The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-16
THE DABIKN CANAL sURpEE.
Our Present Investigation Of an Old Project
for Conn getting the Oceans.

for Connecting the Oceans.
The Isthmian Commission which the Presl-
dent Apo nted on June ~ last to study tho
whole canal question in Nicaragua and on tho
Isthmus Is having some trouble with the Cuna
Indians vho eslivs about one hundred
and twenty-five miles east OF the pro-
posed route Of tho Panama Canal. These
Indians inhablt the mountains In the interior
OF tho isthmuswest OF the Gulf OF Darlen and
their unfriendiy attitude will surprise no one
who has heard OF their relations with the
whites Tho Colombian Government has
never brought them under subsection; they
have always been troublesome and be result IL
that there is no land comm unication over the
isthmus between Borota. the capital. and Pan
ANA. They have never felt the strong hand
OF the white man, NJ least since the Spanish In
vasion. and II may be that little Arm dealing
would greatly improve their manners. These
savaRes occupy noteworthy position among
American aborlglnes. for the natives to the
north OF them represent the southernmost cx-
tension OF Aztec culture. while those to the
south OF them were the most northern people
brought under Inca influence. II remains to
be seen whether they will be able seriously to
interfere with the Darien division OF the com
missions work.
The fact that the Com mi sson was instructed
to make q re-study Of tho old project for con-
Meeting the Gulf OF Darien with tho Gulf NJ
Panama by canal shows the thcroughness
with which they are expected to Investigate
the entire question OF q waterway between the
two oceans The so-caled Daren Canal was
proposed long before It was seriously contem-
plated to dig channel across the narrower ror-
ton Of tho lsthmus where the Panama Canal
has been partly excavated. Tho desire now Ia to
ascertain the value OF the earlier project In
order that the canal problem may be fully un-
derstood in oil its aspects
The Gulf OF Darien 10 a deep indentatlon
In the Caribbean coast cutting into the
eastern end Of the isthmus where 1t
joins the South American mainland. A wide
delta near the head OF the gulf carries
Into the sea the waters OF the Atrato River.
which Is remarkable as contributing to the
ocean greater volume OF water, in proportion
to the extent Of it's basin. than any other river
In the world. The river 10 swollen by hundreds
Of afflucnts both from the Andes and the coast
range. Steap, boats ply on II. and since the days
OF Fidalgo In 1893 and Hum boldt and other
later explorers II has been repeatedly affirmed
that one or another OF tho western tributaries
OF the Atrato might be canaized and connected
with one OF several Pacific coast tributaries
rising few miles away on the western side OF
the divide and that q practicable inter oceanic
water route might be secured.
An International attempt to ascertain the
feasibility OF n Darien canal was made early in
1854 and three nations participated. The
ships sent on this service were tho United
States sloop Cyanc. the French sloop Chimere
and the British brig EspIeGle aud sloop De.
vas'at'on. The Americans landed a party OF
twenty men and the British also had one or
two parties In the field. The idea was to sur