THE
TO CONNECT THE
ATLANTIC & PACIFIC OCEANS.
WITH A HISTORY OF THE ENTERPRISE
From  its first Inception to the Completion of the  Surveys,
INCLUDING THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM F. M. KELLEY, ESQ., TO WILLIAM
KENNISH, ESQ., CIVIL ENGINEER- REPORT OF MR. KENNISH S SURVEY,
WITH ACCOMPANYING PLATES, AND A PAPER UPON THE THEORY
OF THE TIDES-CONFIRMATORY REPORT OF E. W. SERRELL,
ESQ., CONSULTING ENGINEER —AND AN ESSAY UPON
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CANAL IN ITS RELATIONS
TO THE COMIMERCE OF THE WORLD.
NEW-YORK:
GEORGE F. NESBITT & CO., PRINTERS AND STATIONERS,
Corner Pearl and Pine Streets.
1855,








REPOORTS, ETC.
INSTRUCTIONS TO CIVIL ENGINEER.
NEw-YORK, November 2d, 1854.
WILLIAM  KENNISH, ESQ., Cdivil Engineer.
DEAR SnR:
Be pleased to form a party forthwith for the purpose of malking -explorations for a ship canal in New Granada, and proceed at once to
Panama, via. Aspinwall, by the next regular steamer.
At Panama charter such a vessel as, in your judgment, will best suit
the purpose, and follow down the coast to the southward, with a view of
discovering a good harbor in the vicinity of latitude 7 deg. north.
Having found such a bay as will admit the largest class vessels, make
a regular hydrographical survey of the same, noticing in particular such
improvements (if any are required) that can be made, to render it perfectly safe under all circumstances.
5While passing down the coast, observe closely the mountain ranges,
and look for any decided breaking down of the Cordilleras that occurs.
From the bay (if you are fortunate enough to find one), proceed eastward towards the dividing ridge of the country, and search for such a
line as will admit the construction of an open cut, without locks, for a
ship canal that shall connect the waters of the Pacific Ocean with the
Atrato River, near its confluence with the Truando River, in latitude 7
deg., longitude 77 deg. west from Greenwich.
The researches which have heretofore been made at my instance, and
those made by distinguished travelers, indicate that the summit of the
country in this general direction is very low; and in order to establish
the lowest pass —having reached the ridge between the waters flowing
into the Pacific and those discharging into the Atrato River in anopposite direction -you will ruin an instrumental line of levels along the
summit of this ridge, in a direction transverse to your general line.
By so doingm the lowxest point will be determined, and into this:: gap,
from the Pacfic, direct your researches.  It is important, lien the
general direction is approximacely determinedl, that a regular transit line
should be run, and carefully measured, and all the inequalitiesof thie surface ascertained by level in the usual manner.
When you have crossed the dividing ridge in the best place,; proceed
to the Atrato River, on the most practicable- route, and then descend to




the Atlantic Ocean, continuing your exiaminations of direction, currents,
soundings, &c., &c.
At the mouth of the Atrato make the necessary examinations for
harbors, &c.
The more immediate object of these surveys being to determine the
approximate cost of an open cut, without locks, from ocean to ocean,
having thirty feet depth of water at extreme low tide, and sufficiently
wide to pass two of the largest steamers afloat, you will fill up the
details of the examination with reference to this purpose.
All particulars that your time and circumstances will permit you to
record, of climate, and the natural productions of all kinds, of the country,
be pleased to note.
The sanitary condition of this region requires your special attention.
As it is of the greatest consequence that whatever is done should be
most thorough, please provide yourself with all instruments and apparatus that will ensure exactness.
Report to me by letter, from time to time, as opportunity offers, and
when you have finished, please return to New-York as expeditiously as
possible.
Herewith I hand you such letters of credit and introduction as are
necessary, and will facilitate you in the prosecution of the enterprise.
Wishing you and your party health, and a safe return, and confiding
in your ability, energy, and faithfulness,
I remiain, yours truly,
F. M. KELLEY.
REPORT OF CIVIL ENGINEER.
F. M. KELLEY, EsQ.
SIR:
In compliance with your order, bearing date November 2d, 1854,
directing me to proceed to the Province of Choco, in the Republic of
New Granada, South America, and explore a route across the Cordilleras,
from 7 deg. north latitude, on the Pacific, to 7 deR'. north latitude,
77 deg. longitude west of Greenwich, on the Atrato River, for the purpose of locating a line for an inter-oceanic ship canal, without locks, I
have the honor to
REPORT:
That, accompanied by my first assistant, Mr. Norman Rude, I started, in
the steamship George Law, for Aspinwall, on the sixth November, 1854,
and arrived there on the fourteenth day of the same month, whence we
proceeded across the Isthmus, and arrived at Panama the next night,
where I was joined by my second assistant, Dr. R. G. Jameson.
December 10, 1854.-We sailed from Panama for the Island of Tobago,
and arrived there the next day. Here we remained, in order to get
necessary alterations and repairs made to a bungo, which we purchased
for the voyage down the coast.
December 13.-Sailed at one o'clock, A. M., for the Pearl Islands, which
were in our course; the wind liaght.




December 14. —We laid to all night, and reached the pueblo of San
Miguel, on the Island  San Miguel (one of the Pearl group); the
weather clear and pleasant.
December 15.-At San Miguel. The 16th, 17th and 18th were occupied in the voyage from the Pearl Islands to the Boca Chica, the smallest
of the two nmouths that connect the harbor of Darien with the Gulf.
xWe stopped the night of the 18th at Palma, a pueblo, or village, of
five houses, built of cane, and situated just inside the harbor of Darien.
Decemrber 19.-Arrived at two o'clock, P. M. at Chapigana, and landed
at the residence olf Iessrs. Hossack and Nelson.
Here the Alcalde and village Judge called upon us, and offered their
services, and gave us information of a very encoura ing nature respecting
the country between thle Jurador River and the river Atrato.
They expressed nmuch apprehension of being attacked by their neighbors7 the San Blus Indians, who, ever since the memorable and unfortunate expedition of the Virago, and of the American party, under Lieut.
Strain, have been more inveterate than before against foreigners.
The object which we had in view in visiting this place, was to obtain
the aid of Mr. Nelson, and one or two sailors acquainted with that portion of the Pacific coast which extends from the Gulf of San Miguel to
the river Jurador.  Skillful and experienced pilots are very necessary for
this voyage, as the coast is bold and rocky, with numezrous reefs and
strong currents. The thermom-eter was 82 deg. at noon.
December 22.-AWe obtained two sailors one of whom engoaged for the
voyage; the other would not go further than Gairachine. Mir. Nelson
also agreed to accompany us. Here our cook deserted, but was retaken,
and sent on board by the Alcalde.
\We returned from. Chapigana to Palma, which we reached in the
afternoon, and found the tidal currents of thne harbor of San Miguel very
strong.
/December 23. —Left Palma for Garachine, passing the Boca Chica;
emerging from this narrow and remarkable passage, we steered for Garachine, and reached it about 5.30 o'clock, P. M.
-ere we found that it would be impossible to obtain the services of
any sailors until after Christmas, and were therefore constrained to remain until the 2?7th.
Decemzber 24.-0We took altitudes, &c. in order to determine the longitude of Garachine.
December 27.-Obtained a pilot; also another to replace the one who
left us at Garachine.
At Garachine we noticed a lofty range of mountains, one of which,
immediately behind the village, rises to the height of 3,000 feet; and from
this the range passes southwards, following -the coast to Puerto Pinas,
where it is but little diminished in altitude.
December 28.-WVe made sail and rounded  Cape Garachine, and being
apprehensive of not having water enough on board, we put in at Puerto
Escondido, a small boat harbor, very inaccessible, with narrow entrance,
through which there rushes a furious tidal current, causing a heavy swell
and formidable surf.
When safely anchored inside, we obtained excellent water; and suspending our hammocks from the branches of trees, passed a comfortable
night.




December 29.-Sailecl again; the wind being light and baffling, we
were compelled to anchor during the night.
There are few situations along the Pacific, in this latitude, where good
anchorage is obtainable.  The coast all the way from Garachine, is rocky
and bold, and has but little beach.
The hills, from the margin of the sea to the higaest visible mountain
ridges, are covered with dense forests, rarely traversed by any human
being.  This is true of the coast all the way fiom  Punto Garachine to
Puerto Pinas, and from thence to Punto. Ardita.
~With the exception of Puerto Pinas, there is no harbor of sufficient
depth for vessels larger thane those used for coasting, (which are small,)
on all this line of coast.  Puerto Pinas, however, is capacious, and deserves a more extended description, which is given hereafter.
December 30.-We arrived within a mile and a-half of the entrance of
Puerto Pinas, but were baffled by the winds, and were compelled to anchor in a dangerous situation, exposed to a heavy swell, 1which threatened
to drive us ashore.
December 31.-We weighed ancho.r at daylight, and, after four hours'
heavy pulling against a current, made the entrance of Puerto Pinas, near
which there are several remarkable detached roces, which mark the position of the harbor very distinctly.
We entered the harbor about eight o'clock, A. M., and followed closely
the rocks on its northern margin, until we reached the mouth of a river
which flows into it froiA the direction of the Sierra,  which is lofty, and
limits the view towards the interior.
At the time of landing, tIre thermoimeter siood at 88 deg.  A rancho
was speedily erected on the sandy neck, between the river and the bay.
This harbor is two miles and a-half wide at the mouthl and extends inwards, to the cro-17wn of the bay, about five miles.  It is closely hemmed
in by mountains, which are densely wooded, and rise to the altitude of
from five hundred to one thousand feet.
The more distant ranges, in the interior, appear to have av n altit;ude
from three thousand to four thousand feet.  The shores, on both sides,
are indented with bays, which would shelter a vessel against )allI winds.
These are of limited extent, but have deep water close to the shore.
The Rio de Pinas is an inconsiderable stream, liable to sudden a1nd
heavy freshets, during one of which, outr bunio dragged her anchor, and
was with great difficulty prevented from driftling out into the bay.
The playa, or beach, which margins the crowan of the harbor, is very
smooth, with a gradual slope, but, owing to the tidal current, is at all
times beaten by a succession of breakers, rendering it difficult, and even
dangerous, to land upon from boats.  Landing-places can only be found
at the mouth of the river, or in the various inlets which indent its northern and southern shores..J~anuzary 1, 1855.-I started from the rancho at half-past eight o'clock,
A. M., and, accompanied by the Doctor, walked towards the crown of
the harbor, intending to ascend one of the hills.  -We were attended by
our pilot and the sailors, armed with hatchets, to cut the brushwood in
our ascent.
After walking' three miles along the beach, we reached a cool and
shaded rivulet, falling in a cascade.  Here we breakfasted, and then comnmenced the ascent.




We took with us one aneroid barometer and detached thermometer;
the other aneroid, with thermometer, being left at the rancho, with Captain Rude, who was directed to note, every hour, the baronmeter pressure,
and register the atmospheric temperature.
When we reached the summit of the hill, which was very steep, and
difficult of ascent, and, moreover, extremely slippery from  the clayey nature of th e surface, we observed the instruments, and found the atmospheric pressure diminished 45-100 of an inch, indicating, with the correction for the temperature, a height of nearly 500 feet.
Jctnucary 2.-We took angles of elevatiomn, to ascertain, t;rigonometrically, the height of te hi;ll wnh ich we ascended yesterday; but the angles
obtained weTre necessarily, very acute, and consequently, unsatislfactory.
In ascending andCt measurting the altitude of thais hill, we had two objects in view:  First, to test the accuracy of a barometrical observation,
as compared with a trigonometrical one; and, secondly, to obtain a view,
from an elevated summit, over the neighboring country.  But in the latter
we were completely disappointed; the foliage being so dense, that it wtas
impossible to see to a greater distance thaen a few yards.
This difficulty we had to contend with during all our subsequent travels, from  the Pacific to the Atrato.  Hence, all statements respecting
views from the tops of hills in iNew GQranada, are to be received with caution and. distrust.  No extensive prospects are obtainable from  anty nloutain seen by our expedition in New Granada.
January 3. —At'uerto Pinas, we became acquainted with  a resident
of Jurador, who gave us a very intelligent account of the country between the mouth of that river and the Atrato.
January 6.-This evening, at seven o'clock, we got under way, and
stood out of the harbor? with light, unsteady winds.  We passed a row
of remarkable detached rocks, seven in number, which mark the southern
head of the harbor.
Janusary 7.-We reached.Punto Ardita, after two days of difficult,
harassig, anld tedious navigation; making sail when the wind was favorable, and anchoriag when it was calm, or foul. The coast between Puerto
Pinas and Punto Ardita, is bold, rocky, and dangerous.  There are two
remarkable pronontories. The most northerly is called Punto Muerto; the
more southerly, Punto Caracoles.  In the vicinity of these points, the
sinall coasting canoes and piraguas find anchorage.  Punto Cocalito is
another similar promontory, within about six miles of Punto Ardita.  At
this last-named promontory commences the remarkable and important
bay, which encloses the outlet of thq Jurador and Paracuchichi rivelrs'besides others of lesser note; and here we perceived, at a glance, that
depression of the Cordilleras, (from the altitude of thousands to that o0
hundreds of feet,) -where we have determined to effect a hitherto unexplored route from the Pacific to the Atrato.  This important bay terminates, towards the south, in the remarkable promontory of Punto Marzo,
An extent of not less than thirty-five miles, with a depth of fifteen miles.
from the crown of the bay, to a straight line, connects the two headlands.  This line of coast presents three great playas, or beaches of sand,
the first of which, forming the segment of a circle, intervenes betweer
Punto Ardita and the mouths of the Jurador; the second runs nearly ir
a straight line, from the Jurador to the mouths of the Paracuchichi, a dis
tance of ten miles; the third extends from  the month of the last-named:




river, in a semi-circular direction, to the mnoutlh of the Corredor River, a
distance of fifteen miles.
The waves of the Pacific break in long continuous lines of surf against
these elongated  beaches, from  whence the water deepens very regularly
and gradually, afifording anchorage of frorm ten to thirty fathomns, within
two or three miles of the shore.  The bottom  is of sand, deepening very
gradually from the shore outwards.
Off thne points of Ardita, Jurador, and Mar-zo, there are detached rocks;
but all other parts of the bay are free from these dangerous obstructions.
At Corredor, there is an indentation of the coast, forming a saie an.chorage and harbor, where ships of large size can be protected from nearly
every wind, within seven or eight miles, running distance, from the mouth
of the River P-araoC uchichi, the importalnce  of which will hereafter be
pointed out.
The coast between Punto A.rdita and Marzo is dieserving of an especial
description.  First: towards the sea, is a beach skirted with innumerable
cocoa-nut trees; more interiorly, a level expanse thickly covered with
mangroves, and traversedc by canoes or canals formled by nature in a network, in which the tide rises and fa.lls, showing  thSre  to conmunicat
with the Jurador and Paracuchichi rivers.
Beyond this level, or " manglade," the surface rises into gentle elevations, of inconsiderable altit-ude, the highest of which does not appear
to exceed a few hundred feet.  Thronughout its entire extent, the country,
far and near, is covered with trees.
Froi  Coorredor to Jurador, and even to Ardita, it is possible to go on
foot along' the beaches excepot a- hibgh water, when the tide reaches the
bushes.  This being the only partt of the coast at which a depression of
the Cordilleras is visible, the character of the coast line itself requires an
especial deseription, viith r-eference to the existence of a harbor at which
a canal might ternlina e.  Hitherto we had not heard of th e existence of
a-ny natural  harbor in this vicinity, except Coi edor.
It was necessary for us to enter the moutuh of the Paracuchichi, through
its rows of breakers, ere vwe became aware of the wide and beautiful expanse of sheltered water, which was hidden from our sight as we passec
along by the long peninsula of Paracuchichi.
To resume the narra-tive of events: we reached, as already observed,
Punto Ardita, and brought up in a small anchorage, only accessible to
canoes or bungos.  Fromn this point our pilot pointed out the entrance
of the Jurador, about five miles distant, and he wwas of opinion that the
surf was too heavy to attempt to enter; nevertheless, about five o'clock,
P. M., he changed his mind, and ran across the bay of Ardita to within
a few hundred yards of the mouth of the river; here we anchored, as it
was getting dark, in about eight fat-homs.
JazuaCry 8.-We got under way at daylight, and pulled close to the
northern mouth of the Jurador; but the surf was so heavy and formidable,
that to have attempted an entrance would have been madness.  The passage is only a few yards wide, and can only be approached at certain
times.  Formidable rocks break the heavy rollers into foam,'which is
dashed upwards in clouds of spray.
Steering on for about one mile and a-quarter, we passed the island which
separates the two mouths of the Jurador; it is level at each extremity, and
rises in its central part to a height of about thirty feet. The surf, as we sailed




along, forbade any attempts at landing, and when we reached the southern
mouth, the same difficulty met us; in fact, we had no alternative but to
steer along the coast froml the Jurador in search of a landing-place, but
which we could not find nearer than Corredoro There we brought up in a
finely sheltered harbor about two o'clock P. M.
Janzuary 9.-At Corredor there are no inhabitants.  The hills rise
abruptly from  the beach, and are, as everywhere else in this country,
thickly wooded from base to summit;.  This day we took a lilne of soundings across the harbor, at a cable's length from the shore, and the result
was a medium depth of three fathoms.  Leewardly there is a safe anchorage for large ships  protection against the prevailing winds being afforded
by the neighboring coas's.
Jaznucary 10.-VWe took bearings of important points from  Corredor.
Mouth of the Parucalchihi N. 25 deg. Wi.; Cocalito, 1N. /W.; AMouth of
Jurador N. -W. and by AV.
In the evening', having obtained the services of a mrore trustworthy pilot,
who came down fron   Jurador on purpose to see us, we weighed anchor
and stood across the bay, steering -for the mouths of die Paracuchichi.
Jancuary 1 i. —This m1orning, ulder the pilotage of a skillful seamail, we
approached the nmouths of the iivel, from our anchorage off Paracuchiclli.
The surf was, as usual, high andt continuous;  there was no passage except
through the breakers, and there being no wind, it was necessary to trust
solely to the three oarsmen.  The pilot, keeping -the boat's head at right
angles to the line of surf, which afordecl  our only chance of effecting a
safe passage, urged the sailors, by every possible effort of voice and gesture,
to pull through vigorously.  Three heavy breakers followed us up in suecession, and tthe fourthl brought us into suloother water.  In a few mllintes
more we found ourselves floating on the surface of a river, which wound
witl  a slow current through a level space, covered with mangroves of
great height. Firom thence we proceeded in smaller canoes, furnished by
a native resident, to the pueblo or village of Eurachichi, which we reached
about haltf-past twelve o'clock, noon, leaving our bungo to be taken after
us, when dismasted.
Arrived at the pueblo, which contains about six houses, widely scatterecl, we beheld with pleasure a fine andc spacious inlet, extendin-g inorthwards froil the mouth of the Paracuchichi River, from  three and a-half
to fourl miles in length, and from two hiundllred    and fifty to five hundred
yards in breadth.
Seen from  its southern extremity, it appeared likle a fine inland lake,
with a pesilbectly smooth surface, protected fiom the minds of the Pacific
by an iiltervenilng  peninisula, which supports an abundant vegetation of
cocoa-nuts, pallm and othier tropical plants, growingm so densely, that, unless
by following a beaten triack, it is quite impossible to traverse it.
On the other side of the inlet, the vegetation is of a nmore soiibre aspec t,
consisting chiefly of manglacde or nimagrovei   whichl, although selkdom
attaining great thickness, is distinguished by the extrenme htardness and
durability of its wood.  This wood would, no doubtl be suitable for piles,
and may be obtained iln any required quantity.
This inlet is not aicd down on any chart; it is situakted in latiltude
6 deo. 57 nin.n 32 sec. nort.  NWe fcun'd the temperature cool and
agreeable, and heardc of no sickness, except a little fever and ague among
the natives of t'he vicinity.
2




10
The thermometer ranged from  84 deg. at noon to 70 deg. at night.
The barometer from  29 35-100 inches to 29 42-100 inches; determined
by the aneroid.  The highest tide observed at Paracuchichi, at spring and
neap, was twelve feet six inches, and the lowest ten feet eleven inches.
The soundings of this inlet, taken at low water, were from  two and
a-half to three fathoms, in mid-channel. The bottom is mud and sand,
easily excavated to any necessary depth.
Towards the north the inlet narrows to the breadth of twenty yards,
and winds intricately.  In this direction it can be navigated in canoes
for nearly two-thirds of the distance to Jurador; but by degrees the
channel becomes narrower and shallower, until it finally loses itself in
mud, which prevents any further progress in that direction.
In full states of the tide canoes can advance considerably further, so as
to meet a creek that is sent off from the southern channel of the Jurador,
thereby converting the Peninsula of Paracuchichi, for the time being,
into an island.  The breadth of this peninsula varies but slightly throughout its whole length of ten miles; the average distance from the margin
of the sea to that of the inlet, being from three hundred to five hundred
yards.
Its surface is several feet above the highest reach of the sea.  The inhabitants informed us that on no occasion, within their recollection, had
it been overflowed.
I saw no drift-wood, or any similar indications of its having been inundated within any recent period.  If to these reasons, we add the well
ascertained fact, that violent storms are almost unheard of occurrences
in this region of the Pacific, we shall readily arrive at this important conelusion, viz.: that this peninsula constitutes a permanent barrier, or
breakwater, sheltering from the sea a beautiful and tranquil inlet, almost
fashioned by nature to serve as a dock or harbor, of ample extent, and
suitable in every respect for the terminus of an inter-oceanic canal.
The surf which I have described is a common feature of the [Pacific
coast of South America; I have noticed it to prevail everywhere, except
in situations sheltered from the westerly winds. It is far more formidable
in appearance than in reality, especially in a bottom  of sloping sand: a
boat with sufficient headway can pass through it ~with safety at any time
at Paracuchichi; but a bungo, such as our own, being too large to be
adequately impelled by oars, runs much risk of being swamped.
The line of surf extends outwards, about one hundred yards.
The manner of connecting the inlet with the ocean, by a cut through
the peninsula, so as to obviate the inconvenience fiom the surf, is represented in Fig. 10, Plate IV.'Before entering upon the description of our overland route to the
Atrato, I consider it necessary to point out the various important conclusions that are established by the preceding narrative, and observations of
the coast from Garachine to the Promontory of Punto Marzo.
first.-That the coast between Punto Garachine and Punto Ardita
is everywhere bold and mountainous, and the interior more so, and that
it contains only one good harbor, viz.: that of Puerto Pinas, which, however useful and interesting in some respects, is of no importance with
reference to an inter-oceanic canal.
Second.-The very remarkable depression of the Cordilleras, which is
seen opposite that portion of the coast between Punto Ardita and Punto




11
Marzo. In this interval the country loses the mountainous character
entirely, and assumes the appearance of a gradual rise or slope, with hills
of little elevation in the distance.  This space is bounded on the north
by a range of mountains running in a north-easterly direction from the
vicinity of Punto Ardita. On the south it is limited by another lofty
range of mountains, following a similar course, and terminating at Punto
Marzo.
Third. —Because opposite to this depression of the Cordilleras I have
discovered anrinlet, which, I believe, is hitherto undescribed, presenting
ample extent and perfect shelter, capable of being deepened to any required extent, and of being connected with the ocean so as to constitute a terminus to the canal, and which will need, comparatively, but a
small outlay in order to render it complete in every respect.
Fourth.-Because there is safe anchorage within a mile or two, as we
proved, of this inlet, and also a valuable harbor of refuge at Corredor,
distant only seven miles, in a straight line.
Fifth.-Because severe gales or hurricanes seldom occur on this coast.
On this voyage, and on four previous occasions, when in this vicinity, in
open canoes, sometimes with the gunnel only a few inches above the
water, I never experienced any state of the weather at all approaching the
nature of a storm, or what is called a gale of wind; gusts of short duration frequently rush down the valleys that open upon the sea-shore, and
these would sometimes endanger the small schooners and canoes used in
this navigation, but for the precaution taken of steering with the sheet in
hand.  In ordinary ship navigation, these temporary gusts, seldom of
more than five minutes' duration, would cause no danger, or even inconvenience.
In confirmation of these statements, it is also to be remarked, that the
loss of a canoe, or other vessel, on this coast is an extremely rare occurrence: yet the anchor commonly used by the natives is only a large
stone, with a cable made of the vejuce, or vine tendrils, so abundant in
the forests of New Granada.
Vessels equipped in this wretched manner, and at the same time badly
manned, as they generally are, would, doubtless, be lost, stranded upon
the rocks, or blown out to sea, in very numerous instances, but for the
absolutely stormless character of this section of coast. A gale of wind
capable of causing a ship to drag her anchor on this coast, would
assuredly be considered a singularly rare occurrence.
Weighing all the preceding considerations, the manifest capabilities
of the inlet of Paracuchichi,h the existence of good anchorage in the
offing, and at Corredor, in its immediate vicinity, rendering this inlet in
every respect available as the terminus of a canal; the abundance of
available hard wood timber in the neighborhood, the absence or extreme
rarity of storms in this portion of the coast, and encouraged, moreover,
by all the information we could obtain respecting the character of the
country in the interior, I determined to make my arrangements for cross~
ing from this point to the Atrato, by the shortest and lowest route that
can be found.
January 14.-Accompanied by Dr. Jameson and Mr. Nelson, I this
day started for the Jurador River, intending to confer with certain persons residing there respecting the route across from Paracuchichi to the
Atrato, and also, if possible, to obtain peons for the journey.




12
WN/e were two days absent on this expedition., during which time we
examined the two mouths of the river, and also noticed the windings and
other features of the river itself.  The disposition of the mouths of the
Jurador is laid down in my remarks on the facilities for rendering them
suitable for a canal terilinus.
HavingT ascertained that several days must elapse before the necessary
number of peons could be procured at Juraclor, but placing full confidence in the activity and. inte!ligence of the inldividual enmployed to
effect the arrangements on our behalf, we were content to wait patiently
until he shoulld report hiinself and his people to be in readiness for departure.
Jancuavry 21.-We left ourT rancho  at Paracucihichli this monting at
half-past ten o'clock.  I was accompanied on the occasion by the Doctor
and nl  r. Nelson, with our guide, Alexancldro, and peons to paddle the two
canoes, and carry the baggage on the route.
I left Captain Rude at Paracuchichi, with directions to continue his
baromletrical observations at certain intervals, and to watch over the
safety of the heavier and luore valuable baggage, including nmoney and
provisions, with which he was directed to followv as soon as we should
report the possibility of crossing to the Atrato by this route.
To one or two of the muost trustworthy peons was confided the duty of
carrying the surveying instruments.
Wte crossed the inlet in a south-easterly direction, steering for the
mouth of a small river, which falls into it about half a mlnile froim the
nearest luouth of the Paracuchichi.    cWe found the iiouth. obstructed by
a bar of sand; interiorly of the bar it assumed the character of a sluggish and tortuous stream, about twenty yards in width, and closely
hemmed in by the forests of imalngrove trees, which generally cover the
level spaces, close to the sea-shore, on this coast.  A few fallen trees retarded our progress.  The banks of the creek on each side consist of a
black alluvial soil, easy to cut through.
The highest tides reach to two miles from the mouth of the river; here
the banlks consist of alluvium, but beiig less subject to overflows, present a
different vegetation —the mangrove being entirely absent.  Large spaces
are covered with plantain walks, the fruit of which constitutes the main
depelndence of the native population; it grows with unbounded profusion.
From  this point the river beconmes quite shallow, with a bottom  of
sand and pebbles; the latter consisting chiefly of the rolled fragmnents of
clay slate.  Six small rapids occur in this part, varyingg in height from six
to eighteen inches, and estimated to amount to six feet in the aggregate.
At the distance of a mile and a-quarter above the tidal reach, we
entered the mouth of a tributary called Pie de Nerqua, on the bank of
which, about fifty yards from the confluence, we halted at three o'clock,
P. M., for the night, and erected No. 1 Rancho, or station.
It had now conmmencecd to rain heavily, and continued without intermissiol throughout the afternoon and night, causing a rise of only a few
inches in the river.  The general course from  Paracuchichi to No. 1
Rancho, is north-east.
January 22.-Rancho No. 1 being situated on a point or tongLue of
land, formed by a bend of the Pie de Nerqua, I measured  by level, the
height of the -iver at opposite points, above and below, and found a difference of two feet six inches (2 ft. 6in.)  The run of the current I found




to be eighteen yards in ourteen seconds in the small rapid, and four yards
in fourteen seconds in a piece of still water contiguous.
We the n crossed, in succession, three other tongues of land, inclosed
by the bends of the river between the crossings; so that our general
course lay, as before, north-east rather easterly.
The necks of land were from ten to twenty feet above the level of the
river, and consisted entirely of clay.  Only at one or two points did the
indurated rock present itself, and then rose no higher than the bed of the
stream.
The depth of the river was about one foot, so that we had no difficulty
in wading through it.  Two other measurements of the flow of the current gave, respectively, nine yards in fourteen seconds, and four yards in
fourteen seconds.  The distance measured in this part of our course was
one thousand yards, when we reached the confluence of a small tributary
of the Pie de Nerqua, at a spot called by the natives Dos Bocas.
Here we left the Pie de Nerqua, and followed the ridge of a hill which
is inclosed between the two rivers, still steering' north-east.  The ascent
of the hill was gradual, with occasional depressions; and on each side,
separated only by a breadth varying from  twenty to fifty yards, was a
deep ravine.
The detached thermometer stood 84 deg. at 11 o'clock, A. M.  Our
distance from the Dos Bocas was one hundred and thirty-eight yards.
We thlen found the ridge to descend from this point, until it suddenly
dipped down to the level of a small, sluggish quebrada or brook, which
crossed our road, and marked the termination of the first of a series of
remarkable elongated hills, moderate in elevation, and consisting of clay
entirely, stretching in a north-east direction, from within a few miles of
the Pacific to thle valley of the Nerqua.
After crossing this brook, which flowed into the valley on the righthand side of our route, I ascended another elongated or haystack shaped
hill, much lower than the preceding one; and following it, under a heavy
rain, still steering north-east, we reached the spot where I determined to
halt for the night.
This spot is situated on the bank of the river Chupipi, and is designated
in the Field-Book as!ancho No. 2.  (See Plates 1 and 3, where the dotted line shows the top of the ridge and where the line of level was run,
and the termination of the dotted perpendicular lines shows the bottom of
the valley.)
The distance measured from the Dos Bocas was one thousand eight hundred and thirty yards, to the Quebrada, and nine hundred yards from
thence to the Chupipi.  Here the aneroid barometer, at 1 o'clock, P. M.,
stood at 29 20-100, and the thermometer at 79 deg.
The Chupipi will cross the line of the canal, as it flows from a northerly direction and passes away to the south-westward to join the Paracuecichi.
From its small size, it will form no impediment to the construction, but
will be useful as a feeder.  Its average breadth is about twenty feet, with
a medium depth not exceeding two feet.  Its bottom is pebbly, and here
and there a stratified rock of clay slate presents itself in the bed, dipping
at an angle of 20 deg. towards the north east: the banks, for a considerable space above the level of the water, and suppoprting a heavy vegetation, with trees, fron sixty to seventy feet high.




14
These marginal spaces of alluvial soil are frequent along the rivers of
this country, and are of great importance to a public work requiring large
bodies of men, from the immense profutsion with which they yield the
plantain, and other kinds of food.
January 23.-We remained at Rancho No. 2, awaiting communications from Captain Rude. On the same day, the party at the rancho at
Chupipi started at seven o'clock, A. M., the thermoimeter at 80 deg., and,
passing over a level space of alluvial soil, began the ascent of another
hill, of the same form  of the others we hlad previously passed over; still
keeping in a north-east direction, and havi-ng close on our right hand a
deep valley.
At nine o'clock, A. M., being on the summit of the hill, we observed the
aneroid 28 82-100, and the thermometer 79 deg. Here the course becomles east by north, the ridge exceedingly narrow, and we could hear
the waters of the Chupipi at the bottom of the ravine on our left, falling
over a cascade. At forty-five minutes past ten, a heavy thunder-shower,
but of short duration.  We continued our journey, alternately ascending
and descending, according to the -form of the ridge, until a rapid descent
brought us to the bank of a quebrada or brook, where, the daily rains
having already set in, we erected Rancho No. 3, having passed  over,
since we left the last rancho in the morning, the distance of two miles
and a-half, in the general direction of east north-east.
It again rained very heavily throughout the afternoon and night, accompanied with much thunder and lightning.  Aneroid barometer stood
at 28 60-100, and the thermometer at 75 deg.
The small quebrada on which Rancho No. 3 was erected, is of no imnportance, being only three or three and a-half feet wide, with high banks
of clay, and a muddy bottom.  During' very heavy rains it would carry a
considerable body of water down to the canal, and would be of some use
as a feeder. The hills and ravines continued to be thickly wooded.
1 have here to remark again, that in passing successively over the three
preceding longitudinal hills of clay foundation, we had invariably observed an uninterrupted valley of great depth on our right-hand side.
We look attentively for any transverse ridge or other obstacle to the
passage of a canal through this elongated and continuous valley, as it
seemed to me, but no such impediment could be discovered.
I have also to point out the important fact, that, although  sleeping
nightly in the open air, sheltered from the rain only by th'e sloping roof
of palm-leaves, which our peons erected for us in half an hour, our beds
consisting of India rubber blankets spread over pahlm-leaves, none of our
party suffered the least in health.
Januzary 25.-We left Rancho No. 3 at nine o'clock, A. M., and commenced the ascent of another elongated hill of the haystack form, consisting, like the preceding ones, of clay in the soft state.  At some points,
the summit was a mere shell in thickness; in other respects presenting no
difference, except in being of much lower eleva'tion: its course is northeast, and the distance to the Chuparador River, which crosses at its northeast foot, is twelve hundred and sixty-five yards.
The Chuparador is a tributary of the Paracuchichi, and is here four
feet wide, six or eight inches deep, with banks of clay, and flows southwest, with a very slow current.
Then we gradually ascended another low  hill, until we reached a




15
remarkably large tree, (as compared with the others, which are generally
of small size on these hills, although of great height.)  From  thence we
steered on about thile same course, and crossed another very small brook,
or, rather, ditch, falling into the Chuparador.  This was the last trace of
water flowing into the Pacific, that we crossed.
We then ascended the next in succession of this series of hills,  It was
of a low elevation, with a table or plateau at the top.  On our left hand
there was a valley, through which flows the Hingador, a tributary of the
Nerqua, and, therefore, the first water hithle-rto encountered flowin' to the
Atlantic.  The valley of the Hingador is separated from that on our right
hand, which is drained into the Pacific, by the hill or elevated ground
which we were then traversing.  The distance between the two valleys, in
some places, is not more than one hundred and thirty feet.
Descending very gradually north-east, -we crossed two small branches
or tributaries of the Hingador, and reached a large branch of this river,
at its junction with one of the small tri'butaries already mentionedr  aCnd
erected thereon Rancho No. 4.
In the afternoon the rain fell heavily, and continulted  until midnight.
No rise of the small river before us took place; aneroid barometer 28 6-10.
This branch of the Hingador is a clear, pleasant brook, half a foot in
depth, eight feet wide, pebbly bottom, and flows from  the westward with
a moderate current.
I have to point out that, from the last station or rancho, we carried
along with us on our right the same continuous valley; but have to observe
that, in approaching the Hingador, the country becomes more intricate,
and several ridges proceed from this vicinity as from a centre, in different
directions.  Two form  between them a deep and narrow gorge, through
which the Hingador descends to the Nerqua, over a series of water-fallsthe first of which I ascertained to be of the height of hundred and sixty
feet; the others, seven in number, averaging in height from three feet to
twenty-four feet,
This formation of the country will cause a deflection or bend in the line of
the canal, in order to bring it to the level of the Nerqua.
The length of the gorge of the Hingador, fron  the great fall to the
Nerqua in a direct line, is not more than one mile and a half.  A parallel
line from the valley in which it is proposed to bend the canal (the righthand valley so often mentioned) -o near the mouth of the Hingador,
would but little exceed that length.
Jzanuary 26.-Leaving Rancho No. 4 at nine o'clock A.., we crossed
successively two bends of the tributary, and then the main body of the
Hingador, which we found to be considerably swollen and muddy from
the rain of last night.  A fallen tree across thae stream served us for a
bridge; the current was too strong and deep to ford: the bottom is rocky,
and formed by ledg'es of gray slate,~ From Rancho  No. 3 to this crossing,
the distance is sixteen hundred and sixty yards; but as this is not within
the limits of the canal, I do not enlarge the details.
The great fall is but a short distance below this crossing, and in favorable states of the atmosphere can be heard easily.  From  this point we
continued our journey along another elongated hill in the plain of the
Nerqua, itc; foot being crossed by a small stony brook leading into that
river.
The peons had provided a couple of small canoes, belonging to the only




Indian living on the Nerqua, and in these we descended the river a mile,
to the house of this Indian, in whose neighborhood, at a point two-thirds
of a mile above the mouth of the Hingador, we erected Rancho No. 5.
Here it was necessary to await the arrival of Captain lRude, from Paracuchichi, with the remaining baggage and provisions, as I had determined
to continue our journey fr'om this point to the Atrato, by the Nerqua and
Truando.
It was afterwards ascertained that the canoes belonging to the Indian
would be much too small to carry the expedition and baggage; it therefore became necessary to have one built of sufficient size ibr that purpose.
The Nerqua is about the average width of twenty yards.  At the fords,
which are numerous, it is not more than knee deep; the intervening pools
are from three to six feet deep.  I ascertained, by measurements, the rate
of its flow to be two miles per hour; its water, like that of all the strea ms
crossed on our route, is very sweet and cool, and perfectly salubrious.  It
flows through a wide alluvical valley, finely timbered and extremely fertile,
capable, if cultivated, of supporting a vast population.
On our arrival at the Nerqcua, we found the aneroid, at half-past eleven
o'clock, A. M., stoodc at 29 25-100, and the thermometer at 80 deg.
Jcanualry 31.-Captain Rude and Mr. Nelson, with the remainder of thle
baggage, arrived this day from the Paracuchichi, having performled tLhe
journey across in nine hours' traveling time, although the peons carried
full loads.  Last night a freshet raised the river three feet and a-half, so
that the playa, or pebbly beach, in front of our encampment was overflowed; before morning it had quite subsided.
February 1.-In coiapany with the Doctor, I examined the mouth of
the Hingador, and ascended seven hundred yards.  It has two mouths,
one of whicl is dry, except in flood; they inclose between them a triangular space of alluvial soil.
Februcary 2.-An Indian, whom  we had dispatched to see another Indian living up the Truando, and the only inhabitant on that river above
the Nerqlua, (or below it, as I afterwards ascertained,) camne back, and
said that the man we wanted (Juan Domingo) could not conme to assist
us in descending the Truando, in consequence of his being sick. He returned an answer to our special inquiry, that " no white man had ever
been up the Truando, above the falls, or he mlust have known it."
2February 5.-A good tree was obtained for a large canoe, and the Indian and one of his sons, with two of our peo-is, commenced wor1king
on it.
February 7 cand 8.-VVe examined the Hingador, from the cataract to
the Nerqua; during these dclays.  At two turns below the Tree crossing,
the river falls over a horizontal ledge of clay slate, perpendicularly fifteen
feet. It then falls at an angle of 45 deg., over large and irregular rocks,
of a black and dark color, heavy and indurated, until it reaches the bottom of the descent.
The quantity of water, in ordinary states of the river, is but small;
but, when flooded, this cataract must present a most imposing spectacle,
from its great height.
As already stated, two spurs, or ridges, forml  bet7ween themr the deep
and narrow gorge through which this river flows, from the fails to the
Nerquia.  The walls of the gorge generally rise almost perpendicularly, so
that, in following the stream, it is necessary to wade nearly the whole of




17
the way, except where a cataract, or rapid, compels an ascent on the face
of the rocks.
The heights, on each side of the river, are from  seventy to three hundred feet in perpendicular height.  They consist of the black indurated
rock, already described.  This rock has a ready cleavage, and may be
eascily excavated.
In only one part of the gorge were observed indications of a land slip,
and this had recently taken place.  A mass of clay had become detached
from near the summit of a hill, on the left hand, and had carried down
with it one or two large trees to the bed of the stream.
About one-third of the distance from  the great fall, there is another,
twenty-four feet hig'h. A little lower down, one of twelve feet, and five
o'thers, varyinL from  eight to three feet in height.  Besides these catafacts, there are numerous rapids, caused by the descent of the river, and
the bottmn is strewn with rounded  and water-worn masses of rock of all
sizes, from that of ithe smallest pebble, to boulders many tons in weight.
About t1hree-qua-l ers of the distance down the gorge, there are numerous hot springs in the bed of the river, which  are highly sulphurous,
anld raise the tempercature of the surrounding water to 110 Fahr.
Below the hot springs, the valley widens out considerably; the river
becomes tortuous,  1rminmg bends with level tongues of land, in which the
veoetation is raink and dense.  Finally, as already described, it enters the
Nerqua by two mnou+hs, oane of which is dry, except during freshets.
ebrzcargy 1. —Ve measured  the IHingador Falls by a line, as follolws:
-— Lenigt, fiorm ftop to base, two hundred and thirty feet; angle of depression, 45 dlego; resulting hetiglht of perpendicular, one hundred and
sixty-six feet.
laebrcuary 15o=-We entered,a brook, or river, falling into the Nerqua
about one-half of a mnil belov the Hingador, and followed up the same
for three hours. Like the Hingador, it passes through a deep and narrow gorg-e, hemnmed in betwveen t-wo ridgies.  In size, it nearly approaches
the Hingador.   No cataracts were met with in the bed of the river, as
far as we examined it; but there were numerous small rapids.
The distance to which the rliver was followed up, is computed at one
and a-half miles.  It is impossible to asdeend these rivers, as they are so
full of natural obstacles, faster than at thie rate of half a mile per hour,
on foot, and they are nmuch too shallow even for the smallest-sized canoe.
Another gorge was also examinedc, opening  upon the Nerqua, close to
our encampment.  It was obound to give passage to a small brook, which,
at one part, descended in- a cataract, ninety feet in height.
Our workmen havingo reported the canoe ready for service, it appeared,
on inspection, adequate in size, and liglt, lbeing built of cedar, and was,
therefore, better  for navigating rivejrs in vwhich one of the principal obstacles to be contended sagainst consists of fallen trees.
Alexandro Domno o rriirved fiom Juractor,,nct Paracuchichil  and brouoght
with him two youno but active Indians, with whose assistance, and that of
the two residing' on the Aerqlia, wve proposed dlescending to the Atrato.
]tebrucry 1(6.-At half-past ninep o'cnock   A. M., we commenced the descent fiom'the mlouth of the Hinamador towIards the Truando.'The Nerqua, below  the Hingadcor, is apparently but little increased, as
will be seen by refer ence to the rTable of Stoppax.es.  It presents a great
many obstacles, suc'h as shaOT1,o  and f allen tmee-;.




18
W'_e passed the following tributaries, which the river receives on the
right bank, viz.: at lO10. 30mr. the Chupachavi —the one which was examined on the 14th.  At 1lh. 20m., the Pavarando, which we entered on
the left bank; it is a stream  rather larger than the Hingador.  At 2h.
P. M. we passed the mouth of the Equebrador, a tributary of the right
bank -  equal in size to tohe Hingador; at 2h. 15m., the Tuniando, a
small branch on the left bank.
The banlks of the river are alluvial, presenti;ng clay in various stages of
induration; generally very soft, but at other times moderately hard, and
everywhere much  perforated by land crabs; sometimes strata of leaves
are observed between thick beds of clay, and there are numerous deposits of a kind of blue clay, which the natives use i  m aking   their
pottery.
The general course of the river was north-eilst.
We reached our rancho at four o'cloc1k P. M.  Tile day, vlich lthad been
beautiful in the early part of the journey, bceamuie raiy -oitowards the afternoon.   The barometer stood at 29 2-10; t]le thermonometer at  9 de'.
Febrzcuary 17.-We started from  Ralancwho No. 6 at fortty-five mninutes
past six, A. M.  The heavy rains of last nionht caused a rise of the river of
about one foot, which had quite subsid(ed this   orninoill'. The bed of the
river here consists of shelving clay rock.  At ten minutes past seven
o'clock the barometer stood at 29 2 7-100C and  the tiermo-leter at 75
deg.  There are few or no obstacies in this pa1 t of the river; it assumes
a slow  regular current, with Iong' reaches, the depth beingo about four
feet.  At twenty minutes past seven o'clock we passed the mouth of the
O'odor, or Oodor, opening on the  igoht bankT  with a channel about a
quarter the size of the Nerqua, x which it enteris fiom about north by west.
At thirteen minutes past eiolht o'clock we reached the confluence of the
Nerqua and Truando; the direction of the Nerqua  being east by north
at the point of junction.  The aneroid baronmeter at this point stood at
29 3-10, and the thermomeeter at S5 d-leg.; but during  our stoppaoe here
-the barometer rose to 29 34-1.00.
At the confluence we found the T'ruando tio be five feet deep, and
thirty-five yards wide, flowing i between alluvial and level banks, elevated
some eight feet above t he river, and everywhere closely covered with
vegetation.  It appeared about one-third largrer than. the Nerua, in the
lower part of its course, and, like that river, its banks are a mere wilderness, inhabited by only one Indian and his family.  It flows with a slow
current, sixty feet in thirty-five seconds; and its bottom  consists of rolled
fragmients of a clay slate, and associated deposits similar to those found
in the channel of the Nerfqua!, with about the same proportion of pebbles
of quartz, or indurated clay-stone streaked with qcuartz.
We left the confluence  of the Nerqua and Truando at forty-five
minutes past eight o'ciock, A..M., anld at twenty-five minutes past ten,
after traversing some fine smnooth reaches of the river, of a depth of five
to six feet, bottom of shelvingo stratified rock, inclined at an acute angle,
we arrived at the heatd of the first of the series of saltos, or rapids, which
constitute the mlain difflicu-lty and danger tlhat we had to encounter in
descending the Trurando.
Five hours and twuenty miniutes were occupied by oulr people in bringing the bagoage and  thie two canoes over the first four rapids.  The
operation was one of immense labor and difficulty: it became necessary




for them to unload the canoes three times, and carry the cargoes by land,
past the most dangerous places; and in bringing down the empty canoes,
especiaIly the large one, every effort of strength and skill was required in
order to prevent them f'oln beilag dashed to pieces against the rocks.
The valley through which this defile passes is very narrow, and hemmed
in oal either side by precipices of irreguflar unstratified rock.
At the foot of the fourth rapid we erected Rancho No. 7, on a rock
close to the streamn  andm h'gl enough to be beyond the reach of any
sudden rise of'the riverx  The barometer stood, at seven oeclock, P..,
29 22-100, and the the.rmlomleler at 78 deg.
Betwveenl t-he second and thrd rapids the river receives a tributary on
the right bank, of ineonsiderable size, not exceeding at its junction four
feet in width, and only a few inches deep.  Aneroid stood, at half-past
seven o'clock, at 29 25-100; the thermometer at 78 deg.
Februacry 18.-At eight o'clock, A. M.i we crossed the river in thle
large canoe, just above  te the  ifth rapid, and made our way along the
rocks which mnargin the river for the distance of half a mile, in which
space there is a r'ec3tainoulan bend, and reached -the niain faill which was
twenty-six feet.
It, rained very hea ily, diTlino, which the people were employed at their
difficult and hazlardous occupai;on;  they first emptied the canoes, and
carried the things down by land to the foot of the rapid, and then brought
down the empty canloes over rocks, by sliding them over pieces of wood,
in which operation all our party coeeriflly assisted.  Below the main fall,
we passed three ot;he rapids in the same manner.  About five o'clock
P. M. th      oleole work    s completed without the loss or damage of a
single articie.
_I must here state that ti'he manner in which this task was accomplished
by Alexandro and his Indilans elicited the warmest thanlk]s, ancld the approbat-ion of our whole party.
The barometer, at IRancho N0o. 8, at six o'cloclk, P. 1M. stood at 29 30-100.
I ascertained the heig'ht of the main fall, by level, to be twenty-six feet
four inches, and bv acneroid, the samne.  At the head of the last rapid, the
river receives a tr-ibutary from  the left bank..February 19.0It was my intention to have continued the descent of the
river this day, but heavy rains had caused a rise of four or five feet; and as
the channel was still narrow and rocky,  Alexandro did not consider it prudent to venture, although another turn of the river would have brought us
into perfectly smooth water.
February 20.t-Last nigit the river very quickly subsided to its usual
depth; but afterwards there was a heavy rain-storm, with thunder and
lightniing, and this morerino' it was higher than before, and much drift-wood
floated down.
During our residence at this rancho, the aneroid bcarometer ranged from
20 25-100 to 29 40-100.
February 21. —The river lTars fallen, and at six o'clock A. M. we left
Rancho No. 8, and dropped down the stream,  and in a few minutes had
cleared the na-rrow and rocky part of the channels and reached the first of
the wide anid smooth reaches tihrouoh ~vlwhich the T ruando flows, after leaving
the rapids.  At twenty minutes past severe, I observed on the left hbank
the stratified clay slate, inclined north-east at an anghle of 40 deog.; from
this point the banlis again became fiat and alluvial.




20
At thirty-five minutes past seven, we passed the mouth of a river called
Salida; opposite to its mouth is an island.  The Salida enters the left side
of the river, flowing south-east.
The Truando now passes through the fiat alluvial plain of the Atrato.
Itts banks consist of alluvium entirely, and are, doubtless, very fertile. At
seven o'clock, A. AM., we passed the brazo, or arm, called Chuparador, which
forms an island, and at twenty-five minutes past eleven we passed another
island.
At half-past eleven we arrived at the head of the Pallisadas or series of
islands, which owe their origin to the accumulation of dlrift-wood carried
down by the floods. The branches of the river diverge, and inclose, like
a net-work, the numerous wooded islands which compose this group,
extending to a distance of four miles.
At the head of the Pallisadas, it was necessary to d-rag the canoes over
a barrier of drift-wood several yards in breadth; but after this obstacle was
overcome, we encountered no other in the deseent of the river, except
single trees crossing the channel, one or two of which wse were compelled
to cut through with the axe.  At twenty-five imniutes past three, we cut
through the last tree, and then continued the descent -without stoppage,
until dark, when we halted for the nig'ht at a part wherie the river's banks
were overflowed, which compelled uls to pass the n-ight in the canoes, in the
best manner we could. The breadth of the river here is about twenty-five
-yards, with a forest of lofty trees on each side.
We passed about half a dozen uninhabited rauchos, built by Indians and
others filom the Atrato, who occasionally ascend the Truando on fishing
and hunting excursions, as far as the Pallisadas, andr even to the falls.
The distance run during the day, com1puting stoppages, flow  of current, and rate of passage through the water, is shown on the accompanying table.
February 22. — VNe left our Rancho, No. 9, a; ten minutes past six
o'clock, and resumed our voyage down the Tru' ando passing a succession of
slow and smooth reaches.
At fifty minutes past sevena,  A.M., we entered the first of the lagoons,
and found a wide and open space, oblong in uorm, and ten miles in diamleter.  The whole of this open, circular space, is covered with the lagoon
grass or sedge, which takes root below the surface of the water, and rises
to the height of several feet above it.  Through thiis green expanse flows
the Truando, and other streams and brazos —the mnargins of the rivers
being -frequently rather above the level of the surrounding llagoon, supporting narrow belts of trees. A  rang'e of mountains is seen about
twenty miles distaant, to the north, and running norlth-east and south-west.
At half-past nine we passed the first lagoon, and there the Truando reentered a forest and assumed its previous forml'   no open space being visible
on either side.  PAt forty-five minutes past eleven, we passed the mouth of
the Chuparador, about twenty  yards wide, and flowing north-east and
south-west.  At half-past one we entered the second lagoon, which closely
resembled the first one in its general aspect and configuration.  The Truando firom this lagooni resumes its former course, precisely.  Owing to
the swollen state of the Atrato, the Truando, duringl the latter part of this
day, had no perceptible currenrt; consequently, our canoes were paddled
along leisurely.  Finally, at five o'clock, P. IM., we reached the Atrato.
The mouth of the Truando is about fifty yards in width, but owiLng to




the peculiar appearance  of the banks of the Atrato, it is scarcely visible
from the latter river.  The Truando is of the depth of twenty-seven feet
inside of the bar; on the bar there are but eighteen feet. The width of
tlhe bar is thirty feet.,At Iorty-five minutes past five o'clock we reached the small pueblo,
wThich is situated about two hundred yards below the mouth of the Sucio.
H- ere ihe aneroid barometer stood at 29 37-100, at 6h. 45m., P. M. From the
mouth of the iruandco to that of the Sucie, is one _mile and a-half.
From this point we prioceeded to Quibdo, the capital of the Province of
Cbhoco where we arrived on tihe tentLh of MEarcn; a nd having remainecd
there a month  and four days,  on business not connected with the
researehes of thhis expedition, we proceeded down the river Atrato, and
arrived at its confluence with the Truando, st 6h. 30O., A.M., April 18th,
1855, froi'    which point I began that pari of my survey which remained
unfinished, viz,: Tv'he river Atrato from  the Truando confluence to its
moutIh.  I sounded the river A.trato at its junction with the Truando, and
found it-s depth to be fifty-eight feet; its width at this point is three hundred
and fifty yards.  The reach of the Atrato, at the Truando, runs due north.
At'7h. 1Omi,  A.M A., I arrived at the river Sucio.  A sail was set on the
vessel at 1Oh. 30m., A. M., which added to her speed.  She went at the
rate of eighbty-eig'ht feet in fourteen seconds, for thirty minutes.  (See
tables of Atrato.)
At 11lb. 4L5m. we passed the river Salaqui, which river is called by the
natives  Leonda or Yegenta; it is shallow at its mouth, but opens into a
large riveri. c h. 50m., P. NI., passed the mouth of the river Chercarita.
_Az4ril 19.-4h. we passed the river Leondas, on the eastern bank.
At 8h. A.M i. we entered the first mouth of -the river called Chocorita,
and at 10h. 31m., A.AI., we entered the Gulf of Darien, through the
nmouth of the Cocuito.
After my arrival in Nerw-'York, on the 27th of IM ay, 1855, I reduced
my notes to nmathematical calculations and drawings, and find, that not
only a canal without locks is practicable, friom  the Pacific to the Atrato,
but a navigable river can be turned, from the lagoons of the Atrato, into the
Pacific, of sufficient mnagnitude to convey the comnierce of the whole world.
My endeavors to point out the practicability of such an operation are
expressed in the five Plates, with explanilations of the samne, which I have
thle honor to transmit herewith.
As regards the salubrity of the route, I have only to call your attention to my meteorological observations, and to the fact, that neither my —
self nor any of the party were sick, with the exception of a slight attack
of fever and ague that I experienced while on thme Nerqua, brought on,
10 doubt, from  exertion and exposure; but friom  that time until my
return to New-Yorlk, I enjoyed excellent health.
In respect to obtaining laborers, the four adjacent provinces can supply
a great numnber of men to carry out the project, some of whom, in the
province of Carthagena, have been employed on the Panama Railroad.
I would suggest that, the undertaking  be carried on in six divisions,
stationed thus:The First Division at the mouth of the river _Atrato.
The Second Division at the Truando.
The Third Division at Townsend Station.
The Fourth Division at the eastern mouth of the tunlnel.




The Fifth Division at the western mouth of the tunnel, and
The Sixth Division at Kelley's Inlet.
To provide accommodation for such a number of men as will be
necessary to construct this work, houses must be built. The facilities
offered for this purpose is the palm-tree, which grows most abundantly in
this part of the country..Ranchos built of palm  are applicable to the
Third, Fourth, Fifth andl Sixth Divisions.
Those required for the Second Division (on the Truando), and for the First
Division (on the Atrato), must be constructed to float, as there are no
banks on those rivers on which ranchos, or houses, can be erected.  The
dredging  machines to be used on the river can be made sufficiently capacious to accommodate all the men in each division.
East of the summit the best sites for the erection of work-shops and
provision warehouses, are, Turbo, near the mouth of the Atrato, and
Townsend Station, near the proposed junction of the canal with the
Truando.  Communication could be kept up between these two points,
in twelve hours, by means of steamers drawing six feet of water.
WAest of the summit I would propose, as the best locations for erecting
provision magazines, &c., the Gooding and Emma Josephine Stations to
supply the Fourth and Fifth. Divisions, and Kelley's Inlet to supply the
Sixth Division.  All the vegetables required could be raised along the
shores of the Pacific, and in the valley of the Nerqua, after about a year's
cultivation.  The plantain, which is the chief food of the natives, grows
here in great abundance; also the Indian corn and rice, to some extent,
in the vicinity of the route, together with nearly all the fruits and eseulent roots of the tropics.
Breadstuffs can be procured from  Peru and Chili, as well as fi'om
San Francisco.  Cattle, pork, &c., can be conveyed from  Chiriqui to
Kelley's Inlet in three or'four days.
Thus a sufficient supply of victuals could be obtained on the Pacific
Coast for the use of the NWestern Divisions.
-Previous to the construction of a  lnule  road across the summit, by
which means fresh provisions, &e., could be carried over to the river
Truando, from the same source as that at the mouth of the Atrato,
namely: from the Provision M agazine at; Turbo, which Depot would be
supplied from New-York, vie, Carthagena.
As before stated, a steamer can make a trip to Townsend's Junction,
friom Turbo, in twenty-hours; and from  Tturbo to Carthagena in sixteen
hours, even in the present condition of -the country.
From my long experience, I am quite satisfied that colored labor is by
far the most advantageous and preferable, as white men cannot perform
the same amount of work in this country.
Before concluding, I have much pleasure in statino that my assistants,
Mr. Norman Rude, Dr. R. G. Jameson and AMr. Robert Nelson, rendered
me most valuable assistance during this arduous undertaking.
Having thus given you a full and detailed account of my journey, as
well as my opinion of the practicability of the enterprise, and believing
that it will sustain, and hoping that it may meet with, an impartial investigation, I have the honor to subscribe myself,
Your obedient servant,
WILLIAM KuENNTIS11, Chief YEnyFineer.,
Nw-YomRIC August  Ith, 1855.




23
PANAMA, 25th Art1il, 1855.
WM. KENNIS, EsoQ.
DEAR SIR:
As I have no doubt but that you will have arrived in the city of NewYork by this time, and be astonished that you have received no letter
from me, I am sorry to say that, unfortunately, I have been detained in
Jurador much longer than I either wished or anticipatedC, whlence I arrived
here only yesterday, which will account for the delay.
According to the instructions which you gave me wheln we parted  at
the falls of Truando, after iesting a few days at Paracucchihi, I proceeded
to Jurador River, to examine it and the. Indian pat'n across the mnountains
to the Salaqui River, which flows into the Atrato.
Feb ruary 28, 1855.-At Alexandro's house the barometer stood at
29.38, and the thermometer at 76 deg., at seven o'clock, A. M.; and the
rest of the day the barometer at 29.45, and thermometer at 81 dog.
March 1. —Same place, at six o'clock, A. MI., the barometer stood at
29.46, thermometer at 78 deg.; and a-Lt noon barometer stood at 29.50,
and thermometer at 85 deg.
Mfarch 2.-At- six o'clock, A. MI., bavronmeter stood at 29.42,9 and the
thermometer at 74 deg.  At seven, A. M., accompanied by a guidcle and
two Indians, I started up the river in a small canoe, at the rate of about a
mile an hour.  Current runs at froin tvo to three knots; course Nr. by
NV. At 3 o'clock, P. M., arrived at Dos ]ocas (or the two mouths), so
called from the junction of another river with the Jurador, of about the
same size. Here we stopped for the night, hbaving traveled about eight
miles by river, or six in a straioht line. B3arometer 29.4; thermnometer
82 deg.  Six o'clock, P. t., barometer 29.41; thermometer 78 deg.
/tfacrch 3.-Barometer 29.4; thermo meter 72 dleg.  Started  at sevenl,
A. M., and traveled until three, P. Pa,  wheil we arrived at a small river
called Antado-general course N. by E.; distance twelve miles by rliver,
or seven and one-half in a straiglht line. River much more -winding, and
only about half the size it was the day before —mountains on each side.
Barometer 29.3; thermometer 82 deeo. Six o'clock, P. M., barometer
29.25; thermoimmeter 80 deo.
tarch 4.-Six, A. 1., barometer 29.2817; thermometer t75 deg.'he
-iver Antado is sabout the saime size, and just such another river as the
Hi-ingador, near the Nerqua. The bed is full of stones and rocks, and as
it is too small for canoes, we had to abandon them, and travel on foot,
which we did for one mile 2,425 feet, general course east, until ewe came
to a smiall brook, up which we went 2,000 feet, course northerly, when
we arrived at thoe road to Salacui. Barometer 29.22; thermometer 82
deg.  WNe then ascended a higph and pretty steep mountain, for about one
mile, which is the summit.  Barometer 28.5; thermonmeter 82 deg.
Traveled.along the ridge N. E., three miles or more, ~when we descended
a quarter of a mile to a river called Mojando.  Twelve o'clock M'. barometer 28.95; thermometer 84 deg.  From  Mojando to the Salaqui
River (4 1-2 miles N. E.) is a perfect level, with scarce an elevation-in
some places swvampy.  At Salaqui barometer 28.95; thermometer 82 deg.




24
l~arch/ 5.-Six ocilock, A. M., barometer 28.92; thermometer 13 deg.
Aftter the Indians had brought an old boat they had hidden somewhere
in the river, we started dovwn  alnd arrived at the rapids next clay about ten
o'clock, A. M. —general course easterly; distance, in a straight line, about
twelve miles.  The Salaqui River, in everything, has the same appearance as the Truando.  It has the samne depth, and runs throufh a beautiful valley like the Nerqua.  Barometer 29.06; thernmomneter  85 deg.
As the canoe was too large to dcrag down the rapids, we left it at tihe
tIop, and walkei or crept down the side of the river for about three miles
more, but did not see any fall, such as the great TfalHs on the Truando, and!lave been informed that there are none but rapiis.
Haviong  come to a part of the river that we could not pass writlhout a
canoe, wve were obliged to return.  Baro1mieter 29.1;'thermometer 82 deg.
IThe mountains on each side of the rapids have the sanime appearance,
and are of about the same heligohts as tose on the Truando; bult a-  they
recede at ain angle of about 25 to 40 de),  i t hinik they could be cut down
so as to n micake sufficient room for bothi canal anid river.
Marchlch  11. —\Ve again arrived at A lexaudro's ho se.
Thus T have given you. an account of my jurney to Salaqui, -it 1 l oservatioins, and leave you to Eorm your own opinion, havinl no d oubt lmt
you will agree  it Ah me in preferrin,g th-e-?erqeua rold beingc    by   uch the
shortest and easiest.
I inquired at Santiago about the sho-rt road  that Ale-andiro said  i'e
kinew, but he protesteci that there vwas no sutilh ro'i],
(SEigned )
RO'313r1' B iT   S O,.




25
THE RIVERS JURADOR AND SALAQUI.
Cour'ses  and  -Distances.
Names of Places.                               i  Course.       Distance.
oMiles. Feet.
From  Alexaundcro's house  to  Dos Bocas................ N. by WVr   8 
Dos Bocas to river Antado...................... N. by  E. 12
"   River Antado to  Summit.......................   N.E.      1    2,425.............................                  N..  -    2,000
Ascent of Summit.                                                                           1
From  Summit to  Mojando..................                                     N. E.    3   1.320'  Mojando to  Salaqui............................E. N.  E.   4   2,640
130 3,105
Descent of Salaqui  to  Rapids.......................                         E.;12..... ".below  Rapids......................                                E.        3....
15....
THE RIVERS JURADOt AND SALAQUI.
Baccometrical Observations.
Place of Observation..       Day and Hour.               Bar.        Ther.
Alexandro's House,.............   Feb'y  28th,  7 A. lM.,   29.380                              760.............  Rest of day,                         29.450          81o................March  1st,   6 A. M1.,   29.460                          78'
";      ".............                           1.2 2M.,    29.500           85o............                  "      2d,    6( A. M.,   29.425              74
Dos Bocas..................... " d,  7 A. M,  29.400                                           72:
River Antado,....................                         "     3 P. M,    29.300               2:::
i..................                           6 P.  L.,   29.250             S 8;
"'         I   wi...............                  4th,   6 A.'M.,   29.2 287            75
Road to Salaqui...............                                  8.  M.,    29.225             82
Summit,......................                                 10 A. M.,  28.500    82C
Mojando,......................   "                                 12 M.,   29.950             84C
Salaqui........................                                 3 P. M.,    28.950               > 82-:'......................                            5th,   6 A. TM.,   28.925  3:.......................                                    10 A. M.,   29.06)0              85 -,..........................."                               4 P. M.,    29.100             82:
(Signed,)
ROBERT r  ANELsoN.
4




26
THE INTER-OCEANIC AQUEDUCT.
WM. KENNISE, Chief -Engineer.
EXPLANATION OF PLATES.
Plate 1-.-This Plate shows a section of the Inter-Oceanic River, from
Kelley's Inlet on the Pacific, to the junction of the rivers Truando and
Atrato. The distance and elevation of the tidal influence on the Mary
River was measured, and the line of level sprung from that point, allowing for the fall of the tide (the level being taken at high water), from
thence to Rancho No. 1, and on to Dos Bocas, without interruption, as
shown on the Section and Plate 3; but meeting at the last-named point
with a densely wooded valley-through which to cut a path to afford an
opportunity to get a clear sight, would have consumed more time than
could then be afforded-it was thought advisable to run a line of levels
along a ridge of oblong hills (shown in Plate 3), nearly north-east and
south-west, leaving a valley on either side-the valley on the right being
the deepest. On this ridge of hills, represented by a dotted line from
Dos Bocas, over the summit, is shown the height of leveling at each
number; and the true profile of the proposed route was determined by
offsets transverse to the general direction; the angles being taken, and
a measurement by tape, from each reduced level to the bottom of the
valley, as shown by the perpendicular dotted lines-the distance being
calculated in the usual manner. At the Chupipi the level agreed with the
barometer. (See Barometrical Observations.)
From the summit to the river Nerqua is an abrupt descent; the angle
of depression was taken, and the distance from the summit to the Nerqua
measured accordingly.
At Rancho No. 5 a series of barometrical observations were taken, and
compared with the Chupipi, or Rancho No. 2, to endeavor to check the
elevation; which two points were found to be on a level within a few feet.
The distance and descent from Rancho No. 5 to the junction of the
Truando with the Atrato, was ascertained from  the different rates of
current. (See Tables.)
The red coloring, on Plate No. 1, shows the cutting to be made from
the Pacific to the junction of the New River and Truando; the same color,
shown at the bottom of the Truando, represents the dredging required to
deepen that river to an uniform depth of thirty feet.
Of the two lines represented on Plate 1, as running over the Truando,
the black line shows the present surface of the river, and the red line the
proposed surface, when deepened: on the bottom of the Truando, the
black irregular line shows the present depth, and the straight red line the
proposed depth.




2'
The blue line passing from  the Pacific to the Atrato, is the datum, or
mean level line, of the two oceans.
The height of the tide on the Pacific at that point is 12 ft. 6 in., that
is to say, 6 ft. 3 in. above, and 6 ft. 3 in. below the mean level; which
latter would be the 36 ft. 3 in. above the bottom of the canal at this
point.
The fall from the summit level to the Pacific would be, at low water,
15.2 feet plus 6.25 feet, and at high water, 15.2 feet minus 6.25 feet.
The red perpendicular lines show the depth of cutting, divided into
sections, and the black figures standing on an angle from the datum-line
show the distances from the Pacific to each point indicated.
It was thought advisable to recommend two tunnels in lieu of one, for
the following reasons: the width of the tunnel must be equal to that of
the river (200 feet), to prevent an increase in the current, and one arch
sprung over this immense width would be too expansive to ensure safety;
therefore two arches were substituted.
This division will also prove advantageous to the transit, as it would
preclude all danger of collision, by the ships observing the present law of
navigation, viz.: that of keeping to the right.
As to the heights of the proposed tunnels, they are quite sufficient to
allow a line-of-battle-ship to pass through, with her top-mast and topgallant mast struck, and her yards braced to within the limit of the width
of the vessel.
Sailing frigates, and merchantmen generally, need only lower their
top-mast, or slack it away a little, in the mast ropes.
All steamers can pass through without altering any of their gear.
By referring to the Table of Calculation for ascertaining the solid contents of matter to be removed in cutting the bed of the river, it will be
seen that almost two-thirds is rock, which will form a permanent wall on
either side, and preclude the necessity of forming an embankment of
masonry, and at the sanme time save an immense quantity of cutting, as
the sides of the river-bed need not exceed an angle of 30 deg. from the
perpendicular, and the rock beinfg of a primitive formation, or trap, it will
yield easily to the blast: at the same time rock is easier to be removed
to the adjacent valleys than a softer material.
There is sufficient water in this vicinity to erect hydraulic works, for
hoisting rock and other material over the bankl.
A height of from  five hundred to six hundred feet of water can be
obtained at each end of the tunnel; this, led through pipes to the canal,
would work machines sufficient to perform any required operations.
WILLIAM KiNNIShl,
Chief -Enitneer.
AUGUST 7, 1855.




28
A DESCRIPTION
Of the proposed New 1iver Aqueduct, which is intended to flow from the
lagoons of the river Atrato into the Pacific Ocean, thus forming an
uninterrupted communication wvith the Atlantic  Ocean, through
which the largest ships may pass, and wi.th a    current of not more
than two miles per hour.
The principles on which this desideratum is to be effected, are:
First.-That the mean level tide of both oceans is the same.
Second.-That the tidal wave at the mouth of the New River, on the
Pacific shore, oscillates twelve feet six inches at spring tides, and ten feet
eleven inches at neap tides; while at the mouth of the river Atrato (the'
terminus of the passage on the Atlantic), the tidal wave does not exceed
two feet at any phase of the moon.
Third.-That the waters of the Atrato, at the points of junction with
the New River, are fifteen feet, two-tenths, above the mean tidal level of
either ocean.
Fourth.-That the junction or summit of the New River, is, therefore,
nine feet above the Pacific at the highest tide, and thus the water will
flow down it with a velocity equal to that head; while at the lowest tide
the velocity will be equal to twenty-one and forty-five hundredths feet
head.  (See Explanation of Section.)
The length of the river Atrato from the proposed junction to its mouth,
is sixty-one miles six hundred and sixty five yards, and that of the New
River, sixty-three miles ten hundred and sixteen yards; their rate of
current will, consequently, be nearly the same. The time and power,
therefore, expended in ascending the Atrato will be compensated in descending the New River, and contra-wise; making it equal to sailing a
distance of one hundred and twenty-fiv&e  miles on a level surface.
The summit formed by the Atrato and the head of the New River,
being of the same height from the mean level of either ocean, the tidal
influence of the Pacific will ascend the New River, nearly to the summit
at every high water, and cause an irregularity in the current, whose
average rate will be nearly equal to that of the Atrato, (two and a-half
miles per hour.)
As this river is intended to flow continually into the Pacific, without
obstruction, so that vessels may at all times pass through, it may be
necessary to state whence the source from which a sufficient supply of
water is to be obtained.
In the first place, it may be proper to point out the geographical position
of the country.
The Cordilleras of South America run parallel with the Pacific coast in
the vicinity of the head waters of the Atrato, in a N. W. direction,
toward the mouth of that river; and from these, springs another range of
high hills, called the Antiochian Mountains, running in a N. E. direction.
Between these two ranges of lofty mountains lies the vast alluvial valley
of the Atrato, which river, during the lapse of ages, has formed for itself




29
a deep and spacious bed, running about midway between the hills, and for
a distance of three hundred miles.
The width of the Atrato Valley, opposite the proposed junction, is
about fifty miles.
This vast area may be said to be covered with water, with the exception of here and there a few islands, thrown up by the currents of the various smaller streams in their winding course to the great artery.
The rivers flowing firom  the Antiochian Mountains invariably preserve
a north-west, and those from the Cordilleras a north-east course, pouring
all their waters into the Atrato River, which, in its turn, overflowing
its banks, inundates the surrounding country, forminug deep and widespread lagoons on either side.
It is known as an established fact, that 4the clouds seldom  pass over
the Cordilleras, toward the Pacific, but are attracted by the mountains,
and disgorge themselves on the Atlantic side; hence the reason of the
perpetual rain, thunder, and lightning in the Atrato Valley, while on the
Pacific coast there is scarcely any rain for eight months in the year-thus
accounting for the absence of rivers on that coast, in this section of the
country.  (See Plate 6.)
Froml the fact that the greater portion of this rain falls above the proposed junction, and is carried into the Atrat;o by upwards of fifteen large
tributaries, besides numerous small streams, and also from the fact that
these lagoons, or immense lakes, covering hundreds of acres, and maintaining an undiminished supply through all seasons of the year, are
likewise above this level, it is sufficiently obvious that a superabundance
of water may be constantly depended on.
This most important point being established, it only remains to prove
that the place selected on the Atrato is the most practicable for the purpose.
In the first place, therc is no point of junction with this river, by
others flowing from  the Awest, so near the level of high water on the
Pacific, as that of the Truando, which is just three feet above that line,
and thus of sufficient height to prevent the Pacific, at high water, from
flowing to the Atrato, and not so high as to cause a too rapid current
through the New River at low water; in fact, just preserving a preponderating balance on the side of the former.
Should either of the rivers Pocador or Napipi be selected, the forner
being twenty-eight feet above the mean tidal level, and the latter thirty
feet, and the rise and fall of the tide in Capica Bay being sixteen feet,
the Pocador would, consequently, be thirty-six feet above low-water level,
and twenty feet above high water, and the Napipi thirty-eight feet above
low-water level, and twenty-two feet above high water.  A canal therefore made in the vicinity of these rivers, -would have a tidal current of
about five miles per hour.
The Atrato, at the junction of the Salaqui, is only one foot above the
level of high water on the Pacific; but the dividing ridge is one thousand
and sixty-three feet high, and thirty miles in width, from  the Jurador to
the opposite side of the Cordilleras. (See Plate.) This line was partly
run by myself, and afterwards finished by Mr. Robert Nelson, my assistant.
(See Nelson's letter, annexed.)
Again; should. any of the rivers at the mouth of the Atrato be selected,
without reference to the height and width of the dividing ridge, I may




observe, that the tidal wave on the Pacific is twenty-three feet at high
water above the Atlantic, opposite the mouth of the Atrato, in a southwest direction, which would be in the vicinity of the river Sugra, or its
tributaries, Maria, Balsa, Yarisa, &c., all emptying into the Gulf of San
Miguel.  The tide also rises from twenty-five to thirty feet at Chipagana,
a small town situate eight or nine miles above the mouth of the river
Savanna; while at the mouth of the Atrato, as before observed, the rise
and fall are but two feet.  Takincl the maximum of the tidal wave on the
Pacific, then, to be twenty-five feet, and that on the Atlantic two feet, the
tide at high water would flow from the Pacific to the Atrato, with a current equal to a head of eleven and one-half feet, and at low water on the
Pacific the water would flow from  the Atlantic with a current also equal
to eleven and a-half feet.  In other words, the Pacific would flow into
the Atlantic for six hours, and the Atlantic into the Pacific for six hours.
Notwithstanding the dividing ridge has never been explored, I have
heard extraordinary stories frnom  the natives concerning that region of
the country.  During- mny three visits to the Gulf of San Miguel and
vicinity, I was told the San Bias Indians communicated with those of the
Arquian territory, and that in an extraordinarily short time.  But my
opinion of this matter is, that all information derived from the natives is
to be received with great caution: the truth or falsity of their assertions
can only be proved by actual survey.
Here I would mention, for general infbrrnation, that, in the so (lately)
called Darien harbor, (an armnn of the sea, passing through Boca Grande
and Boca Chica,) two small inlets from the Gulf of San Miguel, passing
up the river Savanna for about twenty miles, and the Sugra as far as
Yarisa, some twenty or thirty mniles, that the action of the tide is such
on ships at anchor, that while I was on board of H. P. M.'s steamship
Virago, Capt. Prevost, the first and only ship that ever entered that
inlet, she dragged both anchors ahead, and was only'brought up by
paying out nearly  all the cable she hiad.  There is scarcely a place
within the two inlets above mentioned where a ship can anchor with
safety, owing; to the action of the tide.
WILLIAM KENNISI-,
(C/7ie/f Engineer.
AUGusT 7, 1855.
THEORY
Of the United Action of the Tide on the Pacific and the Summzit Level of
the New River, at the Lagoons of the Atrato.
This is a scientific problem  that alone involves practical knowledge,
inasmuch as there is no formula given by any writer on hydraulics, extant, to elucidate the required results.
Therefore t~his most inportant subject  must be treated firom  analogieal
inferences alone.
The points to be demonstrated are these: —'Will the fresh water fromll
the summit continue to flow toward the Pacific, at the top of high water,




81
with a velocity due to a head of nine feet-the height of that summit
being nine feet above the high-water line on that coast l Although the
tide on the Pacific has risen twelve feet six inches from the low-water
mark, will the current in the river run with the velocity that a head of
twenty-one feet would give it at low water?  Or, will the salt water from
the ocean, by the influx of the tide, maintain the lower regions of the
river, in consequence of its superior gravity, and lift the fresh water,
without materially commingling, (being of an inferior specific gravity,) to
the height of the tides, without interfering with the current of the river
more than the difference of the heads presented at the summit to the
different stages of the flux and reflux of the tide on the Pacific?
To answer the above queries, reference must be had to such natural
rivers as are similarly situated with regard to the tide.
London, on the Thames, is situated about fifty miles from the Nore, or'the mouth of that river. The tidal wave reaches London Bridge three
hours and thirty minutes after passing Dover harbor, about seventy-two
miles from London; from which fact it is evident that the tide, at the
mnouth of the river, is half ebb when it is high water at London Bridge,
and that, when it is low water at London Bridge, it is half flood at the
Nore, or mouth of the river-thus preventing that current that would
otherwise exist in the river at low water, should the tide begin to fall at
London Bridge at the same time as it does at the Nore. But the tide in
the Thames is acted on by two contrary ocean tides, viz.: that flowing
southerly, along the eastern shores of Scotland, and that flowing northerly,
through the Straits of Dover, which, meeting, send the flood up the
Thames with great force. All tidal rivers more or less partake of these
qualifications, according to the features of their adjacent shores; but, in
the case of the proposed New River, it is materially altered, inasmuch as
its bed is to be uniform in width and depth, from end to end; therefore,
the current from the summit to the Pacific will (unobstructed by tortuous
bends, which invariably exist in natural rivers) preserve a uniform
flow, on known hydraulic principies, and at the same time admit the
passage of the tide under the fresh water coming down the river, without
antagonistic commotion either at the flood or ebb. The river will flow
with a smooth current of about two miles per hour, and which, as far as
theory can elucidate the tidal influence, will extend to the'Townsend
Junction nearly.  From  thence to the summit the water will flow
toward the Pacific nearly at the same rate of current as the Atrato
to the Atlantic.  That part of the river between Townsend Junction and
the Pacific will be slightly agitated by the rise and fall of the tide, but
the velocity of the current will be scarcely affected.
As this portion of the country has never before been visited by a white
man of any nation, mly route is here, doubtless, open to more minute
exploration, and a more careful survey may suggest Humboldt's Bay as
the Pacific terminus; in which case the only obstacles to be encountered
in connecting the river with that, or the Corredor, are the expense of
excavation from thence to Kelley's Inlet, and the crossing of the river
Paracuchichi.  As far, however, as hydraulic principles are concerned, I
believe what I offer to be as true as instrumnents and scientific formula
can effect it.
As this is the grand basis upon which I have endeavored to raise my
structure for accomplishing the object in view, viz.:-to join the two




32
great oceans by a never failing river, any small discrepancies in my given
heights or distances, are obviously unimportant; for the difference of a few
feet, more or less, in my elevation of the summit, of either ocean, could
easily be met by a slight modification of the line, and would in no way
prejudice the plan of connecting the twio great waters by a canal without
locks.
In my proofs of the practicability of this I allow of no discrepancy, the
data being founded on that immutable law of nature, gravitation.
WILLIAM  KIENTNuSes,  Chief ~a)gineer.
NT w-Yoacu, August 7, 1855.
}Onmitted on page 11, after the fifth paragraph.]
The winds oil the PaeifiCe cotst are periodical, viz., blowing firo'r the
south from Marehl to September, and foi'm the north firom  September to
March; and durcing the whole year it is calm f.om 6, P.M. -0     10, to. M.1
a fentle gale beginning at 101 A. M., which  i:n-creases to a topgallant-sail
breeze until noon, when it gradually dies away to a calim at 6, P. P`.
Consequently,  a vessel, once towed to as fair oling', can depend on.a
breeze of four knots per hour fbr six hours during the twenty-four, which
will bring the vessel into the general trade winds, clear of call head winds,
in a few d ays.
ER RATA.
On page 6, fifth line fromil bottom, for " hatchets,"  read mrachietels.
On page 8, on twenty-fifth line fromin top, for " it is possible,"' read, it; is'not possible.
On page 9, on tenth line fiom top, for'" Leewasrdly," read Seat' wardly.




33
HEIGHT OF THE ATRATO AT ITS JUNCTION WITHE THE
TRUANDO.
The mean central current of the river is zabout 2.7 miles per hour,
with a nmean hydraulic denpth of 53 feet, and the formu'la upon which
the calculation is based is, that the square root of the mean hydraulic
depth, multiplied by thlll        in feet-will give the neal velocity of
the current, in miles, per 7hour, under a deduction,  according to the
volueue of the stream, the directness of its course, and the nature of its
banks.  This course oil0 aeulation has been thought preferable to that of
adopting any of the,mIore learned formulre, as there are now so many well
ascertained facts relative to most of the chief rivers of the world, that the
proper deduction can be ascertained with much precision.
In Beardmore's tables of the -isc.enarge by water-courses of large area,
the deduction is froml 1-9th'to 1-8th.
In the case of the Nile, the iects are not entirely reliable, but, as far as
they go, would give a deductiot oi a ot low water of 1-3d, and in flood of
1-6th.
The Neva, at St. Pete-rsburgh, o -has a mean hydraulic depth, at a low
state, of about 60 feet, and is, in many respects, simhnilar to the Atrato.
The facts relative to it have been well established, and the greatest deduction which the observations give is 2-Sths.
In the Ganges the deduction would be nearly   -3d.
In the English rivers the deduction is rarely above 1-5tlh: and that
only at a low state, i. e., the greatest dceduction.  And  this refers to
nearly all the large strecams.
In applying the formula to the  Atrato, and taking the observed current as the mean velocity of the water, the rise would be only 9 1-2
feet: the correction in this case becomes an addimtion, as the current is
one of the data. After much calculation, and a ccareful consideration of
many observations of the Atatoa,   J have fixed the height at 15.2 feet.
To apply the correction from  the Neva, the height would be only
13 1-3d feet, and the corrections from  any of the other rivers would
make the height still less.
WILLIAM KEN'NISH, Chief Engineer.




34
CALCULATION
Of the discharye of the River Atrato, and the quantity of water required
to saupply the proposed
RIVER AQUEDUCT.
RIVER ATRATO.
Cross Section at Truando.  Cross Section at 99 miles  Section at Cano Barbacoa.
1,546 yds. on Longl. Section.
Lengths, Depths, I Areas,  Lengths,  Depths,  Areas,  Lengths, Depths,  Areas,
Feet.    Feet.  Sq. Feet.   Feet.   Feet.  Sq. Feet.   Feet.   Feet. Sq. Feet,
17                        29                       14
70            2j065      61             2,928      74             1,554
42                        67                        28
75            3,468      73             5,584    194              6838
50o2               86                              42Y
128          E 6,656    124             10,974     108             4,536
53%'                      91                       41''
150            8,137    123             11 808    119              5, 95
55'1101                        471
110            6:215    223             22,634       96            4.584
58;                    102' 48
168            9,408      94              9,306    224            10,192
54                        9            96           43
211           10,233      97              8,584    196 7,840
43                        81                         7
24            2,867      80             5,400    136              4.148
34',                      54                        24
64            1,424      60              2,490      28              532
10  1                     29                       14
1,000 i        j50,473    935            19,708  1,175              45,519
SUMIMARY.
GRFATEST DEPT'IHS.      AREAS.
Feet.            Sq. Feet.
58              50,473
102,              79,70(
48              45,519
208       j    175.700




The mean depth of the Atrato, from the Truando to its delta, being 78
feet:-if 208:  75,700:: 78 —=65,800 feet area, mean.
SECTION OF THE ATRATO.
The mean average surface current of the Atrato is 2.6 miles per hour,
and the mean sectional velocity will therefore be 1.92 miles per hour, or
10,137 feet, which gives a discharge per hour of 667,014,600 cubic feet.
RIVER AQUEDUCT.
AT LOWV WATER.
Fall,... 21.45 feet,} Fall petr mile, 0.382 feet.
Length,. 56.08 miles, V   P
Sectional area, 5,000 sq. feet; mean hydraulic depth, 22.22 feet: hence
surface velocity would be 2.549 miles per hour, and mean velocity 1.9
miles per hour, or 10,032 feet, giving a discharge of 50,160,000 feet per
hour.
AT HIGH  WATER.
Fall,..    9 feet,      Fall per mile, 0.16 feet.
Length..   56.08 miles,             mile, 0.16 feet.
During this state of the river aqueduct, the lower portions would be
increased in sectional area; but as the upper part would remain nearly
the same as at low water, the section there would give the ruling depth
for discharge.
The surface velocity would be equal to 1.7 miles per hour, and mean
velocity, 6,864 feet, giving a discharge of 34,320,000 cubic feet per hour.
The mean discharge of the river aqueduct, per hour, would be about
42,000,000 of cubic feet; and supposing the whole of this quantity had
to be got from the bed of the Atrato, it would reduce the discharge of that
river one-sixteenth, and the level of the surface of the water about three
feet and three-quarters.  But, in fact, the greater portion of the water
required would be got from the lagoons, which at present chiefly ooze out
in numerous channels into the deltas of the Atrato, and partly pass off by
evaporation.
The volume of water in the river aqueduct at high water, above that at
low water, will be about 150,000,000 cubic feet; while the discharge,
durinog the rise of the tide, would be about 250,000,000 of feet.
CUTTINGS IN BED OF TRUANDO.
Section K.....    Mean of extreme sections taken for Soil Cuttings, and'greatest section of Rock by 1-3 the length for Rock Cutting.
Greatest Cross Least Cross  Diffcerence of    Yertre  ths,
Section.    Section.    Bections.  ceStre Deths i perfootof
of Sections.  difference.
Sq. Yds.    Sq. Yds.    Sq. Yds.   | Feet.    Sq. Yds.
Section L..         860        745        115         16.5      7.'  M   *...1. 743          619        1.24        17.0      7.3
N......        618         474        144         14.5    10.
0......        419         269        150         13.5    11.1
(  8.................




TABLE OF DISTANCES,
Fr om  Zero,  on Pacific  Ocean, alon, linze of proposed Aqueduct.
Distances      Distances
between          f lon
Stations.        Zero.:Miles. Yds.  Miles. Ydcs.
From  Zero to tidal influence,.........                    2 0             2 0
T'idal influence to Rancho No. 1,.......1 440                                3 440
Rancho No. 1 to Dos Bocas,...................                0 1000          3 1440
Dos Bocas to Rancho No. 2,..................                 1 970           5 650
Rancho No. 2 to Rancho No. 3,.............                  26 888  1        7 1538' No. 3 to Chuperador,...    0 1257     8 1035
Chuperador to its Branch....................                0 1360          9 635
Branch of Chuperador to Rancho No. 4,...                     1 115         10 750
Rancho tNo. 4 to Rancho No. 5...............                1 880         11 1630
ll 1630
NOTE. —The above distances, taken by actual measuremlnent, correspond with those given in amy
daily journal, with the exception of that from Rancho No. 4 to No. 5, the distance having ceased to
be taken in my line of survey, as stated in the above joanrnal. After arriving at No. 5, the distance
was measnred backward to I:ancho No. 4.
LINE OF LEVELINGS,
F,'om   Ze7   o  to  the  Summit.
Heights of  Measured  Heeights in
Distances leveled points depths fromI line of
from     along raidge i leveled pts.  Section            STATIONS.
Zero.   above da atm-! to line of   aboave
line.    I Section. daturnmline.
MIiles, Yds.    t. ec   Feet. dec. F eet. dec.
2 0         11.4                   11.4   Tidal influence extends.
3 440' 222:         222  INo. 1 Rancho and No. 1 of points on
3 1440      48.0        20.0       28.0   Dos Bocas,            No. 2.       [ridge,
4 780      103.         53.0        50.4                         No. 3.
4 1300i   128.5         5,5.0      73.5                          No. 4
65 G       172.          79.0      93.8         No.2 R cho,     No.  5.
6 160      232.       1 11.0      121.5                         No. 6.
6 1520!  301.0         150.0      15 1.0                         Io. 7.
7 680        43. 0     284.)    159.0                          N2,'o. 8.
7 15383   386.0        222.0     14.0   No. 3 Rancho,    No. 9.
8 1035;  458.0. 8.0     400.0   Rio Chuperador,  No. 10.
9 635      528.0        75.0      453.0   Branch do.             No. 11.
10 750      540.0         40.0     500.0    No. 4 Rancho    iNo. 12,
and sumnmit point of section.
-  ~  - - -  - - - -- --''~ 




37
RIO NERQUA,.Froim Ranchlo  Vo. 5 to N'o. 6.
STOPPAGES, RATE OF CURRENT, &C., &C.
TIME.       STOPPAGES. RATE oF CURRENET.!  DEPTH.          WIDTH.
Honrs. Min.    Mlinutes,     Feet in seconds.    Feet.         Yards.
9.m15          5.  20           15           4              20
9.30
9.52   1i                 20    45                           18
10.2'           5          20     20
10.10           3                                             17
10.20           8
10.46                      20     36           6              16
11.2           16
11.10           2                              8             17
11.33           5                                             19
11.35    1      2                                             19
11.55           2!    6     20
12.13                                          9              20
1.23          25
1.535         I7.                                            21
2.30          23
3.25           5
4.0           48           6     16           9       i      22
Total time,..............405 minutes.
" Stoppages,..........184 "
Remaining time.......... 221    cc
Mean current............75 feet per minute, gives
whole distance 3 miles and 245 yards.




RIVER NERQUA,
lFrom rRancho No. 6 to confuence with Ti5ruando.
TIME.        STOPPAGE.  RATE OF CURRENT.    DEPTH.             WIDTI.
-----        i __- _                                        _______________________
Hours. min.    Hours. min.     Feet in seconds.     Feet.         Yards.
6.4-5                         60      16
7.10               5          60      16            9             22
7.39                2         60      16          _
Mean current................ 225 feet per minute.
Time,..................    88 minutes.
Stoppages,.............  7    "
81 X225 fr. =3 miles 795 -ds.
RIVER TRUANDO.
From  confiuence to first Salto.
TIME.                     RATE OF CURRENT.   DE PTIT. PT WIDTH.
Hours. min.    I Hours, Mlin.  Feet in seconds.     Feet.         Yards.
8.45                       60      35            10            23
9.25                       60      35
10.25                       60      35      i     12            30
Mean current.............  100 feet per rinute.
Time...100 minutes.
1 mile, 1573 yards.
The distance from first Salto to Rancho No. 7 was ascertained by actual
measurement to be two miles.  From  Rancho No. 7 to No. 8 was 2'
miles.  Whole distance front first Salto to Rancho No. 8, 4   n miles.




39
RIVER TRUANDO,.Iom  Rancho N io. 8 to No. 9.']TrIME, RATE OF CURRENT, &C.
Time.     Stoppage.   Depth.    Width.    lMean Rate of    M 3ean Rate of Boat
Current.      through WVater.
Hours. Min. Hours. Min.   Feet.    Yds.  I  Feet in Sec.    Feet in See.
6.27                   9       30  
6.58  1       2                                             
7.17                  10       33       28  3.           28   3
7.35         32
8.5                        i        t  
9.00                   18      40       35  20
9.15  
9.25                  15       37       3-4  15   5     34   20
10.00. 
10.6                   10       40       28  15           28  15
10.7                                               U 
10.27          8       18       45  2
10.52          9,' 
11.15                  15       44       28  15           18   15
12.25 a       55
12.52                  24       39                 I
1.15          2
1.30          5                     K   22  10           18   15
1.50         20                                   U
2.10          6
2.33                  10            J
2.50         16       15            2 
3.10          2       18 
3.15          5                40
3.25         25
3.48                  26
4.10                   15      41       22  10       1   8   15
5.00                  18 I1 
5.16                  21
5.45                  24       40
6.00  I               18 
6.20                  16
6.24                  20       ~ 
T7.00                 23            ji
Time,............,.'753 minutes,
Stoppages.......1..... 197 "
Remaining time,........... 556 
Mean current between Rancho iN~os. 8 and 9, 95 feet per mminute.
Miean rate through water, 75 feet per minute.
W5hole distance from Rancho No. 8 to No. 9, 17 miles 1,586 yards.




40
RIVER TRUANDO,
From  Rancho Nlo. 9 to Atrato.'IBME, RATE OF CURRENT, &C.
Time.     Stoppage.    Depth.    Width.  MJean Rate of       Rate of Boat
Current.    through Water.
lours. Min. I Iours. Min.   Feet.   Yds.      Feet in Sec.       Feet in Sec.
6.10                   18        41                         24  15
7.00                   16                 30   10 t         18  15
7.40                   22        40       26   15           22  15
7.45  14                                  20   15           18   15
8.40                   15        38       20   i.5          16  ]15
9.15                   16                 30   15           26  15
10.40                   20                 32   15           16  15
11.45                    18       40       22   15            16   1 
12.15                   21                 20   15)          22  15
1.15                   20        39       17   15  24   15
2.00                   26                 15   15           26  15
2.12                   23        39       16   15           22   1 
3.14.1        21                  7   15           38  1)
4.00                   26        39      Ii.                38  15
5.00                   27        40
Time.........  10 h. 50 m.
Stoppages,.....       15 m. _10 h. 35 m. X 1721x feet =  27 m.160 yds.
MAean rate of current, 172}2 feet per minute..4...  through water, 1721. feet per minute.




RIVER ATRATO.
TIME, RATE OF CURRENT, CALCULATED DISTANCES, &C.
Time.    Mean    Depth.   Calculated   Distances   Distances
Current.          Distances. from Truando. from Zero on
Pacific.
Hrs. Min. Ft. per min. In Feet.  Miles. Yds. Miles. Yds. Miles. Yds.
Stoppage,   6.30               58                            63 1216
0 h. 45 m.   7.10    207       78       1 1011    1 1011   65  467
8.43    207      120       1 1566    3  817   67  273
9.20    253       66       1 1358    4  415   68 1631
Width,   10.30    245         54       3  620    8 1035   72  491
340 yds.   11.00    212        78       2  251   10 1286   74  742
1.00    233       78       4 1445   15  971   79  427
3.15    207       84       5  796   20 1717   84 1173
4.00    232       84       1 1743   22 1700   86 1156
4.30    306       66       1 318   24  258   87 1474
4.45    285       68       0 1232   24 1.490   88  946
Width,    5.00    212   I  66          0 1532   25 1266   89  718
400 yds.    6.00    201   1  75        3  420   28 1682   92 1138
9.00    169      102       7  408   36  330   99 1546
12.00    197       90       6 1525   43   95  106 1311
2.00    197       78       3 1491   46 1586  110 1042
7.00    197       69      11  354   58  180  121 1396
Width,    7.30    197         54       1 1068   59 1248  123  704
350 yds.    8.00    197       48       1 1068   61  556  125   12
To delta of Atrato.......    61  556   61  556  125   12
of Coquito........
Cano Coquito to Gul f of                              892
Darien...............    2  000 
6




TABLE OF BAROMETRICAL OBSERVATIONS.
PLACE. DAY AND IIOUR.:BAR. 1Tnr~r,. DAY AND ttOUR.:BArn Tn~_-. RIEMAF, KS.
Paracuchichi.......... JA~. ]5, 6 P.M. 29.350 78o J:t~. 16, 6 A.M. 29.300   8~
"......... " 17, 6A.M. 29.350 74o " 17, 6 I~.M. 29.300 0o
"......... " 18, 6   " 29.350 75o " 18, 6 " 29.300 8o
"......... "   19, 6 " 29.350 75o " 19, 6 " 29.300 8~
" ~........ " 20, 6 " 29.300 75o " 20, 6 " 29.300 8~
"......... " 21,10 " 29.350 78o " 21, 6 " 29.300 8~
" ~........ " 22, 6 " 29.350 76o " 22,10A.M. 29.400   6o
"......... " 23, 6 "                     29.400 76o " 23, 8 " 29.450 0o
"......... " 24, 6 " 29.350 750 " 24, 8 " 29.370   4o
"......... " 25, 6 " 29.350 74o " 25, 8 " 29.400 7o
"......... " 26, 6 " 29.35 73o " 26, 8 " 29.400   0~
" ~......... " 27, 6 " 29.35 730 " 27, 8 " 29.4@0]  0o....31,1P.M. 29.410 80~ " 31,61~.M. 29.35,, 31, 4,, 29.385,,,, 29.385
ChupipiR. No. 2......,, 31, 4 " 29.115', 31, 6A.M. 29.150
Rancho [No. 3........ i~EB. 1, 8A.M. 28.600                    Chupipi, 6   " 29.13 60
" [No. 4........ " 1,10    " 28.6501
]qing Falls, top........ - 8,11    " 28.680
Heavy rains every afternoon, attended wilh
bottom....,, I
8,11.15" 28.830
[Nerqua,..............,, 1, 6 " 29.225 80o [F~. 1, 10 A. i~. thunder and lightning.
29.300 80o
Ranch 1~o. 5......... " 3, 6 " 29.225 75~ " 3, 4 P.M. 29.200 78~
" [No. 5......... " 4, 6 " 29.200 76~ " 4, 4 " 29.200 78~
" [No. 5.......... " 5, 6 " 29.150 760 " 5, 4 " 29.200 770,,.......,,
[Netqua,?.:No. 5..... "                                                                        iool
10, 6A.M. 29.200 74~ " 10,10 A.M. 29.154
[No. 5.....I " 11, 6 " 29.200/ 72o " 11, noon.
" 29.172 820 [:No. 5.....
1
"!1, S1/~P.M 29.170i 75o " 11, 8~/~o A. 1~][. 29.250 S2o                 I)uring these days the mornings were cloudy,
" No. 5.....I " 12, 5~ " 29.175 70~ " 12, 6}/0 " 29.200 720 and no rain fell day or night; apparently the
"    [No. 5,.....]  " 12, 6        " 29.1751 72o " 12, 6 ~    " 29.175 71c ~erana was setting in. The observationsof




TABLE OF BAROMETRICAL OBSERVATIONS.-CONTINUED.
PLACE.           DAY AND HOURI.   BAR. TIIEE.I  DAY AND HOUR.  |BAM. TER.n                         REMARKS..,. _...,. ~ol.
Nerqua R., No. 5,....  FEB. 13, 10 P. M. 29.200 notd  FEB. 14, 6 A. M.  29.150 710  Mason's Hygrometer, taken nearly every day,
No 5,....   "  14, 6 A.  Ml[. 29.150 710o   "  14, noon.             29.118 850  indicated a difference between the two therNo. 5....            15,      "    29.1251  70o        15, 1012A. M. 29,175 800   mometers of from 10o to 50, and in one inNo. 5,...   "    15, noo00.   29.150 820    "  15, 9 P. M.  29.200 Not   stance of 7~.
4   NO. 5...     16, 7 A.. 29.175 noti.   "  16, 8 A.M. 29.200
Descending Nerqua,...     "  16, 10 h. 20 ni. 29.300 88     "  16, 11 h. 20 m. 29.300 88~1
Ranch No. 6    "  16, 4 P. M. 29.200                 17, 7"'A.M. 29.365 770
I  Mouth of Nerqua.
"    Nerqua,...." 17, 7 A. M. 29.275 750   "  17, 8.13P.M. 29 300 850o
Mouth of Nerqua,....     "  17, 8.45"c   29.345 85"
Bottom of Rapids.
First Truando Rapid..       17, 10.45"    29.365 82~           17, 12 h. 25 m. 29.375
Rancho No. 7,..           "   17, 3.30P.M. 29.225  84       "  17, 7 P. H.  29.225  78
Top of Main Fall.' No. 7."   1, 7.30A.M. 29.250 780                     18, 10 A. M.  29.312         Measurement of rain fall by Aneroid.
I   Bottom of do.
18,            29.337 
Truando Lower Rapid,   "18, 3.55P.M. 29.275 
IRancho No. 8,.               19, 6 A........       29.250 " 19, 1.30.        29.265
No. 8,..              19,           29.300Q             20  8 A. M. 29.300
No. 8,.........'  19, 8.4 P.M. 29.400                 "  20, 8   "    29.3001
No. 8........       20, 2    "                        20, 6 P. M.  29.300
Atrato R., Sucio.        "   22, 7    "   29.375 
Qiibdo....... 16, 10 A.. 29.278 i80  MARCH 17, 10 A. H. 29.275 800i............ "   20, 10   "   29.324 800 "              21, 4 P. M. 29.175 85~.........    "     31, 10   "   29.2751 790 APRIL  3, 10 A. M. 29.265  80o
_ _. _~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




44
TIDE TABLE-PARACUCHICHI.
Time of HighlHeightof 
Day of Month.    Water.    Tide.  Phases of the Moon.
1855.    h. m.       Ft. in.
January 17,  3.30 A. M. 10 11 New moon, 17d. 20.
"    19, 4.00 P. M. 1.  8
"    20,  6.30   "   12  6
"    21,  6.30   "!12  2
22,  7.15   "   11  9 
Highest tide, three days after change.
CALCULATED CUTTINGS, &C.
SECTION A.
From Kelley's Inlet to Rancho NVo. 1.
ROCK CUTTING.                               SOIL.
Length,    Depth,  Area of  Cubic Contents, Breadth, Depth, Cubic Contents,
X Section,
Yards.   | Ft.   Sq. Yds.   Cub. Yards.    Ft.    Ft.      Cub. Yds.
33.596                    210    10
3,190                        2,075,095                     735,194
37      705                    215    10
2,200                        1,754,500                     525,800
447     890                    215    10
3,829,595         I         1,260,994
Section A carried forward.
SECTION B.
Frfom Rancho NXo. 1 to Pancho NVo. 2.
ROCK CUTTING.                             SOIL.
_, j t    1 Depth      Area of
Length Depth. Const. Mean ]Whole    Cubic    Br'dth, D'pth   Cubic
0c0.Sect'n. Br'dth. X Sect.,  Contents,                       Contents,
ds.  Ft.  Ft.   Ft.   Sq. Yds. Cub. Yds.    Ft.  Ft.  Cub. Yds.
e         _.d.49 49    200'/  950
a); P  1,o000"      \1,022,500  213    8   189,333
C)        5 5 Y2 1 0'2 201   1,095
2, 730!                           5,084,625  227    8   548,851
cc,-'    121   76   20912 2,630
__ v        _ _i                                                  7 6,107,125  738,184
Section B carriedforward.




45
SECTION C.
Front Rancho N.o. 2 to Miouth of Tunnel.
ROC1K CUTTING.                             SOIL.
Depthl       Area of!'Length Depth, Const. Mean  Whole I  Cubic    Br'dth, D'pth  Cubic
Sect'n, Br'dth, X Sect.,'  Contents.       Contents,
Yds.  Ft.   Ft.   Ft.  Sq. Yds. Cub. Yds.        Ft. Cub. Yds.
1241 80  210   2,712
1,280  3,897,600  228                                    62,134
151/ 107   213   3,37                            12134
~    1 407,                             1,374,846  236   5    53317
151 107  _13   3, 378.t z 1l 974 1                           3,650,069  239    5   129,321
=~;      180i  136  216Y/ 4,117 
- 1,747  7,487,642  244   5   235,845
v          i 193! 149   218   4,455
_________i____ _ _______ l 16,410,157        580,617
Section C carried forward.
SECTION D.
TUNNEL.
Central Section- One  Tunnel.
Feet.              Areas,
Ft.
78X92.9X30                         2,561  Low Water Section.
2
92.9"X12.4                         1,144  To Level of Roadway.
39.9X102.9                        4,084  To Radii of Arch.
Arch Radii: 63' 6" L 128~20       4,522
9.  12,311
1,368 Sq. Yards  6,4170 Yds. = 8,850,960
Or in both Tunnels...........  17,701,920
Section D carriedforward.




46
SECTION E.
From Rancho NVo. 5 to ilouth of Tunnel.
ROCKI CUTTING.  SOIL.
Depth           Area of
Length,I Depth,  Constant   Mean    Whole     Cubic  [Br'dth, D'pth    Cubic
Section, Breadth, X Section, Contents.              Contents,
Yds.    Ft.      Ft.      Ft.   Sq. Yds.  Cub. Yds.  Ft.   Ft.  Cub. Yds.
233    19114   224        5,560
662                           I          2,757,230  Nil. Nil.,
126      8414   210ot  2,770
Constant Section, 800 yards. Depth, 4134 feet.
Section E carried forward.
SECTION F.
From  Rancho NYo. 5 to Rancho  No. 6.
ROCK CUTTING.                                  SOIL.
Depth            Area of i
Length, Depth,  Constant  Mean  Whole          Cubic    Br'dth, D'pth   Cubic
Section, BBreadth, Section,    Contents,              Contents,
~-ds.    Ft      Et.      Ft.    Sq. Yds.   Cub. Yds.. Ft.  Cub. Yds.
- 126    8 412    210',  2,771                      -
5,525   1                       I 2         14,845,675  232 17 1996,952
119    77,       210  i 2,6033 8
Constant Section, 795 yards.  Depth, 41.    feet.
Section F carried forward.
SECTION G.
From  -Rancho NVo. 6 to confutence of Nertqua and Truando.
ROCK CUTTING.                                  SOIL.
Depth            Area of
Length, Depth.  Constant  MIean    Whole       Cubic    Br'dth, D'pth   Cubic
Section, Breadth, X Section,  Contents,              Contents,
iYds.    Ft.     Ft.      Ft.    Sq. Yds.   Cub. Yds.    Ft. IFt.  Cub. Yds.
119      79       210    2,608                              
6,07- i 5                                  1,5,324,1871  232    8  1,252,800
Constant Section, 765 yards.  Depth, 40 feet.
Section G cartried forwvard.




47
SECTION HI.
From the confluence of Rios NVerqua and Truando to 1st Salto.
ROCK CUTTING.                                SOIL.
Depth            Area of
Length, Depth, Constant Average Whole X    Cubic   Br'dth, Depth.    Cubic
Section, Breadth, Section,  Contents,               Contents,
Yds.      Ft.    Ft.t.. Ft. Yds.  Cub. Yds.  Ft.   Ft.   Cub. Yds.
112      73      209    2,440
3,333                                   18,015,865  230    7       596,607
109      70      209    2,370
Section H carried forward.
SECTION I.
From  1st Salto to Rancho No. 8.
ROCK CUTTING.                                SOIL.
Depth             Area of
Length.  Depth.  Constant Average Whole X    Cubic    Breadth. Depth.  Cubic
Section.  Breadth. Section.  Contents.               Contents
ids.    Ft.      Ft.      Ft.   Sq. Yds. Cubic Yds.    Ft.    Ft.  Cub.Yds.
122      84     21osL  2,689 
1,130i                                    2,957,210  Nil.
116      78     210     2,545
1,716        1!3,851,52  Nil.
91  53          207    1,944
3,410'        I                           5,865,200  Nil.! 72    i4:-   204     1,496
1,645           1                         2,048,025  Nil.
50    12      202       994
__ __' 1 14,721,997
Section I carriedforward.
SECTION K.
From   Rancho NXo. 8.
Depths.        Section.      Mean Section.        Quantity.
Lengths. Alluviall Rock. Alluvian Rock.  Alluvian Rock.   Alluvian.     Rock.
Yds.    Ft.    Ft.   Sq. Yds. Sq. Yd. Sq. Yds.Sq. Yds. Cubic Yds.   Cubic Yds.
1,416                             776                               1,098,816
4,248                     564                           2,395,872
Section K carriedforward.




48
SECTION L.
Lengths.    Depths.         Section.      Mean Section.          Quantity.
Alluvian  Rock. Allauvian Rock.  Alluvian  Rock.    Alluvian.   Rock.
Yds. \  Ft.    Ft.   Sq. Yds. Sq. Yds. Sq. Yds. Sq. Yds.  Cubic Ydq.   Cubic Yds.
29            815
1,9705     1          89               822             1,619,340
31            829
3,266                                   844:2           2,758,137
~35~       860
1,550                                   829             1,284,950
26'            798
1,290                                   805             1,038,450
28'           812
3,085                                   7781/           2,401,672
19             745
1,812                                   790 6           1,432,386
32            836
10,534,935
Section L carriedforward.
SECTION M.
To Rancho lVo. 9,.
Length.     Depths          Section.     Mean Section           Quantity.
Alluvian Rock.  Alluvian  Rock. Alluvian Rock.    Alluvian.    Rock.
Yds.            Ft.   Sq. Yds. Sq. Yds. Sq. Yds. Sq. Yds.  Cubic Yds.   Cubic Yds.
2,11-2                                 749             1,582,944
2 2714        710
396'                                  697              276,012
625  21              6               673               420,625
21            662
1,312   25                             678Y              890,192
695
2,580                                  684             1,764,720
22i2          673
978                                  661/              646,947
19-4          650
1,772                                  6349            1,124,334
15            619
920                                  639               587,880
],208                  6               664'              802,716
22            670
250                                  655'2             163,875
1'SY2          641
2,089,                                 605'            1,26L4,889
Section 11 carried forward.




49
SECTION N.
To  Summit Level.
Depths.         Section.       Mean Section.           Quantity.
Length.
Ant' Illuviani Rock.  Alluvian  Rock.  Allanj Pock.       Alluvian,      Rock.
_Yds.                        ds. Sq. Y        ds.AB Sq. Yds.   Cubic Yds.   Cubic Yds.
4,630                                     57919             2,683,085
20~ V589
2,325    14               524 i.                1,293,862
14             524
308                                     5 611,'             17 2,942
599
2,825      2                              593k9             1,675,225
2,142'                   619              603               1,291,626
t23 9          619
6,530                          1          556~/2            3,633,945
11        _    494
3,3341     1             04             ) 499              1,663,666
12             504
1,205                                     452                544,660
9             400
-jj L.- __ __ __ _ __ __ _   ___ _  __ 1 12,959,011
Section N ca'~rried forward.
SECTION O.
To Atrato.
Depths.         Section.  -    Mean Section            Q uantity.
Length. Alluvian  Rock.  Alluvianl  Rock.  AlluvianI Rock.    Alluvian.     RPock.
Yds.     Ft.     Ftt.   Sq. Yds. Sq. Yds. Sq. Yds.i Sq. Yds.  Cubic Yds.   Cubic Yds.
9             400
2,560                                     390                998,400
10             380
2,350                                     34614              814,275
4             313
650                                     330                214,500
7             3417
2,920                                     358              1,045,360
9             369
1,800    13  394                                             709,200
13'2  ~    419
2,464                                     344                847,616
0             269
484                                     294                142,290
319
t__ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ _   4,771,64 7
Section 0 carried forwcard.
7




50
RECAPITULATION.
ALLUVIAN.      ROCK.        TOTAL.
Section A....................   1,260,994    3,829,595      5,090,589
"    B....................    738,184    6,107,125   6,845,309
"    C..580,617   16,410,157   16,990,774
Extra Cutting mouth of Tunnel,              1     62,460        62,460
Tunnel........................                17,701,920   17,701,920
Extra Cutting of Tunnel,........                   73,260 1     73,260
Section E.....................                2,757,230    2,757,230
F" F,....................        996,952  1 14,845,675   15,842,627
"    G....................   1,252,800   15,324,187   16,576,987,.................          596,60      8,015,865    8,612,472
I,..                    14,721,997  14,721,997
"....                    2,395,872   1,098,816    3,494,688
L,....................  10,534,935                 10,534,935
"        M,.............     9,525,134-                 9,525,13.4
N...................   12,959,011                        12,959,011
O,................         4,771,647                  4,771,647
45,612,753  100,948,287  146,561,040
WILLIAM  KEPNNISH, Chief ]Eqfineeff.
Translation of a paper by a celebrated New Granadian engzineer, given by his Excellency Nicomedes Conto, Governor of the province of Choco, to iMr. Kennishl:Quibd6 is situated in latitude 50 36' 42" T., longitude 2~ 39' 16," W.,
of the -meridian of Bogota, at an altitude of 42.8 metres   above the level
of the sea.  Mean temperature 29~ of the Centigrade; the maximum  of
heat 32~, minimum   26~.  The hydrometer of Saure makes the average
humidity of the atmosphere 95~.  From 90 to 100 inches of rain fall annually.  The sea is distant, in a straight line, 145 maritime miles, or say
50 Granadian leagues, that is, from  the extreme point of the Gulf of
Uraba to the Bay of Candelaria, 55 leagues.  The length of the river
Atrato, from Quibd6 to the Bay of Candelaria, is 91 leagues.
DISTANCES.
1 2 leagues to Bete.               59 leagues to Murind6.
20       "   Bebard.               98        "   Turb6.
37'   Tebada.               10        "   Llor6.
38       "   Fuerte MIurrf.        19'   San Pablo.
42       "   Mouth of Capica.
The highest part of the Isthmus of San Pablo has an elevation of 100.3
metres.  Height of Tambo on Santa Helena, looking to the north, is 71.4
rmetres (the metre is 39 English inches.) Height of San Pablo, looking to the
south, 60.7 metres. Width of Isthmus of San Pablo, 1 league, 1,000 varas.
Llor6 lies in latitude 4~ 22' 40" north, longitude 2~ 34' 22" west of
Bogotaf, at an elevation of 69.1 metres above the level of the sea.
Urrao is situated almost due north of Quibd6; and the ravine or passage, between Farrallones and Cerro Platiado, is almost in a line with
Quibd6.  From  Quibd6, a good road could be made, by following the
line running from the head of Cabl to the Capon Hill, crossing the river Bebaramd at its sources, in order to strike the road from the heads of Titiribi.




51
CONFIRMATORY REPORT OF E. W. SERRELL, ESQ.,
CONSULTING ENGINEER.
NEW-YORK, 23d August, 1855.
TO FREDERICK M. KELLEY, ESQ., OF NEW-YORK.
DEAR SIR:
Agreeablyr to your request, I have examlined with  great care the
general subject of connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, by means
of water communication within the tropics; more particularly, however,
upon the routes that have been surveyed, at your instance, during the
past four years.
The task has been undertak1en while appreciating its magnitude, and
acknowledging an inability to master it properly.
Vast as the enterprise is, bearing directly or indirectly upon the political, commercial, social and moral relations of the civilized world-destined, when accomplished, to reduce space, by shortening the time of
transit to and fiom the ends of the earth-the field of research, however,
occupies comparatively a limited extent.
The excessive colds of the high northern latitudes, causing the uninterrupted presence of great masses of ice, together with  the ever
prevailing storms of a southern passage, long ago directed men's minds
to a route through a more genial region.
Thus, for more than three centuries, almost superhuman exertions
have been made by the best and most enlightened in their generation,
to track out a path through the dividing slopes which separate the two
great valleys of our planet.
Since the configuration, geographically, of the Western Continent has
been known, but little reflection was required to determine that any water
communication that should be established artificially, must be made
within the parallels of 3 deg. south, and 20 deg. north latitude.
Within these limits many positions, at various times, have been indicated for making the desired connection.
The most prominent points, however, are as follows:-'ehucontelpec -Route.
Commencing at the north with the route via. Tehuantepec, upon
which, although it never was seriously contemplated to connect the
oceans at this point by water, many very interesting explorations and
surveys have been made, one of which is recorded by J. J. Williams,
Esq., Principal Assistant Engineer to Major J. G. Barnard, who conducted
an examination for the Tehuantepec R. R. Co., of New Orleans.




52
These explorations were very ably managed, and a vast amount of information was collected respecting the topography, geology, climate, local
geography, productive industry, furnia and flora of the region.
The distance from ocean to ocean, by this route-from  the sea near
Tehuantepec, on the Pacific side, to Coatazacoalcos, on the Atlantic-is
186 miles. The summit at Nisi Correjor pass, is 865 feet high, and the
general configuration of the country is a great gradual slope from either
side towards the centre. The summit is more towards the Pacific side,
than central.
No water exists in sufficient quantities, at the requisite level, to render
this route at all practicable for a canal by lockages, and the enormous
depth and length of any prism that could be formed by a thorough cut,
precludes the possibility, commercially, of such an undertaking.
It is proper to remark that, although the explorations elicited other
important and valuable information, they were undertaken with reference
to a railway, and not water communication.
The direction of this route is nearly a south course from the Bay of
Vera Cruz to the Pacific. The latitude is between 16 1-2 deg. and 18 1-2
deg. north, and the longitude is about 21 deg. west of Washington.
Many other surveys have been made over this Isthmus; that of Senor
Moro justly deserves consideration-the essential features, however, are
all given by Mr. Williams.
Honduras Route.
The Honduras Route, explored under the direction of E. G. Squiers,
Esq., in the year 1853, lies eastward of the Peninsulas of Yucatan and
Balize.
The direction of this line is also nearly south.
It commences at Puerto Cabello, in the Caribbean Sea, and terminates
at the Bay of Fonseca on the Pacific.
The length of the route is one hundred and sixty statute miles. It
lies wholly within the State of Honduras.
Here the valleys of the Humuya and Goascoran and the plain of
Comayagua constitute a transverse depression from sea to sea, through
the mountain range of the Cordilleras.
Here, also, as with the Tehuantepec route, however favorable the
line may be for railway connection, it is utterly impracticable for adequate lockage for an inter-oceanic transit by canal.
Although the waters of the Rio Humuya, Rio Ulua, and Rio Goascoran interlock, and even pass by each other several miles on their
course, from the interior to the great oceans, in either direction, the
necessary summit water does not exist, by which lockages could be
formed for a trade of any considerable extent.
The summit on this line, ascertained by the sum and length of the
gradients given by Mr. Squiers, is 2,681 feet in elevation above the two
oceans, and it is situated, topographically, somewhat similar to that
on the Tehuantepec, that is, south-westward of the centre.
The latitude and longitude of this line, as determined by Mr. Squiers,
is as follows: Puerto Cabello, latitude 15 deg. 49 min. N., and long.
87 deg. 57 min. west of Greenwich; Bay of Fonseca, on the Pacific,
13 deg. 21 min. N., and long. 87 deg. 35 min. west of Greenwich.




58
Good harbors are said to exist at the termini of both these routes,
preference being given to one or the other, by different writers.
The next important line of communication between the two oceans,
occurs by way of the Lake Nicaragua.
Several very trustworthy surveys have, at various times, been made of
this route, undertaken at the instance of different or the same interests.
The description of it here given is obtained from Col. Childs' Report,
made to the American, Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company, in the
year 1852.
This line commences in the Bay of San Juan de Nicaragua, on the
Atlantic, in lat. 11 deg. N., and long. 83 deg. 45 min. west of Greenwich,
and runs in a north-westerly direction across the Continent.
Starting at the harbor of San Juan de Nicaragua, near the village of
San Juan, or Greytown, it crosses several lagoons, and entering the
valley of the river San Juan de N7icaragua, crosses the river at Juanillo,
and ascending either in the bed of the stream, through slack-water
navigation, produced by locks and dams, or by open cuts, through an
independent prism, it was proposed to reach the summi-t by fourteen
lockages, in a distance of one hundred and nineteen miles.
This summit level is the Lake Nicaragua, and the surface, at ordinary stages of water, is 105.24 feet above low tide in the Atlantic.
From  the Lake Nicaragua, after cutting  tThrough  a considerable
ridge, the descent was proposed to be made to the Pacific at Brito, by
another flight of fourteen locks, in a little over nine miles.
The entire length of this route, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, is
as follows:-from the harbor of San Juan de Nicaraoua to Port San
Carlos, one hundred and nineteen miles; from  San Carlos to Rio de
Lajas, fifty-six and one-half miles; fioln Rio de Lajas to Brito, eighteen
and one-half miles-making the whole distance one hundred and ninetyfour miles.
This transit, for rnany years, lhas been considered very desirable, in
consequence of the abundant supply of water on the summit, in the
Lake Nicaragua.
Col. Childs, in his Report, suggested a canal having- a prism fifty feet
wide in the bottom, seventy-eight feet in the top, in rock cuttings, and one
hundred and eighteen feet wide, in earth cuttings and lines of embankment, and having seventeen feet depth of water the entire distance from
ocean to ocean.
It was proposed that the locks should be two hundred and fifty feet
long, and sixty feet wide-averacge lift of lock, eight feet.
An artificial harbor of thirty-three acres was contemplated, at the
Pacific, seventeen feet deep at low tide, and formed almost entirely by
excavation in solid material, at the mouth of the Rio Grande.
Although comparatively of such small dimensions, and being intended
for the transit of but one vessel at a time, except at the turn-outs, and
that vessel only drawing less than seventeen feet of water, the estimated
cost of this work, as computed by Col. Childs and his assistants, Messrs.
Fay and Richmond, was thirty-one million, five hundred and thirtyeight thousand, three hundred and nineteen dollars and fifty-five cents.
($31,538,319 55c.)
Mr. James Walker and Col. Ed. Aldrich, English engineers of eminence,
who were designated by the British Government, at the request of the




54
parties in interest, in the main, corroborated the views as expressed by
Col. Childs, in respect to the cost of the work.
The ability of this work, as proposed by Col. Childs, having. such a
depth of water, width of prism, width  and length of lock-chamber, &c.,
to accom'modate that portion of the trade of the world, for which any
inter-oceanic canal might be intended, is hereafter referred to.
South-east of Nicaragua is the celebrated route of the Isthmus of
Panama.
This line for ages was the favorite transit between the oceans; and having been known to Pizarro and Cortes, became afterwards the highway of
the buccaneers.  For the seventy years preceding the discovery of gold
in the playas of California, at the close of the war between Mexico and the
United St-ates, it occupied almost exclusively all the attention that the
civilized nations of the world devoted to an inter-oceanic junction.
Expeditions were fitted out at various times by the Spanish, French,
English, Dutch, and Portuguese governments, to explore this wonderful
and then almost fabulous region.
The most reliable and important of these expedit-ions were conducted,
on the part of t-he Frenchi by iapoleon Garila wi'Nth a corps of sappers
and iminers, and by Major Lloyd, an eminent English engineer.
The former of these gentlemen made a very elaborate report on the
subjeut, contemplating a connection by railway and canal; and a grant
was obtained from the New Gmranadian Governmennt, authorizing the construction of a workl of either character, and nxilgo the time for its commencement within a limited period.
The very great estiLmatled cost, ho-wever, put upon this worlk precluded
its adoption in i tl ehe  forin, as contemplated by M. Gariila, and the period
fixed for its commencement went by'wi'hou ainyh'in';   being done.
Major Lloyd's triangulations and hydrog'aphical observations added a
great deal of infoirmation  upon this interesting subject, and won for himself lasting renown; but it was not ultil our own lamented Stephens,
(returning from the travels in Central Ameriic,  Chiapas and Yucatan, which
filled the world with his name,) entedred boldly and determinedly upon the
project of connecting the bay of Panama with a point near the mouth of
the Chagres River by iron rail.
Some observations, made by James L. Baldwin, Esq., at Mr. Stephens'
instance, settled a disputed point in reference to the gradients on the
Pacific slope; and an expedition was fitted out in 1848, by a company of
New-York mlerchants, of which \Win. d-i. Aspinwall, Esq., took an active
and prominent part, to attempt a location for a railroad.
This expedition was headed by Brevet Lieut. Col. Geo. G.   Hughes, U. S.
Topographical Engineer.  Messrs.  mnm.  H. Sidweil, ~rm.cNorris, Lloyd
Tilman, Edward A. Serrell, James L. BEaldwin, John May and J. J. Williams,
conducted the surveys; and a location was made, upon which general line
the present Panama Railroad has since been constructed, under the direction
of Colonel Totten and.Mr. John C. rrautivine of Philadelphia, as principal
engineers.
The length of this route, from  th"e city of Aspinwall, on Manzanilla
Island, in the bay of Limon, on the Atlantic, to the city of Panama, on the
Pacific, is forty-seven and a half miles.
Commencing at the Atlantic, passing inland, the line traverses a swampy
region, on either side of the Gatun River, which it crosses; thence follow



55
ing the base of the ridge Boho Soldado, in the valley of the Chagres, which
latter it crosses a few miles below Gorgona; thence takes the high ground,
through the valley of the Rio Obispo, it reaches the summit at an elevation of two hundred and fifty-seven feet; thence descending in the valley
of the Rio Grandce, crossing  several unimportant streams, it enters
Panat ala.
The very considerable length through the base of the water-shed of this
country, together with the fcet that no adequate sources exist for the supply of a summit level and lockages, if contemplated, must for ever preclude
the possibility of connecting the two oceans at this point by water communication, artificially, though a worlk of commercial value, notwithstanding the very great facilities that exist for maintaining a railway.
South of Panama, a great many explorations and surveys have been
made.
Besides those conducted by Col. Hughes in the country of the San
Blas or Mandingo Indians, Dr. Cullen, Mr. Gisborne, Capt. Prevost, of H.
Al. S. S. Virago, Mr. Kennish, Lieut. Strain, U. s. N. 0Col Codazzi, Capt.
Joureiguiberry, and others at the head of private expeditions, or parties
sent out by the governments of Newv Granadla 9 France, England arid the
United States, whose researches, from tilme to time, have been made public,
have thrown more or less light upon the possibility of connecting the two
oceans by water communication tfh ough the territory lying between -the
Atrato River and the Panama Railroad.
These researches have demonstrated that the Sieiras Lloranas, or coast
range on the Atlantic, extends from the westward of the gulf of San Blas,
in longitude about 79 deg. 30 min. west of Green-wich, in an unbroken
chain, to the Gulf of Uraba, or Darien.
It has been thonught that depressions existed in the range, through
which an open cut, without locks, from ocean to ocean, might be made;
but to this time nothimnn of lhe sort has been shown to be practicable.
On the contrary, the exopedition under Commander Prevost, which ascended the valley of the Savana, in 1853, from the Pacific, from the Gulf of
San Miguel, in the hope of reaching a very low pass to the Atlantic,
after attaining an altitude which they estimated at about twelve hundred
feet, and discovering no indications which confirmed them  in the belief
that they had reached the summnit, turned back to the Pacific.
Similar attempts were made about the same time by the parties headed
by Colonel Codazzi and Captain Joureiguiberry, from the Atlantic coast
at various points, and resulted equally unsatisfactorily.
The expedition headed by the brave, though unfortunate, Lieut. Strain,
U. S. N., after traversing the valleys of the Savana and Chucunaqlue for
several weeks, terminated fatally to a number of his party, but without
demonstratinSg even the probability of the existence of any passes through
which the desired communication could be made.
It may, therefore, be concluded that it is not within the limits of probability that a feasible line should be found, between the most westerly
mouth of the Atrato River and Porto Bello, notwithstanding the comparative narrowness of the Isthmus.
Entering the broad valley of the Atrato on the 77th degree of west
longitude, a new neld of research is presented. It is to this region that
particular attention is now directed.
South of this point, although the valley of the Magdalena, the lake




56
Maracaybo, the Orinoco, and the great Amazon, all occur within 10 deg.
of latitude, all of which, with the exception of the lake Maracaybo, cross
transversely, very nearly, the entire northern portion of the Continent of
South America-and some of them, with their head waters, are navigable
more than nineteen-twentieths of the distance which separates the two
oceans-yet the Cordillera range presents an impassable barrier. Upon
this range occur some of the highest summits of the globe.
The Atrato River, designated, nearly half a century ago, by the great
Humboldt, as one of the'most probable routes by which to connect the
two oceans, has been very minutely explored. Upon it, and the river San
Juan, Mr. John C. Trautwine made an elaborate examination, and set
forth the result of his labors, in a report made to Messrs. Belknap, James,
and other gentlemen, in November, 1852. He has also published more
detailed statements of these explorations, which were made with direct
reference to an inter-oceanic canal, in the Journal of the Franklin Institute, of Philadelphia.
James C. Lane, Esq., of N1ew-York, also made very extended explorations, in the years 1853-4, from the mouths of the Atrato to the isthmus
of San Pablo, near the head waters of the Rio San Juan, including the
tributaries of the Atrato; as did also Capt. Wfilliam  Kennish about the
same time, and subsequently at your instance, whose labors are hereafter
more fully referred to. These gentlemen, with their assistants, among
whom were Dr. HEalstead, Mr. Brown, Capt. Rude, and Mr. Nelson, agree
in the general features of the district which they passed over.
The Atrato River empties into the Gulf of Darien, by nine mouths,
called by the inhabitants of the country'" Bocas," and named as follows:
Tarena, Candelaria, Pabo, Matuntubo, Coquito, Coco-Grande, Pantana,
Uraba, and Leon.
Navigation into these mouths is impeded by sand-bars, and about ifeet of water, at low tide, is all that is usually found in the deepest, while
some are dry.
Within the bars the water deepens suddenly, which is also the case
seaward; and sixteen to eighteen fathoms of water is found at a comparatively short distance from the shore. The harbor is represented as
safe, and accessible in all weathers.
The several streams which form the mouths of the Atrato, are called
Cafios. They vary in depth; but the Caro Coquito and Barbacoas,
which form a cross connection with the other mouths, have a depth of
thirty feet within about two miles, or less, from the ocean.
From the Carfos, seventy miles up the river, the least depth of water is
represented at forty-seven feet. Above this point to Quibdo, a distance
of two hundred and twenty miles from the mouth of the Atrato, the
least depth of water is from eight to ten feet, according to. the seasons.
The entire length of the Atrato is over three hundred miles, following
the sinuosities of the river.
Above the Caros it varies in width, from one-quarter of a mile to a mile
and a-half, and even two miles in some places, for sixty-five or seventy
miles. Above this point, to Quibdo, its least width is from five hundred
to nine hundred feet; while a greater part of the way it is broader, with
the exception of one narrow pass, a few miles below Quibdo.
The valley of the Atrato is nearly 3~ in length, or about 170 miles, and
varies in width from 1~ to 1 1-2g.




The entire formation of the bottoml  oi' the valley is a great alluvial
plain,
The banks of thle river are in no case high.  They  are generally
levees, formed from -the sedimnieitar  deposit broughlt down by the current, and precipitated.
The banks of the tributaries, in many instances, from the continuation
of this process through loio' periodos of years, have raised considerably
above the surrounding country, and, in  some cases, the surface of the
water is above t-he l-and on eothenr   side.  This is said to be true of somne
portions of the Pocoedor, Napipi, Boiaya, Sucio, Truando, and the Leon.
In the vicinity of the.  iCranco and Sucio, 7wlah were'both  ascended
and explored by  Ir. eae  nii CaQtcaini is-nnish in detail, vast lagoons, or
plains covered with water anl  trees were discovered.  These lagoons, in
many places, are f-on   exwentyv to one hlundred fd eet deep of water, with
mud of unkno-win  depth in the booi;.
A dense overshado'wing' foreist of enorrmrous trees, of very gfreat variety,
is saidc to cover the wihole communtTry.      -lnder1ibrush aind impenetrable thickets are said to aboundi.    o  erok or saone of aiy kindl excepti1ng' small
detached, water-worn plebbles, iias'been discovered in any of the bottonm
lands of the Atraora  Thoe soil, holwever, is auriferous, and produces gold
and platinum, which is -rashed in. smcall quantities by the natives.
Coal mines are said to exist ii tibe  initiochian rauie, ew hich forms the
eastern slope.  No cuitVvaiioni or bu1Lt  ti'tle, has been attempted.
Theare is but little current in the.tauiateo ldiriver   It is said never to exceed two and. a-ha1lf ilies "er  mio.-,;11- ny1 paiit of it', below thle comlune:ce
of the Napipi.
The elevationL or tule rivaer a' Lthe m blouth  of thoe Trand1iiuo, h -ich is sixtythree miles froul tile Atl2ant  is a o- fifteen fe6  oGr f~rom fifteen -to seventeen feet,above eallv-n ]e-el ) ie   o  (i t.  t    aries incoisiderably at a1y
season of the yea': one  and one-half: set is te. freatest range recorded
by any of the explorers hebre reflc-Pl elr. t'.
Froml the Truando to the Napipi, tlhe ascent in the river is lnot quite so
gradual as lower down, ie aioutlh of the Napipi beineg fronm  42 to 45 feet
in elevation  bove thOe lrou.ti  of nhe Atirato.
The river at (Quibdo, uwo hundred and twenty rmiles fromn the Atlantic,
is represented at severity-five tfeet aOve the oceans.
Rain falls iii g'reat labunda-nce thlroug'lout the wVhole vralley of the lAtmato; andc although there are dliilerenes o:f opinion as to the exact quanti.v,
there can be little tdoubt than  as mainy inches descend here, in the course
or a year, cas in ahnost ally other part of the globe-but few cdays, consecutively, ever pass withomut soime showers.  Excessive storms of thunoder
and lightning somletimes prevail,:for a week or imore at a time, wuithout
interruption.
Brigiht sunshine sutcceeds tle stoiorm, but tlle thernmal chaiges a-re less
considerable than in most other localities~ a few degorees only, beiig the
grea.test rang'e that ever occurs.
I.especting these general physical:ieatures, topoora-illicail,:, ihydiog'rcphically, geologicai]yv, nmlineralo:icahlly, botanically and. mleteorologica'l]y,
there are lro esseintial diffferences of opinion between thme observers who
are here cited; and m-any others whlo have been referred to, whose names
are not given, also agree with them.
Accordiong  to the surveys of' Capt. Keanlnish and Mr. Lane, the Trineiado
g




is navigable from its mouth, upwards, about thirty-eight miles for craft
drawing ten feet of water.
This river, as has already been remarked, has its sources on the Cordilleras of the Pacific Coast range, and after traversing a rocky bed,
over several rapids and falls, for a distance of about thirteen miles, enters
the low country and passes through swampy lagoons and marshes to its
confluence with the Atrato.
The drainage of the Truando and tributaries is about four hundred
square miles.
The banks of the stream are frequently overflowed, and are levees, in
some cases, above the surrounding country.
The sources of the Truando, the Nerqua and Hingador, rise on the
hills to the westward of the valley of the Atrato.
The Cordilleras, of which these hills are spurs, are at this point extremely low, and are very near the Pacific.
So much for the physical features of this country, generally.
The.Line via the Atrato and Yrcuando Rivers.
This route commences at the estuary of the Atrato, and, as designated
by Capt. Kennish, it is proposed to enter the Caflo Coquito, one of the
mouths or Bocas.
Here, at low tide, there is about four feet of water at the deepest point
on the bar. The water gradually deepens as the river is ascended, and,
at about two miles, is thirty feet deep.
From here to the mouth of the Truando, the Atrato is nowhere less in
depth than forty-seven feet, and most of the way it is much deeper.
It varies in width, from a quarter of a mile to two miles, as has been
stated in the general physical description.
It would thus afford, when the bar at its mouth shall be removed, the
most ample facilities for navigation, by the largest class of steam seagoing vessels and sailing ships.
The Truando forms an angle with the general direction of the valley
of the Atrato, of about seventy degrees. Its confluence is about sixtythree miles from the Atlantic, by the meanderings of the Atrato.
The Truando is here taken as the line of the proposed channel, and
followed for thirty-six miles. At its confluence with the Atrato there is
a small bar, and the water is only eighteen feet deep. A few yards up,
however, it deepens to thirty feet, and maintains this depth for a mile and
a-half, or more. Above this, for thirty-eight miles, it has an average
depth of about fourteen feet, and is ten feet deep at the shallowest point.
At thirty-six miles from its confluence with the Atrato, the line diverges
into the valley of the Nerqua, which is followed on solid ground.
This part of the line, and all the remaining distance to the Pacifictwenty-six miles —is to be through solid rock cutting.
The line, from the valley of the Nerqua to the Pacific, passes over a
summit 506 feet above mean tide in the oceans, which summit is about
three and one-quarter miles through at its base. This it is proposed to
tunnel.
From here to the Pacific it follows the valley of a small stream, and
debouches, at the coast, at Kelley's Inlet.
The distinctive features of this route are:



First. —That the oceans call here be united by canal, through an open
cut, without locks, guard gates, or impediments of any kind.
Second.-That while it is one hundred and twenty-five miles from
ocean to ocean, more than one-half of the distance is, by nature, ready for
the passage of the largest class vessels.
Third. —That the remaining distance is either excavations of bars, or
river bottoms, under water, or solid rock, with slight earth covering.
Fourth.-That excellent harbors exist at either terminus, requiring but
little improvement to make them as desirable as any in the world.
Thus it is proposed to form an open cut fromn ocean to ocean, without
locks.
Of the MIeans and Facilities of Construction.
Under this head is included,lst.-The materials for mechanical works and other structures.
2d. —The opportunity that exists for obtaining workmen.
3d.-The ability to maintain a supply of provisions, clothing, &c.
4th.-The sanitary condition of the country.
5th.-The organization of proper executive departments.
gMaterials for.Mechanical WVorks.
But few mechanical works have to be erected in comparison to the
magnitude of the undertaking as a whole.
The first work is the projected jetty or line of pilings on either side of
the entrance to the mouth of the Atrato, in the Carlo Coquito.
Mr. Kennish sayvs abundant timber can be easily obtained, at a short
distance, of good quality, and that stone may be had in abundance at the
quarries of Turbo, and boated to the works across the bay.
The excavation of the bar, being in sand and mud deposit, can easily be
done by any of the several kinds of dredging machines now in use.
From the month of the Atrato to the confluence of the Truando no
work of any kind will be required.
On the Truando, no bridges or aqueducts are needed, and nothing is to
be done but the deepening of the stream, and the construction of such
works as may be found necessary to prevent the wash of sedimentary particles into the main prism by the small streams; for these purposes, abundance of material exists within a short distance.
Beyond the works on the Truando, an open cut in earth and mica-slate
rock is contemplated, and here, up to Rancho No. 5, no mechanical work
will be required.
At or near Rancho No. 5, the river Nerqua must be turned, and some
mechanical work is wanted. But, according to the evidence, there is
abundance of stone and timber of good quality.
At the great tunnel, proposed between Ranchos Nos. 3 and 5, some
masonry may or may not be required. It is, however, stated, that good
stone can probably be had within the line of the works, which is in basalt,
if the same is wanted.
Timber for all kinds of temporary works abounds on this division.
From the mouth of the proposed tunnel, at Rancho No. 3, to the Pacific,
no mechanical work is wanted, except at the Chupipi River, where good
material is found.




At Kelley's Inlet, anl ftiroml there to the ocean out;side the breakers,
somle works must be built, such as guarlds, probal)ly jetties and lighthouses, but the material can readily be founcl near Rancho No. 2.
II fact, on so longi a line o   works, it is extraordinarvy   o find so nearly
everything required upon the gu1'ou1nd; nothting to be used in the wvorks
need be bl1ought from  a cistanc%, but cecl e int,ad lthte m4t;alPs.
hls Oyc tpo~tvU.c,)t- tit t.aists fO t  tatuai-n'yl'  To0r9lemen.ze
The natives of this rerion, and imgore 1aTicrieui]afry those that can be obtained -from  the interior of the province of Carthacgena, are said to be
faithful, industrious, sober and prudent men, inuaed  by nature to the
climate and food of the country, reo uiriing butt little clothing(, and thriving
on the plantain. and wiid  po-isr thati abouttd and tihe rice of colmmerce,
whiclh is readily obtained.
Very careful inquiries have been imade of a number of gentlemen, rliable, in respect to the resources of the ineiTghboTingo provinces, and friom
their opinions the conclusion is t-obmed that at least six thousand mlen can
be counted upon as a COnstant- Supuply, if'reqirLedC
It is a very clifferent ting' f rom  having    to transport I1en froi'o   great
distances, when they can be had in their nlative country.
The Jamaica negroes too, wiil do well in this country, and niay be relied upon in great nuimibers.
Germans,  irlish,  Englis-1  miners,  ontd Allericans  obr the tunnel, and
Chinese, mnay be importedC and coifortably sustained and maintained, as
will more fully be seen by reerence to to the othete executive departments.*
It may, and probabhly  will, be necessarly to institute a regular system  of
emigration fomn om he olde-r cou-tries  of Europe ancid Asia; and as the diffliculties of distant 1hland carriiage cwill not be felt here as in o-ther places
iwhere attemllpts have beenl mlade to bring'  tog ether la-g'e foreign populations, success in so Co:li0 wnill "c less questionabif. c
The healthiness of th e country is aClso, very  m ichl in fvor of the wo'k.
At New-Yorlk, about  one thousain          c day arrive -romin Europe alone,
to settle iln lhe Unitedf Sftates; utpwards of three hundred thousand have
landed here in a year, Tvhil, probably, when tOhe wor!k at the canal is
once organized, cnd smcient numibers are on the ground, from five to si:
thousand per year wilv  b  slnfeienl to sulpply tIle places of those who niay,
remove, or beco.e di.saf-eced,  or die in the country.
T7c6 AbrZiiy to 1i}lt c.,7t2Xp;i oj"S u'o vi.sm o nso  Clothing, cc.
Good harbors existing on either sidem, will adLuilt an unlimited commierce to be carried on, to the coast.
From the shores of the Atlatic, steamboat navigation already exists tc
Ranclho No. 8, on tihe Truando.
* Since writinlg the above, the chief engineer of the Panama Railload lhas publishec
a report, by which it appears that the mortality on the Isthmus is much less than ha,
Ibeen supposed. It appears that only 293 wrhite men died in five years, out of 6,00(
that were constantly engageed on the -Nork. T'he coolies fared worse; the Jamaice
negroes and natives of th.e Isthmnmu?, bette,.l C.iec, from tize Yew- Y-ork7 Times of 23c
duzg., 1.855.-E. 5. 1S.




ci
Supplies can be brought to the mouths of the Atrato from all parts of
the world, and transhipped up the river, when the bars at the mouths are
deepened, whichl could be in about two years —large vessels could carry
their supplies all the way to the confluence of the Atrato and Truando.
On the Pacific slope, the facilities are very great,.
The harbors being- accessible for large vessels and all kinds of steamers,
supplies could be brought -from  Chili, Peru, the Sandwich Islands, California and Oregon.
All the breadstuffs call be delivered here as cheap as at New-York or
Liverpool, and many  articles of consmnmption at less prices: certain
things, such as some kinds of clo0thing and luxuries, would cost more, but
the average would compare favorably with any port on the Atlantic.
The valley of the Nerqua and the Pacifi slope, are said to be fine producing countries.
Plantains and n-uts of various k-inds grow wild in gieat profusion, and
tile opinion of those who have devoted time  anld attention to the subject,
is (in wlhich severaal agree), that the counatry between the Rancho No. 7
and the Pacific, will sustain as lalge a population ts the same extent of
country in the best parts of Cuba.
It is said to be particularly we!!  adaplted to raising cattle and hogs:
the latter f1'ur.nish the favorite  meat of the natives.
2[le Sctziiha'y Co,)ditiolu of ie o 2f' omt'r-.
From the Atlantic to the h-igh country on the T'ruando, the climate is
uniform, but excessively moist.
The thlermal ranoe of a.g't many observations, by different persons,
spread over several mon ths indicated fluctuations of only 15 deg.
The T very frequent and heavy rains, however, are unfavorable; and
owing to t;he overflow of'he rivers, the country is almost uninhabited, and
uninhabitable.
But few natives are found anywhere lthouglh this region,'but it fortunately happens that, with the exception of subaqueous excavations, no
work, but a small anolunt of piling'1  has to be done on any part of this
division.
From  the high ground to the Pacifce, over the valley of the Nerqua,
and the water-shed on the westward side, the climat;e is as salubrious as
the soil is productive, and men from all parts of the globe can work here,
and live as well and comfortably as in any part of the tropics.
Those who are compelled to labor on and about the excavating
machines, on the rivers eastward of the high ground, and at the mouth of
the'Atra;o, must be provided with arks, or floating houtses, made cornfortable.,te,rxecutive Deptr:nteS.
It is probable that the work can be carried on in the best and most
satisfactory manner, by regular departments, or bureaux.
These should include a chief executive or president, with an executive
staff.
The president to be the supreme head of the worLk, and to manage the
whole general business.  His staff should be the heads of the other departments.




62
An engineer department, consisting of chief engineer, one principal
assistant engineer on the ground, and three other assistant engineers,
heads of divisions, together with the necessary subordinate field and
office assistants and draftsmen as may be necessary.
To the engineer department should be intrusted all the general and
detailed plans of the work, according to the usual methods.  The advice
of the most able and eminent engineers in the world should be obtained
on the general plan in particular, and such a system of construction should
be devised, that the details may be executed in the best way, at the least
cost, and in the shortest possible timhne. The burden of the work will fall
on this department.
A medical staff should be organized, and proper hospitalary arrangements mnade for the sick.
The medical staff might be constituted similar to the corresponding
department of an army in quarters.
In consequence of the very great number of men that must be elmployed to do the work in such a time as the wants of the trade of the
world require, and as the climate is hot, although generally healthy,
the medical deparment should be organized in tche most efficient manner,
so that prompt and ample relief may be afforded at all times, on any
part of the line.
A paymaster's department will also be required.
This bureau should take cognizance of all the expenses of every kind
and nature whatever, and having suitable disbursing officers, should
regulate the entire fiscal system of the enterprise that relates to the construction.
A commissary department is also needed.
The supplies of such a number of men as must be engaged on this
work, will at first tax the energies of an experienced merchant; but with
the progress of the enterprise, facilities will be created, towns will spring
up, and merchandise will be brought into the country by persons not in
the organization; but, at first, very great efforts should be made to subdue the natural wilderness, and to bring under cultivation large districts
in the vicinity, in order that the best system  of supplies may be maintained at the least cost, and without importation.
It is said that the district through which the heaviest portion of the
work is to be constructed, will, with proper cultivation, maintain a
much larger population than will be required upon the line of the canal,
and those not engaged upon it, such as the families and friends of some
of the workmen, who will follow, and will, in a short time, form  a
civilized community.
The readiness with which provisions, clothing, &c., can be had on the
line of the works, may be judged from the fact that most of the labor
will be expended on about thirty miles in length-one end of which rests
on the Pacific, and the other at the head of steamboat navigation, on the
Truando River,
But little over six miles is, therefore, the average haul for supplies,
which at first may be carried from either end to the centre, by mules,
over the mountain roads, and, in course of time, good. wagcon roads, or
even a railway or tram-road could be constructed.
A department of machinery and repairs will also be required.
De6pts should be erected on the Pacific, and at suitable points along




63
the line, and at the mouth of the Atrato, where the boats and machinery employed may be repaired, and where the business of obtaining the
necessary materials for the work for the dwellings, stores and hospitals,
can be conducted.
A quartermaster's department, charged with producing suitable and
healthy habitations for the men, and generally to care for their comfort,
seems very necessary.
Provision must also be made for supplying the work with laborers and
mechanics.  This, perhaps, can be done best by a bureau attached to the
engineer department, or by a, separate organization.
The facilities for obtaining men, have been heretofore referred to.
As the laws of the land provide for the judiciary, no police regulations
are necessary on the part of the organization constructing the work.
It is believed that a system of contracting, in the usual way for works
of less magnitude, would not here be judicious, as the profits in such a
plan would be very great, and should be realized by the original organization, while the advantages of separating the responsibility (the only
argument in favor of the contract system that could apply here), may be
obtained by the proper execution of the functions of the different departments.
It by no means, however, follows that great advantages may not arise
from contracting distinct portions of the work or supplies.
Of the Cost of the (anal.
The work at the mouth of the Atrato consists of piling, crib-work, and
dredging. Only an approximate idea of the cost here can be arrived at,
until some more definite surveys have been made, and fixed upon.  By
the data hereto annexed of the work of dredging machines, it may be
safe to estimate the cost of the improvements at the mouth of the Atrato,
at $50,800.
The excavations upon the Truando will depend very mnuch on the facilities afforded by the natural condition of the bottom; but the following
figures show that twenty-five machines, working for eight years, may probably accomplish -the work.  But as the material will, in some cases, have
to be carried a long distance-say, 300 to 500 feet, and deposited, it is
not safe to estimate less than an increase of 100 per cent. on this sum,
although a liberal per-centage for contingencies and breakages has been
made.
ESTIMATE
Of amount of alluvial deposit to be taken out of the bottom of the Truando, and the number of machines that will be required to do the work in
eight years:QUANTITIES.
Cubic Yards.
Section K...................................2.........  2,395,872................................................. 10,534,935
M"............................................ 9,525,134
N............................................... 12,959,011
"  0.................................................  4,771,647
Total amount................................ 40,186,599




64
Twenty-one dredging machines, working at the rate of 800 cubic yards
per day, for eight years, of three hundred days each, would be sufficient
to take out the above; but allowing for breakage, &c., 20 per cent., it
would require twenty-five machines.
ESTIMATE
On the cost cf.Dredyinzy   ce-achnees to be uzsed on the vwo2r'h: —
Nunlber of Machilnes on Truando....................25
25 Machines at $10,000 each..................8 250,000
Interest on 8250,000 at 7 per cent., for 8 years, amounts to..... $:40,000
Cost of working 25 Machines for 8 years, or 2,400 days, at $;9
per day.............................................  540,000
q'otal  cost............................0, 0....
T otal cost...c o680,00o
These machines are worked by about five or six ]mren, and employ steam
power.
The above contemplates the destruction of the machines in the time of
service, which does not necessarily follow as a consequence.
ESTIMATE
Of -th'e amol.nt of' subcqueoz',  excavation of tle Cano Coqquito of the Rio
Takig tlhe avera,'e depth of cutting 15 feet 6 inches, and the le&ngth
of cut at 19,200 feet, andl  the average -vidthl  of cult at 200 feet, the
amount of excavation is 2,204,444 cubic yards.
Number of cubic yards of excavaction, 2204,444.
Five dreclging   machines, or subaqueous excava;tors workino  3800 days
in a year, and taking out cdaily eight hundcred  cubic gyards of nmaterial,
each, would excavate the above in less than  two years.
The bar here, however, might be excavated by jetties, as pSoposed by
Mr. Kennish, and by opening only a small channel t;rough  the centre,
and allowing  the current of the r]ivier to remove tlhe remainder into deep)er
water.
ESTIMATE
Of' nzmzber o/q' ueonz'eqti'ed to worh/ on the sectionzs betwveen Keflley's Inlet
anzd Townsezd's Junctionz, seupposing each mian to ta/ce out 400  cubic
yards per year, for twzelve yeacs'8:AMOUNT OF EXCAVAT''IOi.
Cubic Yards.
Section A...........................................    5,108,589
"    B.......................................                 6,845,309
C......................................    16,990,777
Extra at Mouth of Tunnel................           62,460
Tunnel............................................... 17, 01,920
Extra at Mouth of Tunnel.............................             73,260
Section E...........................................    2, 57,230
F..........................   15,842,627
"..........................   16,576,987
Ix[........................................................
i.8,612,472
It  A.........................     14,21,997
Total Amount......................... 105,293,628




Allowing 4,800 yards for eanch man  in -twelve y-ears, there would have
to be.21,934 men employed.
On this basis it  aiay be sae to S y that an establishment of 259000
men can perforrl  the wor k in twelve years, aund that thlis number must be
kept constant.
The cost of unaintaminig such a number will glreatly depend upon  the
efficiency of the departments of the E~ecautive;  but if they can be procured and maintained     a   n average  e of one dollar per day bor the laborers, wil-li mechlanics, -fore-mnen, &c., in  proportion,  the  cost of rock work,
in the character of material here to contend with, slhould not, in open cut,
exceed seven-eigh'ths of a dollar per cubic yard.
The tunnel will not cost near so much per cubic yard as oine of a small
section, owing to the proportion  luhat exists between  the heacding, always
costly, and the remainder to be elxcavated.
It is believed that  Labout 0;2  per- yard will do it, -which  would be,
say-ten  dollars per yard  foi    t le hieading,   and over 81i 70 for the remainder in the foot wail.t.
The works at the conifuence o1 itje Tv riando and open cut, and the necessary mwa2ste -eins and overflow-s, an   construetions to prevent sedimentary deposits being precipitated  into itle canal finom  the small strealms, including the  ltu7rnlig of the INe quna anid Chuplipi, can only be approximately
determined in the nmost g'eierail way.  it ts, hovever, believed that ample
allowance has been nmade to cover conthigeneies.
The cost of the improvemelnls nLecessai'ry  nt    elley's Inlet must be also
euncerin,    nil further survrs havre been madel; but an approximate
quantity has been fixed upon, belierved suffcient.
The great bulk of the wor ik being the rock  excavation, a imore satisfactory conclusion is arrived at relaltivye to it.L
The following  figures sho-,  as nearly as circumstances will at present
permit,
A SUMMAIPY OF THE 1ESTIMATED COST OF THE CANAL,
AND APPURTENAN,,CES.
WVorks at the mouth of thie  traito...........................               0 50,800
iExcavations under wvater, in  rurando.......................     1,360,000
Excavations at the conunuence of the Truaxndo and Canal, including
ofier-damas  anq  pumnpin-o.............................              0,000
Excavations between conluence, ats a         nbove, and Paeific, (exceptiDg
Tu'ne!.)  The quantities'are  ail called rock; the excess by
these  leasures  being aiwd f    or grrubbinug and clearing at
(2 s per cuic yard..................................              7,83,994
Tunnel a't  2, being  1i0,O or heading,  c.,........................   25,403,840
Harbor and.elley's inlet.,    150,000
Light-houss..............................................                  35,000'Pieprs....................................................     20,000
Depots, (Pa 0ci0Ec) 5,0..........,000.............. I.........             )5(,00O
Depots and hospitals o       -n lme..3...............................  3.5,000
Depot and Hospital, Towi nslsenls Junction,.....................            15,000
Depot.at  arbo, ann iniprovenierits necessary.................             0,000
$105,1113,634




66
Amount brought forward,....   6105,113G634
Executive department, 12 years,.............................   180,000
Enginee r departmentl.....................................         562,000
Medical department,......................................            120,000
0Pay depaqrtnmenti,........................         140,000
Commissary department,..................................   260,000
Quartermaster' s clepartmnent................................      150,000
Supplies for do.,..........................................        550,000
Twenty-five pumping and hoisting engines, for t1he work in the      1 2000
Treateub,.,250,000
great  cut.............................................
Contingencies, 25 per cent.,................................    27,081,408
$135,407,042
If the rock is estimnated at $1, this would be with contingent     10,000,000
allowance about, extra,.......
pi45,407,042
It is not pretended that the above is more than asn approximate estimate.
It is, however, believed to be ample.  The dredging work is generally
done for one-half what is here allowed, and rock worL iII this character of
material for much less.
In order to show that the great num ber of men necessary can wovk to
advantage, a very simple calculation will sufnceo
The line of the heaviest wori is spread over twenty-five ]niles, so that
about one thousand men are allowed to CDa mile.
Now, if the excavations are worked in teraces, comamencing a q.arter
of a mile apart, and are carried forward in  egular  lift's of'five or six faces
each, according to the nature of the particular pit and its stratification,
only  about forty or fifty men need work at  face, which, being two hundred feet wide, and from  twenty to thirty feet highb  with  the cross
cuts, will afford ample room  for the nullnmber     proposed.  In fact, many
more may be employed, if necessary.
Machinery for taking out the material, and delivering it on the spoil
-banks, on either side of the cut, is estimated for, a ls wel as pumpinU  engines
for keeping the work free from water, which will runi in from the surface.
The tunnel must be driven fron either end in the heading and the foot
work.  The heading can probably be worked, also, from at least one shaft,
if it is found necessary, in order to do the work0'  in time, and when once
completed, the remainder will be similar to the other parts of the open
cut, except that it may be worked both day and night, and in all weathers,
which is in its favor.
It may be proper to remark, in connection with this estimate, that this
prism  is intended to pass the largest class vessels, abreast,,and without
locks.
That a saving of many millions of dollars m-ay be effected by changing
the plan, there is no doubt.
Thus, by constructing the canal with a width sufficient for one ship at
a time, with frequent turn-outs, a saving of about one-half of the above
estimate would be made, reducing the entire cost to say  72,'703,521; and
by introducing one lock on the Pacific side, the depth of cutting through
the rock would be correspondingly reduced, ensuring thereby a still further mnaterial saving in the cost.
A11 this, however, would not produce a perfect vork, and is not here
estimated for.




CALCULATI ON6
RELATIVE TO THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF THE CANAL.
The freight paid at San Francisco on Goods from  the Atlantic,
in 1853 alone, being on only a part of the trade, as some,
freights were paid beoore shipping, was $9,911,432.  At least
tlhee-quar-ters of this charge would be saved —;$7,433,574 —
or the interest, at 6 per cent., on........................    4123,892,900
The foreign trade to San Francisco that would be benefited onehalf saving  oL freight, paid  at port in 1853, 81,840,650.
One-half of which  is $920,325, or a sum  equal to the interest, at 6 per cent., on.........o.o.......              15,338,5'50
The United States Foreign Facific Trade wvas ctarried on, in 18 54,
in 961 vessels bound out, and 895 entered home, showin'
that the trade is equal to over two-thirds that o  oour domesItic California trade, and would therefore, by passing this
Canal, make a corresponding saving, or a sum  equal to the
interest Con.........................................  $99,450,5i   0
Thus shosvwing that the Canal would save to the United Stal-es
alone, the interest on the sum o.........................   238,682,220
The trade of France with the Pacific, which would pass through
the Canal, and be benefited about one-half, is a little over,930,000,000.  Our foreign  Pacific trade being a little over
$4133,000,000, the ratio of saving is in the direct proportion, or
a sum equal to the interest, at 6 per cent., on..............$90,000,000
The British trade through this Canal would be, if no increase was
estimated,,$180,000,000; which, by the same rules of saVino,'
in comparison to the distance sailed, as goverl the calculations
rellative to the United States,,would be equal to the interest,
at 6 per cent., on the sum of $540,000,000.  3ut as the trade
has facilities via the Cape of Good Hope, say to be benefited by Canal..................................... 300,000,000
The statement would then be ---
United States,................            8................  6,2 03,682,220
France,................................................90,000,000
England...............................................    00,00,000
Other countries.............................          100,000,000
$728,682,220
isx per cent. on.................................... s,200,000,000
1for cost of Canal.
And the interest, at 6 per cent., on..........................    5t28,662,220
saving to the world.
Or, twelve pem  cent. profit  on the cost of the Canal, at $200,000,000, and a
benefit to the world  at large of the saving of interest, at 6 per cent., on
$528,682,220 annually.
The above figures~, athough made fiora the official returns, are only
approximate, as they do not include many iterns of trade that nlo-w exist,
and no allowance is made for the increase of trade, whatever.
The data is from  Mr. Stone's Commercial Statenent,,.




68
CO   CLUSIO So
It will be borne in mind that the conclusions here arrived at relative to
the practicability of this enterprise, and, consequently, its commercial
value, are based main ly on tlhe data furnished by Mr. Kennish, partially
confirmed and corroborated by MIessrs. Lane and Trautvwine-"
The field notes and surveys of,1r. Kennish have been very carefully
examined in this connection, and it is only justice to him to say that they
are consistent with themselves, and present the appearance of care and
truthfulness.
Where so much depends on the accuracy of observation and faithfulness of record, too much calre cannot be takeln to gurard against errors.
in this case, however, there seems to be every probability that the surveys
represent faithfully what they piurport to, and may be taken for such,
unhesitatinglyv.
It was not intended by them to represent -the muinut'l    of details.
In my opinion, no other route yet discovered, by which to connect the
two great oceans by water, can at all bear any comparison with this.
The Londuras and Tehuantepee routes are impracticable for water
intercommunication, and the Isthmus of Panama is not phlysically constituted to admit the coinstruction of a Canal within  the liits of coumercial availability.
The Nicaragua route, although possessing[ water o'n the summit, to be
made as large and convenient for the business as that proposed at the
Atrato, would cost considerably more, and in many other respects would
be less favorable, inasmuch as it is sixbty-nine miles longer, and has
twenty-eight locks upon it. A corresponding width and depth of prism
would produce more quantities on this route than the Atrato route.
And it is no less remarkable than true, that the Atrato route was indicated by Baron Humboldt, the greatest of modern observers, when in the
country, and that, although referred to by such high authority, was comparatively neglected until the subject was taken up by yourseelf
Opinions have at times been expressed that ships could be taken from
ocean to ocean by railway, and that this method woulci preclude the
use of a canal.
There is, however, no foundation for such a position.
If the ships could be taken out of the water, carried on a railway fifty
or one hundred miles without injury to them  or their eargoes, and then
returned to the water again in as good condition as -when taken up, (all
of which is very problemnatical,) the expenses of maintaining such a road,
and the cost of working it, estimating only one-half cent per ton per
mile for powe~r and expenses, would exceed the interest on an investment
* But it is due to Mir. Kennish to say, that he is the first engineer who has
ever proposed to unite the two oceans by a passage up one mouth and down
anothler, of a never-failing river, without any locks, which is the feature that
distinguishes this route from all others.




69
twice as great, as here proposed for an open permanent canal, without any
impediment, as free to pass through as the oceain  and safer.
It is worthy of especial notice that the mouth of the Truando is situated
relatively to the Atbrato and the two oceans, within a very short distance
of where, theoreticallyv  it NV ould be best to leae   e Atrato River to enter
the Pacific Ocean.
If the tides on the Pacific coast were in cll  p1aces alike, this remark
would not apply; but as the tide rises mRntch higher- and falls lower, above
and below mean level, at the Gulf of San  /igc uel than at Kelley's Inlet, anud
as the rise in the Pacific along this entire Coas6 is vreryiueh  greater Jhan
along thne correspondimgoy opposite Atlantic cocs' in the propoition of
abo-ut twelve to one, i i is eviclent that if oat open cut wee  inade tflrough
the Isthmus at SaRn Mioguel Bay  the acifie (Oceai   Iould floaw through
i-nto the Atlantic at hig  wiater, and he   t-'ant    7oulci pour. in  the ciut
at low'atter on the Pacific; thul  producing sul -"rea't — id1 cturi'cts'i
that the work would lbe useles s un       les.s ]?oft.ecCi- at either i en byv.u.'.r
locks.
Wv hile,;f a conollietion should be att;'e nrted  aboe Lie onthe l c.  of' th
Napipi with the Atrato,'the difference in ailt-tlide between thiis >oin't and
the Pacific beilng about f"orty-five feet,'led the di-stance atbolt csi-."y miiles9
at least three locks would be recjuired       e to  thesA  to re Pa-cic v; while in
the present location, by the wray  of the Tr1 uhaldo, tflie desent to the Pacific
from the confltence witll the AtratL o  beig -about equal  to the descen t of
the Atrato to the Atlantic, and -the distaive  hein  essentially the saile
the current  on both sides of the sum-it wold be a      )bout equaiS exceptino
the effect of the rise  of -avter in -the Pasciflc  whicl  will oscillate in the
open cut, anc flow to the lagoons iea;r the su1m1"'mit bleve-l
The very permanent character of th' c orlk lpropos3eci must commend it
to every one; no destrulctible mateiial hi ne: f used  and no atteintion being,
required forever aftert, to Eeep.i' orLder' other than tll,,hat rnus't froni time
to tine be givren to t;he bars at the har1bors, shorulc'it  e N  found necessary
to dredge them.
The dis-ances t-at will b   saed to the -0aic    e of the -o ld by this route,
being preseinted approxima  telly     i1 P  i. Stones  collmeroiia  statements, now
In your possession, no occasion eists io repeat; thelr     Tiey would otherwise be givern
While submitting this memoir I' ac'knowledge my obligations to   ar.
Kennish for the fi'aan-k and open  m ann1er   1'  -hiceh Le has replied to the
3most milnute and searobhing questions propounded to him, respecting the
surveys, and the country, acnd ie facilities afforded for constructing the
Wortk as well as to James C. Lane, Esq., who wuas in charge of one of the
ield poaities on a formuer occasion, and to Horatio Allen,  John B. Jervis
and A. a. Edwards, Esq., eminent Civil Engineers, and Col. J. J. Abert,
U. S. Topograplhica!  Enlineer, fromn wholn valuable suggestions ha.ve been
received.
Wcishing you and the great enterprise  in which  you  are so nobly
engaged, all success,
I remiain, your ohte. serv't.,
DV-An,.D -WTS   SERRELL, CiviZl Engineer.




70
THE AQUEDUCT,
IN ITS INFLUENCE UPON THE CO~MMERCE OF THE WORLD.
HAVING thus shown fhe feasibility of the proposed route, we may be
allowed to add a few statements bearing upon the importance of this
enterprise, in its relation to the commerce of the world, kindly furnished
by David M. Stone, Esq., one of the editors of the N'ew-York Joaernc of'
The project for a ship canal at the isthmus  was origlnated many
years ago, before the discovery of goldc in California and Australia hadl
given such importance to the commierce of the Iacifiic.  Even the early
Spanish adventurers sought for a praccicable       rouee, and almo t everyimportant state or government on this cont inenh  anld in uEurope, has, at
one time or another, entertained the hope of findring  i.   Any one who
will cast his eve upon the Map o' the world cl  ill see at a gloance by
what a tedious and daongerous route thei comerce  of the Enast   ldices,
China, Japan, Australia  and the settlements on the 7Western acoast of the
American Continent, %must reach the principal mnarkets of: Europe and the
United States.
Th.e extreme leniigth of South AmLerica is -iour thousand si.x hundred
miles, and at certain seasons of thl:e year, the passage around Cape HoC'rn
is not only protracted, but; highly dangerous.  Most of the European
vessels bound for the East Indies take the eastern routte nld dIouble the
Cape of Good Hope; but this is also a lonog andcl dangerous voyage.
To show the saving of time which would be effected in voyages from
New-York to the Pacific, by a ship canal at the Isthmius, we esxtract the
following table, prepared for -lhis purpose by Lieut. Maury, and embodied
in a Report of a Select Committe of the House of Representatives, presented in Congress Feb. 20, 1849.




PrtgrJC3                          co   01 oO    01    O    1   -5 e           -    e'.        K           0 1 c  o         010 1 0                     01 01
I-   C.:C ~1o.'n e; mS   O    O  -oi1  C.D  t1   >   a 
CO~%O'-~ C~  ~   ~                                  o __ C
~ u
CC      C. ~ o CO       O ~       C c   CDO C~ o    Co   CO   co -.
q Q   "               CCW  CO  |        CO   CO   CO   CO   CO   CO   C
~>          @,2..: c   Gi                                              j |  C   CO   CO   C    CO    O  OI
C,:)      9                 0-a)  00  _  I  CID   01         % CO   -H        HC
r4 ~        c~ r, 3    ~ r'.'   o.'                 oc 
CCC)        CO   CO   CO:)  -)  C=   CO   01   CC)   C)'C=$
C-9-~ C~                                                                       C
X  >  >>                  r......::::. ~o'
~  C)5~~                    CO         CO   CO   CO   CO   CO   C)   CO   CO   CO
All              C    C    CC                                 CO -    CO r, j
attention of a   inteested i  CO           eC   since   he Ameican continet was
ever ready to listen to  any suggestio   fo  its acomplishment
CO    lo d              C
and  oter near' ports, has increased from   three millions  of dollars to
seveny-,fivemillion    s  dollar0s; when C      alf ornia Ohas opened  to  the  comC
nerce  of the world her glden  g                ates~ and japan is'eady to renew~ on  a
C)  1l
-a~                             C              0 Cr,      m.r   ca CS   C"




The trade between  California and Atlantic  ports -will soon be almost
sufficient, of itself, to support such an enterprise as we propose.  The total
amount of freight money paid at Sa1n Francisco, for the yeajr ending 1853,
was f$1,752,084,  nearly all of which was for cargoes that went from
northern ports, around Cape Horn.  The followijng is a summary  of these
payments:_
Payg/ee-ts as Freight voZoney at /the Port of ~S'an  Francisco  dcurirb  the
ycear 1853.
I FzOL      I      Fromi
Itrorn;~   Thorn    T~~'i'o tal.:astern Dom. Forts.    Foreignr Ports.
January...  o.......,773           $2,  2         8$1,185,945
February...........   I        (11,600 i  8,  56                       800,365
ar ch.............           92'7.670            254,079!          1,1  49
k.pril................ 1          2,~203  91,        1         < j   i8,3c1'
April.....'727,203                                 191,1 74            918 377
MAay................         Si,                   9 1  39077       950,805
Julne..............'6,0                1473941             923,453
July..........  i.     1O,341         78,668           1,519,00.9
August..........       ~ 99s,9117   i      188,813           117,1730
September..........           894,649      i      105,185             999,834
0 ctober...........          797,575             12 7, 62            92 5,247
JNovember..........           506,311             1 9,267             665, 78
December...........            4 437,587           5 6,395            493,982
Total $.........       c9,911,432          $!.840,652         1 11,'752,084
The above only shows the freig-l:t m"oney actually collected at the port
of San Francisco.  Vessels i'vorn Europe, and ma.ny froml  domestic ports,
r-eceived a great portion of their ifreight money at thre porti of clearance,
and  his, Of ours  i no   inclued    This is trTi  to a still greater exteni,
of the commerce of 1854; a large portion of t1.e f-reiglt rmoney not being
collected at San Francisco, and  yet thle totatl thus collected in that year
amounted to $5,3 i1,032, as will appear fronm  the -folowing summrary:
Paynents as Freight K3ooney at the Porlt of  Stan'Fancisco  during the
year 1 1854.
frm                     therchandie   -.  Oth.-r AtlantiC or i
from       Boston.      Ports.  I  reign  orLs.   Total.
2New-Y~orPk.ot
January........ i 482,458   $1 i9,603           $i7,466.-149,983;   $846,510
February.......        23s,336       1 321,9     32t  So80   164,861         7,5 73
March..........   160,1811          20,180O    4-',36       152,34,7     473,072
Apri........             0         14      O,200  J433,000   l3,981  388,95+
April                  193,776      14-t200       tOGO         100 " 90    39
May..,,.',195,4331    i35,93   9          9,5(:     50,913     391,389
June............      134, 0001    09 5811    28',611        1 04,5031   374,695
July.13798 I 103,485,Oi        32,41 21'7,13
L............             03,         09.1.. oI 2         42 2,9 3,
Aug.ust.              2231,536,  8,6   I    9,70      102.837i    122,93 
Septemabe-:......   1,716       1,4            3,0001      75,037    435,50
October......... I      02,103      6,24:8       4  65,0       6,71      50,3
Novembe.......          -6,98a'    96,1 0 l     1 56,628               3001,437
Decembr.......  119,327i            67,31.....3,866    290,510
Total.......  $2,472,S37   1,543,019   $245,068 $1,050,1058  $5,311,032




The tonn-age en'ga'ed in thle Califobrnia trade is'very large, the arrivals
at San  Francisco in  1853,:)beingo  1,028  vessels allnounting  to  b58,755
tons, and the clearanies 1,(653 vrssel s, aniounititin    to  640 072 tons.  In
18o4 the arrivals  were  620 vessels of  406,114  tons, al.ll  the clearances
1 193 vessels,   of 515,861 tons.  (1)f the above,  l very lark'e proportion
came fronl the -tlantie?ia Cape   ornl.
3ut the trade  of California, lrge  ls thatl;  is sl-lown  to be, is Ilot the
chiet reliance ofl the fiiends of the prolposed    cntlul.   TlThe trale between
tle Unitedl Sttes andcl  fo'eign  Pacific ports h  s 1beel, in a great lneasure,
overlooked by those not directly  eno'aged in i t, alndl its inmportanece has
never been slfiCiently estnilated.  \We hca-e ol-tained i'olL the Departm tent  t \'Washino  ton somle reliable inlotrmation upon  this suljeCt, which
w7ill )e found fll. of interest.
These stateluents show  that the tot.a;L ot cleatlraiaees firoil  thle  Unitedl
Sttes to foreig'n PI eifi  ports,  tnil ar'rivals friom  the same, blve iincreased
s:bout two orhuniled  pe   cent. siince  1849  (tlhe  tocnage showing  a still
larger increase, owing' to tlhe  liroger  vessels enployeld),   wlile the total
imports and exports thave doubhled  dluring            the s:ame space of time.
This will app)ear fi ont   t1he  tlbowin   sunllmar'y         taikein ifrom   official
Conirionerce beltwlc~   /te  l:1itlcl ted.S'tcts a.tm, 1Fo'rCeigclt Pfjic Ports'.
Fiscal Year.      No. [of Vessels.        Tonnage.        Vatlue of Imports & Exports,
1849 i                                        0!)  (i(5.       l. 7,001,320
8158(0               1:(3,54 1-              184,42,10 (3
1851     _          2t0 (           (6         1                 "1,375,428
i_:85:;)- I,     7 {0;1,91'I7,013,11.0I
t1 8 53_ 18(,;;                          ST 87, 07              3[ L,5:  54:,  3
185 -t              _85 5                (),                   - 33,953,4156
The ahbove is  totaly  -.xclsiv Co    te to clol lec  himremr_ tlbh   Atlautic
porfits,and  Cailif'orniti, 1a1d presatt, al  lit Jls (  oI      d( s1:,  nio:d  truly  stois hing.
in order to slhow thlo w   Im' rials:I(toi1l thic 1l(c, xt.}(';ic us c:l i  npkiied, (:e
an"nex [the de(thailes 1i01r tl  t i,sea r:1tc'nt ionot.
ComeerKce [;l, tet'lic  /l't il'   1(1!(,S i(;t,   (Sx(c,!t. l iz: /('.l l  1; Jc;.! / ]ctcce. ]orlts', /ib   //
ElroreI  fiot.    Cleared to.'iE sports         Ixmports.
)uateh'FLatst Inies.     2:     S8,(3 1I8 7.5)1              84, 4  7i    81.;041,609
Br'itish liSt; It ndines',;  I,      [4  0 it-3'7    6j  412'   5,'378,30J
uist ialii.........)    8:       1        L4.:10',149.07         14,'
1Xanll1.........          3;    "I4'9       2)   I41               4 121    219 "65t )"82
hili............          107    -1. 1     11,7  93. 59:  332,167
P eru...........    8           L 5:. 080 I,,40
China............                                               395I 1T7046,-.     i.       O,'06,2 2.
Cynnl                     ~in107   70,  (;i    191   87.20)    1,'..080f  10,506 9329
Miinor Pacifitc PIorts   1')  4.,264        _ 1 1 5 O 5 0,       95),,815        10,10_1
t)o. Indian  Ocea-n            t  1,,9        (;   3.814             "00i        {:0,730
apan...........                                       00
Sandwich  Islands.          3:  27o  8       C)   )1,2 529         5,891         11  130
Northw est Cost.U.'9     6,490        0    8;951
I., 0                9,,..a........' L) 65,3163I'>9061  4.)l,  6.8.S'f,3, 1 3   J I 463,4?7,6
1 t'}




74
Of this,  1856 vessels, *amnounting  to  95'7,599  tons, and  carrying
$33,953,456, value of' merchandise, it is evident that nearly every sail
would pass through the Ship Canal at the Isthmuls, if such a one were
constructed.  In further confirmation of this, we can see vwhat preference
was given t6 the clippers over ordinary sailing vessels-time being reckoned of so much value.  We can hardly conceive it possible fbr a ship,
clearing from 5New -York:for San8 Francisco, to prefir C. voyage of 19,000
miles, when_ by the use of a Ship Canal, withoult 1lanoer or detention, it
could shorten the distance to 5,000 miles!
The interest upon the ship a:nd upon the value o' the. cargo. and the
cost of victualing a.nd sailing the vessel, to say nothina of the dangers
incident to a protracted voyage around the southern point of -the Conti,nenat, would determine every vessel making a voyiage fiom any AmlTerican
port on. the Atlantic to any port on the Pacific, to adopt the advatntages
offered by the canal.
The trade between the various European Sta;tes alid the Pacific is large,
and much of it would, undoubtedly, pass through the canal, it' such a
channel of communication were completed.
The following will show the number of ship;s, the t.)ollnage, a1nid the im —
ports and exports, between France and the Pacific paorlts, during the yTear
18.52:No. of Ships.        Tons,        Imports and Exports,
British India.......        54           1]8,250            45,200,000
Society Islands,,..81                    23,66 6           40,300,000
Peru............,.          211,051                        25,200,00(
Chili,.........  2,178                                       1 9,300,000
French India,......          25              7,886            1:3,400,000
Dutch India,.......                         5,0               7,300,000
Philippine Islands,.         14,252                      i     1,700,000
China,...                                     912        i    1,100,000
Bolivia,.........             1               500                1.00,000
Total..........       223             70,77]1      Ifs. 153,600,000
A total of 223 vessels, 70,771 tonrs and imports a'rd exports amounting
1t t53,600,000 francs, or over $30,000,000, for the trade of a single year.
In turning to thle trade of Great Britain, we hardly know -where to draw
a, line as to the portion of her imm1ense commnierce likely to avail itself of
ethe advantages of tihe new lro-te.  -Her direct carrying business between
her own East Indiapossessionss. a.lnd the hiome nc ports, is nearly $8100,000,000
per annum, wlhile to that is to be aclded the China and other East India
commerce.   Her  traffie between the ports in -te United Kingdlom. and
the Westor( co4 st of Northi an  Southll Anerica, would certainly seek the
new (ciha ne   an md this, lreckonino the cargoes both ways, now   i aounnts to
upwards of $30,000,000.  The most important branch of Br3itish trade
certaini  to pass throuogl  thel'Canal, is -that connected with Australica; and
here, lest we rrighi; be accused of exaggeration, we propose 0( give the,oeicial. i.'ures,




The /bllowiny are theI declacred va/,ahe /' of.,Jim'ports a~nda.Kr;p:orts a.t t/,,
Colony of YTctoriajbr the yea'Cs 18 53 So.ad 1854.
IMPORTS.
11.853.          1.854,
1Building Materials......00.................C2,004, 9  ~2,2436,01
Dry Goods..........................                869,54           3592,09J
Iron and iron  larnumiactures.............             26 L       1, 34, 653
L'eather and ILeather M[anufactures..........          1994          527,31 I
Provisions and Groceries,.................         460, 24          101,20
Specie,........                                         3..............   3  7,I 40
Spirits..................................          OI 15, 0              04
Spuito.1~~~~~~~~                                           ~~~~~~ 010   19 0
Sugar aind Molasses............8.........           186614           427061
TJea,..................................           205,364            92 83'
Tobacco...........................257,39 991441
Wine...................... i..........         33,552l           409,05:
Miscellaneous,...........,...........              385,502         5,85 8,396
Total Imports....................15.)842,632           ~IJ317,720,307
The ibllowing  will show fromi what counl'vies the above were, inmported
1.853.            185'4.
Great Britain.......................             8,088,226      ~C11,050,329
British West Indies.......................          14,973                20
British North America....................          13,560             60,238
Other British Colonies.....................   5,036,311             4,394,933
United States............................    1,668,606                994,692
Other Foreign States.....................          820,961          1,220,092.
1.5, 842,632   ~ 17,720,307
EXPORTB  FROM VICTORIA.
1853.            1854.
Gold..............~  64........  ~8,6,4,529 2           ~8,255,550
Wool,.I....6................ 1,651,871  1,018,1] 4
Miscellaneous,.                                      61,1.4-3        1,901,540
ITotal Exports..............  11,0. 543:11,775,204
The following will show to what countries the above were cxpoorted...
1853.               1854.
To Great Britain...................~.... ~9,875,624              ~10,270,213:British Colonies..........................        942,741          1,378,107
United States,...........          19,646            50,933
Other Foreign States,..................            223,532             75,951
Total Exports.........          11,057,543         11,775,204




These  statements  showilng a total of -~08,495,511  imports and  exports for a single year, would  be almost incre(dible, welre they not taken
froin the official returns.'VWe might go iul ther, andl give ini deta.il the commerce of each of the
South American States bo-derinag on tlhe Pacific, where trade has wakened
into new life withil in the last twNo ao' rtltree  y-ears, lut) the foregoing will
serve the purpose of illustI raton.
These arie not estimnates of a commerce likely to be created by the const'ruction of,l cal ld,  bltt st.ttements of a commlnerce nlow in being', a large
portion of which would avail itself at onlce of this inter-oceanic commuinication.  WVith such a business before us, the contemplated cost of the canal
sinks into comparative insignifieance.
A  very small tax upon such an immense amount of' tonnage, woull keep
the works in repair, and pay a large interest upon the capital expended.
To saTy nothinll  of' the lessened risk, and the consequent reduction in
cost of insurance,'the colnvenience to the world of such a speedy transit
tiom ocean to ocean, xwithout breaking' bulk or unbendingo a sail, can hardly
be over estimated.
The advantages to be gained by a vessel in pasisinc tdhrough the canail
over the route.arounid the   orin, are so apparent, that ally shipowner or
merchlant can calculate them  froml  the  clata above given.   To those interested in this enterprise, who are not practically flamiliar with nautical
matters, it imlay be well enougnh to give Ca simple statistical statement, by
way-: of illustration.  This is a utilitarian  age,  luad iany  may  ask"Apart fi'om  the lessened  riskls of -navig-ationl,   whi t will the sav:ing  of
time by the Isthmus route b)e IIo'tAo,iz ndollat i.s <ned cents?"
Lieuit. Maury hias given  an  estimate of' the time, in a table included
Ibove,  which (covers the averoage of voyages by all classes of vessels, not
ineluding  d(ctellntions.  WA7e propose to give a blief comparison with a trip
by a fast sailin'il   veTssel xwhiih rcc ently male a'prosperouls voryage: —
Miles.
iListanIce saile   d                  <Iom  1.N  I'-Y' ork to  Sa  Ol.rn.cisco................  19:000
Dtistalce  t via tlle Isthlllnus..............................  00()
Add  tMl the plioposed iinew roat....................  7,-00
5700
Savi   of distac  miles..........................................      13,300
The passage aroulnd the:-lorln was maale  ii 1 50 days, aind at this rate
the passage )y'the ti proposedl canal would be 45 days, making  a savhing  of'
105 dlvs.   The ll11o;a in- weire th: montIl  hl  (cxp:,els(-i or tle ship:-f th
i Caliptain, wtag'es pe' iontlh....................................           i
"iit   iteat,   1';':ad o25 fr:...............I.......1.........
I (tookl., per monthi.l l.
3   -lc ipe  nteiS     pe i noa tli........................................   10'3  Nhen a  -S perr -lttl..n. t...;             40
3... Olem  mail Crew= cmi his pr raoaIll,..........
87  Ot~erz an  cv~,,,?cs41in~ per  ontt~:8~'$




Amount 1brought forward,   $88l 
Cost of provislonis, anld finding, (:2 each per week)...................    333
Present value of ship $84.000, on which 7 per cent. interest, and 8 1 per
cent. insurance, in all I 5 14 per cent., -would be per mlonth.,085
Wear and tear, and depreciation, 10 per cent per annum, would be, per
month,..................                                              70..................0....  0
Total cost of vessel per month......................         82,993
Th7is for 105 days would be......................................$10,4 5
Thus, to say nothing of thle zprofits of the ship, the saving to the vessel
in this voyage, by tlhe use of the canal, would l have been 810,475, less the
charges for toll imposed for the passage.  In other worls, if the vessel
had paid ten thousand dollars for the use of the canal in a, single passage,
she would have been the gainer!  B)ut this is only the gain to the shi2p
itself.  The owner of the cargo would maLke a large saving, even supposing
that he paid the same rate of freight, with a cargo of only $50,000, the
saving of interest on thle voyage would be 81,020 81, and there would be
few cargoes by such a vessel which did not greaftlyl  exceed this amount.
This is the saving  on a single trip of one vessel.  Multiply this by the
number of ships engaged in the Pacific tra.de, anud reckon it out arid
back, and then estimate by this data the profits of the proposed work:
The wrecks which strew  the tempestuous coasts around the lower ex-'tremities of the two continents, or repose far beneath the surface of their
heaving billows, will be left alone, without the annual additions made to
their sad ca-talogues by:res-h disasters.
LIt P.  A T A.
On page 2.(, third line front top  ir' xplansatiol of Plates," read
Explanation of Section or'Plate I.
On page 27, on ninth  line fromn to-), ir "pe:rpendiciiulnI lines," read
perpendicular dotted lines.
On page 30, on the third and twientty-sixth linies fiiom  thlle t;p, for the
word " Sugra," read ]i'wqra.
O.)  pag'e'32 on third line tiom tlop, l re10 d, in piac e oCr " oi either oeean,"
1ithe words, of' th]e dividing ridge.
On pag'e 32, on nineteentil line front top, bihr   L head wifrnds," read
headland(s.
On page 43, in columnu of remarks, for the words, "M Aeasurement of
rain fall by aneroid," read Al.easturemzent of main fatll by aneroid barometer,