth, borlngs, drillings, and
soundings TO ascertain the kind and
character Of material to be excavated
both along the line of the canal and I'M
der water, at the termini of harbors.
Fifth, a calculation Of the quantities and
classification of the materials to be re-
moved; and sixth, an estimate of the
total cost of the great work.
M. de Lesseps has expressed the con-
viction that the result of these labors
will be satisfactory, and that with them
in his hand he can answer the argu-
ments of all who do not approve the
scheme. The general result of the
survey are under very competent in
spection and scrutiny. Col. Totten
and Gen. w. W. Wright are the Ameri.
can representatives, or what is known
as the international Superior Techni-
cal Commission" and with them are as
ISOLATED Mr.. j. Dircks, engineer in
charge ofthe Holland water-works, and
the constructor of the canal from
Amsterdam to the North Sea, and Mr..
Danzats, chief engineer of the Suez
Canal, and Mr.. Boutan, French mining
engineer in the employ of the French
Government.
The most difficult and important en-
gineering problem involved in the con-
struction of the canal is the rectifcation
of the Chagres River, so that the floods
to which it is subject will not affect the
permanency of the canal, or interfere
with its operation when completed.
Two plans are proposed to effect this
object, both OF which are considered
feasible. One plan is to erect very
high and strong dams above Matacbin
by which a great reservoir will be Great
ed, sufficient to hold the hood-waters of
the river, which will be let off gradu-
ally through the new chanel built for
the ordinary flow of the stream. The
other plan is to erect dam in the same
locality only sufficiently high and
strong to turn the river at all stages,
and then increase the size Of the new
channel and the protection works be-
tween it and the river, so as to enable
it to carry off all the water of the river
direct at any time. The question of
the relative efficiency and cost of those
two methods will be duly considered
and acted on by the International Com
mission, and their decision will be
made known to the world in their gen.
eral report.
1t is not expected that the surveys
now in progress will have been COM
leaves for New York, which it is ex-
pected will be in the steamer leaving
here on the 9th Of February. M. de
Lesseps will be accompanied to the
United States by all mis- secretaries and
family, but the large corps Of engineers
at work will remain under the direction,
probably, of Mr.. Dircks, and pursue
their labors until they are thoroughly
completed.
NJ de Lesseps is extremely DESTROYS
of uniting American and French pub
lie opinion on the subject of the Pana-
ma Canal; and therefore has taken the
steps he has, so as effectually to silence
those who assert that he represents a
scheme poorly conceived, and whose
difficulties are not half understood.
1t is needless to say that the people
of Panama and Columbia heartily wish
M. de Lesseps success; but there is not
the slightest disposition shown by the
Columbian Government to grant a con
cession for the construction of canal
to the citizens of che nation more than
another. II is regarded as an inter
national affair, and no difficulty would
be experienced in having that part of
the State OF Panama embraced in the
cities at the termini and a reasonable
scope of territory along the line of the
canal made into neutral zone under
a Government guaranteed by the
great Powers and free to all. But so
far as the Monroe doctrine is concern
ed people here do not see its applica-
ton and would resent any serious inter-
fnranca from tho outsida world in that
direction as au insult and an outrage.
Consumption Cured.
Al old physician, retired from pructice, having
hna rlncnd in his hands hv an East India NJ L.