Year: 1870




Reports fres shs sarvey-Advan'Ases "


the Nicaragua Route.


We have had various unfavorabie reports
from the United States Surveying Expedition
Of the explorations Of the Isthmus of Darien
In search of route for a ship canal between
the two oceans, but we have still entertained
hope that feasible route in that quarter
would be discovered. 1t appears, however,
that Captain Selfridge in o recent despalch
says :-sWe have finished surveying the
Darien and found 1t impracticable for ship
canal. am now at work on the line from the
Gulf Of San Bias, about eighty miles east OF
Aspinwall, with better prospects Of success
expect to get through so that the expedition
can return to The United States about the
middle Of June" This may be considered as
settling the question against the isthmus route
of Darien proper, and we are not very sam
guine that route will be found In the neigh
borhood of San Bias more feasible than that Of
the Aspinwall and Panama Railroad.


The little Gulf Of San Bias is about eighty
miles down the Atlantic coast from Aspinwall,
and between that gulf and the great Bay of
Panama on the Pacific we have the narrowest
part of the isthmus (about thirty-six miles
across), which divides North from South
America Several small streams from the
backbone OF the Continent descend into the
Gulf of San Bias, aud it may be that some one
of them nterlocks with the river Chepo, which
flows In the opposite direction from the dividing
ridge into Panama Bay. This river Chepo is
a considerable stream, and is at several points
within fifteen miles of the Atlantic coast, so
that 1t is probable that some stream may be
found on this side which opens way, with a
very little cutting, through to the Chepo, and
by its channel to the Pacific. Hence, we pre-
sumo Captain Selfridge's prospects of success
in this quarter. We are, however, prepared
for adverse reports, even from San Bias, be-
cause the mouth of the river Chepo is SO con-
venient to the old city Of Panama that we
think il, by following the course Of that river,
an easy outlet might be found through to the
Gulf OF San Bias, the early Spanish settlers Of
Panama would have found il. In any event
this exploring expedition of Captain Seifridge
will be very valuable to the civilized world
in settling all geographical doubts as to the
feasibility or impracticabiliy Of ship canal at
any point on the Darien isthmus between the
distance along the Atlantic coast of some three
hundred miles.


We ethink it possible that feasible canal route
will be discovered from the Gulf Of San Bias;
but we apprehend, from the reason suggested,
that the backbone Of the Continent in this
narrow isthmus will be found not to present
anywhere the required depression for through
ticket by steamship without such a labor Of
locks and dams as to render the canal too
costly and tedious to pay. Assuming that such
will be the result Of the explorations of
Captain Selfridge's competent engineers, we
shall be compelled to come northward to the
Nicaragua route for our interoceanic ship
canal Nor do we think that route exists for
a ship canal between the Atlantic and Pacific
that has fifth part of the advantages Of this
route, and especially for the United States.
From New York to San Francisco it will be
the saving over ship canal at the Darien
isthmus of over thousand miles; and to sail
ing vessels, from tue Gains aud battling winds
which prevail about Panama, 1t will bs the
saving of at least a month in the voyage.


We have heretofore had occasion to quote
from the book of Commander Bedford PIN, of
the British Navy, on ''The Gate of the Paci-
fc," some of his opinions and estimates Of
ship canal by the Nicaragua route, and, in the
hope Of drawing the attention of our govern
ment to this route, we will draw again upon
this English explorer. He estimates the cost
of ship canal from ocean to ocean, one hun
dred and niaety-one miles, by the Nicaragua
route, substantially as follows:-


From the Atlantic, by canal along the


river Sin Juan the Lake MICA agat. .f2 500 900
From the west side OF the Lake and 10 the


cad Of u tunnel, or cut ON the Pacinc


slae.... ieoo,ooo


Total. ...f4 600, QUO
OR twenty-five millions, FIVE hundred Thousand
dollars. The level Of Lake Nicaragua above
the ocean on either side is about three hun
dred feet, which will have to be overcome by
locks; but unless lower depression is found
between San Bias and Panama Bay than three
hundred feet or two hundred, this elevation of
Lake Nicaragua, taken into the estimate, will
not disturb the great advantages of this route
over any other one.


The present Emperor Napoleon, in pam