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diff --git a/29269-8.txt b/29269-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c33ffb0 --- /dev/null +++ b/29269-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1251 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Succinct View of the Importance and +Practicability of Forming a Ship Canal across the Isthmus of Panama, by H. R. Hill + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Succinct View of the Importance and Practicability of Forming a Ship Canal across the Isthmus of Panama + +Author: H. R. Hill + +Release Date: June 29, 2009 [EBook #29269] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FORMING A SHIP CANAL *** + + + + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Richard J. Shiffer and The +Philatelic Digital Library Project at http://www.tpdlp.net +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned +images of public domain material from the Google Print +project.) + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: Every effort has been made to replicate this text +as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings +and other inconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an +obvious error is noted at the end of this ebook.] + + + + +A + +SUCCINCT VIEW + +OF THE + +IMPORTANCE AND PRACTICABILITY + +OF FORMING + +A SHIP CANAL + +ACROSS THE + +ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. + + + +By H. R. HILL. + + + +_LONDON:_ + +WM. H. ALLEN, & CO., + +7, LEADENHALL-STREET. + + + +1845. + + + +W. LEWIS AND SON, PRINTERS, 21, FINCH-LANE, LONDON. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + + +The following observations were thrown together as the result of +communications with several gentlemen locally acquainted with the +Isthmus of Panama, and who expressed to the writer their astonishment, +that amidst the numerous undertakings, of more or less utility, which +science has realised in our time, one so important to the whole +commercial world, so easy of accomplishment, and so certain to be +productive of ample remuneration to the undertakers, as a Ship Canal +through that Isthmus, had not been taken up. The idle objection, that +if practicable it would not have been left unattempted for the last +three hundred years, they considered, would have no weight in an age +in which we have seen accomplished works that in our fathers' time, +nay, even within our own memory, it would have been considered madness +to propose,--witness steam-navigation and railways. It is not twenty +years since Dr. Lardner, the author of a popular work on the +steam-engine, then supposed to be a most competent authority, +declared in his lectures that the application of steam-navigation to +the voyage across the Atlantic was a mere chimera. So it has been with +railways. Would not any man who fifty, or even twenty years ago, had +predicted that the journey from London to Exeter would be accomplished +_in five hours_, have been deemed a fit tenant for Bedlam? To contend +that because a great undertaking has remained unattempted for a long +series of years, _therefore_ it is impracticable, is to put a stop to +all improvement. At the suggestion of the friends before referred to, +the writer is induced to print the following pages, with the hope of +drawing to the subject of which they treat the attention of the +mercantile and shipping interests. If they awaken an interest in the +subject in those quarters, they will not be thrown away, and he is +fully convinced that the more the subject is examined the stronger +will be the conviction of the practicability of the undertaking. + + _23, Throgmorton Street_, + _February, 1845_. + + + + +A SUCCINCT VIEW, &c. + + +From the first discovery of the American continent down to the present +time, a shorter passage from the North Atlantic to the Pacific ocean +than the tedious and dangerous voyage round Cape Horn has been a +desideratum in navigation. During the dominion of old Spain in the New +World the colonial policy and principles of that jealous nation, to +which Central America belonged, opposed insurmountable obstacles to +any proposal for effecting this great object; but the emancipation of +the Spanish Colonies, and the erection of independent States in their +stead, has broken down the barrier which Spanish jealousy had erected. +The rulers of these states are not devoid of discernment to perceive +that the exclusion of European Nations from the shores of the Pacific +would be productive of immense injury to themselves, and that by +making their own territory the high-road to the countries which are +becoming important marts for the commerce of Europe, they are bringing +wealth to their own doors, and increasing their own political +importance. + +In this, as in most other cases, individual and general benefit go +hand in hand; for it cannot be doubted that were such a communication +between the two Oceans made through Central America, it would prove of +incalculable utility to all nations engaged in maritime commerce,--and +sooner or later it will unquestionably be opened. This would be the +shortest route from Europe, North America, and the western coast of +Africa to every part of the western coast of the New World, to +Australia, New Zealand, the numerous islands of the Pacific and the +eastern coast of Asia,[1] as will be seen by a glance at the outline +map of the world on Mercator's projection annexed to this pamphlet. +The advantage of a Canal of sufficient size to allow large vessels to +proceed through the Isthmus is therefore obvious. + +But by whom is this work to be undertaken? the question is certainly +not a British one alone, although the British Trade would derive +immense benefit from its solution: it is a question in which the whole +commercial world is more or less interested. + +There must be either a combination of governments formed to defray so +much each of the expense, or the work must be accomplished by a Joint +Stock Company of individuals, who will indemnify themselves for their +outlay by levying tolls upon those who avail themselves of the +communication. As to such a combination of governments, the difficulty +of procuring a sufficient grant of public money opposes a great +obstacle to the realization of any such project. + +To private enterprize chiefly then it must be committed; yet it may +reasonably be expected that such countenance and support as the +governments of the principal maritime powers can give, will be readily +yielded to any association that will undertake the work. + +There are several considerations which point out the present as the +most auspicious moment for attaining the object in view. The profound +peace with which Europe and the whole civilized world is now blessed, +the abundance of capital in the money market, the present low rate of +interest, and the difficulty of finding investments, are all favorable +to the raising of the necessary funds; the immense strides which +science has made in overcoming natural difficulties, once deemed +insuperable, add to the means of accomplishment, while the growing +importance of British Colonies in and about New Zealand, the +inevitable impulse that recent events must give to the China trade,[2] +and the efforts of all maritime nations to make establishments in the +Polynesian Islands will render the Canal a certain source of profit +and honor to those who will aid in its formation. + +Several parts of the Isthmus of America have been proposed for the +communication between the two seas, such as the Province of Nicaragua, +the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, &c.; but invincible obstacles occur in all +those localities, while on the contrary the Isthmus of Panama is +beyond doubt the most favorable point, according to the opinion of all +the scientific and practical men who have visited that part of the new +world.[3] We shall proceed, therefore, to describe that Isthmus as +far as is necessary for the present purpose. + +The Isthmus of Panama[4] may be considered as extending from the +Meridian of 77° to that of 81° W. of Greenwich. Its breadth at the +narrowest point, opposite to the city of Panama, is about thirty +miles. The general feature of the Isthmus on the map is that of an +arc, or bow, the chord of which lies nearly east and west. It now +forms a province of the republic of New Granada. + +It may appear strange, yet it is now well known to be the fact, that +although the small width of the Isthmus was ascertained soon after the +discovery of America, its natural features remained entirely unknown +for three hundred years. Robertson, in his History of America, states +that the Isthmus is traversed in all its length by a range of high +mountains, and it was reserved for our scientific countryman, Lloyd, +who surveyed the Isthmus in 1828 and 1829, by direction of Bolivar, +then president of the Republic of Colombia, to dispel the illusion. +From his observations, confirmed by more recent travellers, it is now +ascertained that the chain of the Andes terminates near Porto Bello to +the east of the Bay of Limon, otherwise called Navy Bay, and that the +Isthmus is, in this part, throughout its whole width, a flat country. +It was also long supposed that there was an enormous difference +between the rise and fall of the tide in the Pacific and Atlantic +Oceans on either side of the Isthmus, and that the opening of a +communication between the two seas would be productive of danger to a +large portion of the American continent. It is now, however, +ascertained that the difference of altitude is very trifling, not more +than thirteen feet at high water.[5] The prevalence of these errors +may have tended, in combination with Spanish jealousy, unhealthiness +of climate on the Atlantic side, the denseness of the forests, and the +unsettled state of the Government for some years after the Spanish +yoke was shaken off, to prevent the undertaking now proposed from +being seriously considered. + +Panama is the principal city on the Isthmus. Its site has been once +changed. When the Spaniards first visited the Isthmus in 1512, the +spot on which the old city was afterwards built, was already occupied +by an Indian population, attracted by the abundance of fish on the +coast, and who are said to have named it "Panama" from this +circumstance, the word signifying much fish. They, however, were +speedily dispossessed; and even so early as 1521, the title and +privileges of a city were conferred on the Spanish town by the +emperor, Charles the Fifth. In the year 1670, it was sacked and +reduced to ashes by the buccaneer, Morgan, and was subsequently built +where it now stands. + +The position of the present town of Panama is in latitude 8° 57' N.; +longitude 79° 30' W. of Greenwich, on a tongue of land, shaped nearly +like a spear head, extending a considerable distance out to sea, and +gradually swelling towards the middle. Its harbour is protected by a +number of islands, a short distance from the main land, some of which +are of considerable size, and highly cultivated. + +There is good anchorage at each of these islands, and supplies of +ordinary kinds, including excellent water, which may be obtained from +several of them.[6] + +The city of Panama was, in the 17th century, a place of great +importance, but has gradually sunk into comparative insignificance. +The policy of the present Government of New Granada is to restore this +city to its pristine importance, and for this reason, one terminus of +the intended Ship Canal should be at, or as near as conveniently may +be to, this position. + +The natural obstacles to be overcome in forming a Canal between +Panama, and the _nearest point_ of the opposite coast, which is the +Gulph of San Blas (likewise called the Bay of Mandingo), render it +expedient to select a position west of that line, and the happy +coincidence of two navigable rivers, traversing the low lands to the +west of Porto Bello, the one falling into the Atlantic, and the other +into the Pacific Ocean, which may either form part of the navigation, +or be used to feed the Canal, renders that part of the Isthmus the +most eligible for this purpose. The rivers alluded to, are the +Chagres and the Rio Grande. + +The town of Chagres, at the mouth of the river of the same name, is +about thirty-two miles west of Porto Bello (Puerto Velo); it is +situated on the north bank of the river, which falls into the +Caribbean Sea. The harbour formed by the mouth of the river having +been greatly neglected, has been much choked up; but it would be +unnecessary to incur the expense of improving it, for Navy Bay, called +also the Bay of Limon, lying immediately to the eastward of Chagres, +is a large and spacious harbour, being three miles wide at the mouth, +and having sufficient draught of water for the largest ships in the +British Navy. The river Chagres approaches within three miles of the +head of this Bay; the ground between is a dead level,[7] and all +writers agree that, the difficulties of the harbour being surmounted, +there is abundance of water in the Chagres. It is, therefore, proposed +either to cut a Canal from Navy Bay to the Chagres, and then to ascend +that river as far as its junction with the river Trinidad, and after +traversing a part of the latter, to construct a canal which shall +connect the Trinidad with the River Farfan, a branch of the Rio +Grande, and to proceed by that river to Panama; or should the Bay of +Chorrera, which is laid down in the plan, be deemed a preferable +harbour, to branch off to that bay; or to make the Canal across the +whole width of the isthmus, from the Bay of Limon to that of Panama, +using the rivers Trinidad, Farfan, and Bernardino, and other streams +which cross the line, for the supply of the Canal. + +The plan annexed to this pamphlet will exhibit the two lines, and the +reader will perceive that a small Lake, called the Lake of Vino Tinto, +may, if the first proposal is adopted, be made available, and so +lessen the extent of the Canal. If the Rivers are used as a part of +the Navigation, the distance between that point of the River Trinidad +at which the Canal would commence, as shewn in the plan, and the point +where the Farfan ceases to be navigable, is only 25 miles, and there +is no high land intervening, the chain of the Andes terminating +several miles to the eastward of the valley of the Chagres, as before +mentioned. If the other plan be adopted, the length of the Canal will +be 58 miles. + +Although at first sight it may appear to be a work of supererogation, +to carry the Canal over that part of the Isthmus which is traversed by +navigable rivers, it is by many engineers considered preferable in +forming a Canal, to use the rivers in its vicinity only for the +purpose of supplying the Canal with water, and not as a continuation +of the inland navigation, on account of the variation in the depth of +rivers from floods, or other accidents. Which of these two courses +would be most expedient in the present instance, may be safely left to +the determination of the engineer selected to carry out the +undertaking;--it is sufficient to know that _either is practicable_, +and that the expense of cutting the Canal the whole width of the +isthmus would meet with a corresponding return to the undertakers. + +The principal difficulty anticipated in the execution of the work, +arises from the unhealthiness of the climate on the Atlantic side of +the isthmus--a difficulty to which the writer is by no means +insensible. It has, however, been exaggerated, and by proper +arrangements may be surmounted. The causes of this unhealthiness are +chiefly the swampy state of the ground on the Atlantic side of the +Isthmus (which the Canal itself, acting as a drain upon the +surrounding country, will greatly tend to remove), and the malaria +engendered by the closeness of the woods, and by the accumulation of +decayed vegetable substances, which the opening of the country, +incidental to the formation of the Canal now proposed, and the road +afterwards adverted to, will tend to alleviate; and after all, those +who have visited this part of the Isthmus, concur in stating that the +mortality in the low lands about Chagres is principally owing to the +imprudence of the Europeans visiting the country, in exposing +themselves to the night dews by sleeping in the open air, and +indulging in habits of intemperance.[8] If an association were formed +for carrying out the work now projected, one of the first cares of the +managers should be to erect huts or barracks for the protection of the +workmen against exposure to the weather, and the appointment of a +medical officer, who should be entrusted with sufficient powers to +ensure obedience to his regulations. + +If the industry of the native population could be depended upon, there +would be no want of labourers inured to the climate, but the inertness +of the natives renders it inexpedient to rely upon them alone; +although, working in conjunction with Europeans, and stimulated by +their example, and by the love of gain, their services may, no doubt, +be made available. There is, however, no difficulty in collecting from +the Southern States of North America a sufficient number of Irish +labourers inured to a tropical climate, as was lately clearly shewn by +the formation of a railway at the Havanna, which was almost entirely +constructed by this class of men. + +Any deficiency of labourers, it is considered, could easily be drawn +from the mining districts of Cornwall, from Ireland itself, or from +Scotland, or the North of England. + +The next consideration is the expense of constructing a Ship Canal +across the Isthmus, and the probable returns. The estimates which have +been made, and of which the result is given below, suppose the Canal +to be cut through the whole width of the Isthmus, from the Bay of +Limon to that of Chorrera, and they include a large outlay for +improving the harbours formed by the two bays. + +The first item that would occur in an undertaking of the same nature +_in this country_, would be the purchase of the land. Here a great +advantage presents itself in the present enterprise; for the +Government of New Granada, fully appreciating the permanent +advantages to be derived to the state from the execution of a work, +which it is unequal to accomplish by its own resources, has repeatedly +offered to grant the land required, for 60, 70, or 80 years, according +to the magnitude of the works, free of rent, or burdens of any kind, +and to admit the importation, free of duty, of all materials and +provisions necessary for the undertaking. + + +EXPENSES. + + The expenses of cutting the Canal, + and of the direction and management of + a Company constituted for that purpose, + up to the period of the opening of the + Canal have been estimated at[9] £1,713,177 + + But if it be deemed expedient to raise + two millions, in order to provide for any + unforseen casualties, the difference will + be 286,823 + ---------- + Total outlay £2,000,000 + + +RETURNS. + +From information derived from official sources in England, France, and +the United States of America, it is estimated that the tonnage of +vessels belonging to those countries and to Holland, trading in +countries to which the Canal through the Isthmus will be the shortest +voyage, amount to 799,427 tons per annum; and there can be no doubt +that the opening of the Canal would create a great extension of trade +to the South Seas, as well as induce the owners of many of the vessels +now using the navigation by the Cape of Good Hope to prefer the +shorter voyage through the Isthmus; and when we add to this +consideration, the fact that the above calculations do not include the +vessels belonging to Spain, Sardinia, the Hanse Towns, and other +nations of minor importance as maritime powers, but possessing in the +aggregate a trade not altogether inconsiderable, nor the traffic that +may be expected to flow to the Pacific from the West Indies, the +British Colonies in North America, and the countries on the north east +coast of South America, the tonnage of vessels that will be attracted +to the Canal may be fairly estimated at 800,000 tons. + + A tonnage duty of $2 per ton, on + 800,000 tons will produce $1,600,000, + equal, at 4s. 2d., to £333,333 + + Allowing a deduction for the annual + expenses of a sum much larger than will + probably be required, say 40,000 + -------- + There will remain a Balance of annual + profit of £293,333 + +This in turn will give upwards of 14-1/2 per cent. profit on the above +outlay of £2,000,000. + +The Isthmus has recently been surveyed by M. Garella, an eminent +French Engineer, whose opinions will be found in the extract from the +_Moniteur_, contained in the Appendix. He was employed to make the +survey by the French Government, and his official Report has not yet +been made public. He differs in several material points from M. Morel, +another French gentleman, who is stated to have lately surveyed the +Isthmus;[10] but if the formation of a canal should be undertaken by +an English company, the parties engaged in the enterprize would +doubtless be guided by the English engineer whom they would employ, in +the selection of the most eligible line, while the labours of his +predecessors would greatly aid him in his survey. + +As subservient to the grand project of a Ship Canal, an improved road +across the Isthmus has been projected. The abundance of hard wood to +be found on the spot, would furnish a cheap material for converting it +into a tram-road. The expense has been estimated by French engineers +at £40,000 sterling, and the returns, even according to the present +transit of goods and passengers across the Isthmus by the miserable +road now existing from Cruces to Panama, would, at a very moderate +toll, be enormous on that outlay. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +The following Extracts from Authors who have treated of the Isthmus of +Panama will tend to illustrate the subject of the foregoing pages. + + +_Dampier, (1681)._ + +"Panama enjoys a good air, lying open to the sea-wind. There are no +woods nor marshes near Panama, but a brave dry champaign land, not +subject to fogs nor mists." + + +_Humboldt, (1803)._ + +"It appears that we find a prolongation of the Andes towards the South +Sea, between Cruces and Panama. However, Lionel Wafer assures us that +the hills which form the central chain, are separated from one another +by valleys, which allow free course for passage of the rivers; if this +last assertion be founded, we might believe in the possibility of a +canal from Cruces to Panama, of which the navigation would only be +interrupted by a very few locks." + + +_The Edinburgh Review, for Jan. 1809, Art. II. page 282._ + +"In enumerating, however, the advantages of a commercial nature which +would assuredly spring from the emancipation of South America, we have +not yet noticed the greatest, perhaps, of all,--the mightiest event +probably in favor of the peaceful intercourse of nations which the +physical circumstances of the globe present to the enterprise of +man,--we mean the formation of a navigable passage across the Isthmus +of Panama, the junction of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is +remarkable that this magnificent undertaking, pregnant with +consequences so important to mankind, and about which so little is +known in this country, is so far from being a romantic or chimerical +project, that, it is not only practicable but easy. The River Chagres, +which falls into the Atlantic at the town of the same name, about 18 +leagues to the westward of Porto Bello is navigable as far as Cruces, +within five leagues of Panama; but though the formation of a Canal +from this place to Panama, facilitated by the valleys through which +the present road passes, appears to present no very formidable +obstacles, there is still a better expedient. At the distance of about +five leagues from the mouth of the Chagres it receives the river +Trinidad, which is navigable to Embarcadero; and from that place to +Panama is a distance of about 30 miles, through a level country, with +a fine river,[11] to supply water for the Canal, and no difficulty +whatever to counteract the noble undertaking. The ground has been +surveyed, and not the practicability only, but the facility of the +work completely ascertained. In the next place, the important +requisite of safe harbours, at the two extremities of a Canal, is here +supplied to the extent of our utmost wishes. At the mouth of the +Chagres is a fine Bay, which received the British 74 gun-ships in +1740, and at the other extremity is the famous harbour of Panama." + + +_J. A. Lloyd, F. R. S._ + +"It is generally supposed in Europe that the great chain of mountains, +which in South America forms the Andes, and in North America the +Mexican and Rocky Mountains, continues nearly unbroken through the +Isthmus. This, however, is not the case: the Northern Cordillera +breaks into detached mountains on the eastern side of the province of +Veragua. These are of considerable height, extremely abrupt and +rugged, and frequently exhibit an almost perpendicular face of bare +rock. To these succeed numerous conical mountains rising out of +Savannahs and plains, and seldom exceeding from 300 to 500 feet in +height. Finally between Chagres on the Atlantic side, and Chorrera on +the Pacific side, the conical mountains are not so numerous, having +plains of great extent interspersed, with occasional insulated ranges +of hills of inconsiderable height and extent. From this description it +will be seen that the spot where the continent of America is reduced +to nearly its narrowest limits, is also distinguished by a break for a +few miles of the Great chain of Mountains, which otherwise extends, +with but few exceptions, to its extreme northern and southern limits. +_This combination of circumstances points out the peculiar fitness of +the Isthmus of Panama for the establishment of a communication +across._" + + _Philosophical Transactions, 1830, Part I., p. 65._ + + +"Should a time arrive when a project of a water communication across +the Isthmus may be entertained, the river Trinidad will probably +appear the most favourable route. The river is for some distance both +broad and deep. Its banks are also well suited for wharfs." + + _Philosophical Transactions, ibid, p. 66._ + + +"The river, its channel, and the banks, which, in the dry season, +embarrass its navigation, are laid down in the manuscript plan with +great care and minuteness. It is subject to one great inconvenience, +that vessels drawing more than 12 feet water, cannot enter the river, +even in perfectly calm weather, on account of a stratum of slaty +limestone, which runs at a depth at high water of fifteen feet, from a +point on the main land to some rocks in the middle of the entrance of +the harbour, and which are just even with the water's edge; which, +together with the lee current that sets on the southern shore, +particularly in the rainy season, renders the entrance extremely +difficult and dangerous.... + +"The value of the Chagres, considered as the port of entrance for +all communications, whether by the river Chagres, Trinidad, or +by railroads across the plains, is greatly limited from the +above mentioned cause. It would prove in all cases a serious +disqualification, _were it not one which admits of a simple and +effectual remedy, arising from the proximity of the Bay of Limon_, +otherwise called Navy Bay, with which the river might easily be +connected. The coves of this bay afford excellent and secure anchorage +in its present state, and the whole harbour is capable of being +rendered, by obvious and not very expensive means, one of the most +commodious and safe harbours in the world. + + * * * * * + +"By the good offices of H. M. Consul in Panama,[12] and the kindness +of the Commander of H. M. Ship Victor, I obtained the use of that ship +and her boats in making the accompanying plan of this bay.... The +soundings were taken by myself, with the assistance of the master. It +will be seen from this plan, that the distance from one of the best +coves (in respect to anchorage), across the separating country from +the Chagres, and in the most convenient track, is something less than +three miles to a point in the river about three miles from its mouth. +I have traversed the intervening land which is particularly level, and +in all respects suitable for a canal, which, being required for so +short a distance, might well be of sufficient depth to admit vessels +of any reasonable draft of water, and would obviate the inconvenience +of the shallow water at the entrance of the Chagres." + + _Ibid, p. 68._ + + +_Extract from the Moniteur Parisien of Monday, October 14, 1844._ + +"Some of the public papers in announcing the return of M. Garella to +Paris, have asserted that the surveys made by that Engineer on the +Isthmus of Panama have led him to conclude that the formation of a +canal in that Country which should unite the two oceans is impossible. +This assertion is completely erroneous. The Report that this Engineer +intends to lay before the Ministers is not yet completed; but the +principal results of his voyage are already known, and which far from +having established the impossibility of the execution of the projected +work, prove on the contrary that the soil of this portion of the +Isthmus is not such as to threaten any serious obstruction to the +performance of a work of the kind. + +"The line which has been explored by M. Garella, seems to be about 76 +kilometres (46-1/2 miles) in length. Its point of termination upon the +side of the Atlantic is in the Bay of Limon (Puerto de Naos) situated +a little east of the mouth of the Rio Chagres, and already indicated +five years ago by Mr. Lloyd, where there is a depth of water of 10 +metres (35 ft. 5 in.), and where it will be easy to form an excellent +port at a small expense. By this means may be avoided the village of +Chagres, situated at the month of the river of that name, but of +which the real unhealthiness has been so much exaggerated, as to +create an unfounded alarm among too many travellers. On the Pacific +Ocean the Canal should terminate at a little bay named Ensenada de +Voca de Monte, situated between Panama and the mouth of the Caimito, +where there is four metres (13 ft. 1 in.) depth of water at low tide, +which, with 3 metres 20 centimetres (10-1/2 ft.), which represent the +difference at high tide, gives a sufficient depth of water for the +largest merchant ships. + +"The rigidly exact levellings which have been taken by M. Garella, +establish that the mean level of the Pacific Ocean is two metres 80 +centimetres (9 ft. 2 in.) higher than that of the Atlantic, and that +the minimum point of the chain to overcome, which will be the most +elevated point of the line of the work, is 120 metres (131 yards[13]) +above the height of the sea at Panama. The surveys which have been +made, prove at the same time that the height may be reduced to 90 +metres (90 yards and a half) by a trench from four to five kilometres +(between two and three miles) in length, which, although considerable, +has nothing discouraging, considering the powers which science puts at +the disposal of the engineer. This height will render it necessary to +form 30 locks at each of the declivities. + +"M. Garella is convinced, as much by his own observations, as by the +information that he has been able to obtain upon the spot, that all +that has been said of the unhealthiness of the Isthmus has been +exaggerated. Panama is, of all the towns upon the coast of America +which are situated between the Tropics, the most healthy, and perhaps +the only town where the yellow fever has never appeared. The interior +of the Isthmus, through which water courses find a rapid passage, is +equally healthy, and is inhabited by a robust and hospitable +population, which, although thinly spread over a large tract of +country, as in almost all the countries of Central and South America, +together with that of the neighbouring countries, may amply supply the +labourers necessary for the work, in case of its execution. Chagres is +the only point where the climate has any degree of unhealthiness, +owing to pure local circumstances; but this point will be avoided by +the line contemplated by M. Garella. Then in the unhealthiness of the +climate there is nothing to be dreaded for such artizans as masons and +carpenters, whom it would be necessary to send out from Europe. + +"On the other hand the soil is of wonderful fertility. The cattle, far +from being scarce in that part are, on the contrary, abundant, +especially in the Canton of Chiriqui, on the Pacific Ocean, a little +to the west of Panama. There will, therefore, be easily found within +the country the means of provisioning a large number of workmen. + +"The exact estimate of the expense attending the formation of a Canal +at Panama cannot be known until the report of M. Garella shall be +completed. But the foregoing explanations are of sufficient weight, as +a decided result of his surveys, to enable us to see that, against the +undeniable utility of a Canal that should be of sufficient dimensions +to allow the passage of the largest merchants' ships, we can hardly +place in the balance the consideration of any expenses whatsoever, nor +question the long series and increasing importance of the advantages +which must arise from it." + + * * * * * + +By way of summary: the opinion of this engineer on the possibility of +the formation of the Canal in question, is contained in the following +lines of a letter addressed by him to the Governor of Panama, dated +the 7th July, 1844, and a few days before his departure from that +country, translated from the "_Cartilla Popular_," a public paper +published at Panama, and written in Spanish. + + * * * * * + +"I am nevertheless partly able to satisfy your just and natural +impatience, in announcing to you that a Canal across the Isthmus +between the river Chagres, and a point of the coast of the Pacific +Ocean, in the environs of Panama, is a work of very possible +execution, and even easier than that of many Canals which have been +formed in Europe." + + +_M. Morel._ + +The author has been furnished with the following summary of the +opinions of M. Morel, who has been a resident for some years at +Panama. M. Morel is stated to have surveyed the whole line of country +destined to be appropriated to a road, as well as the ground through +which a Canal might be opened, and as the result of his surveys and +observations, he is reported to state-- + +1. That the width of the Isthmus of Panama, in _a direct line_, does +not exceed 33 miles. + +2. That the chain of mountains which incloses the country terminates +precisely between Chagres and Panama, and forms a valley, which is +crossed in all directions by numerous streams. + +3. That besides those streams, four rivers of more importance, the +Chagres and Trinidad, which flow into the Atlantic, and the Farfan and +Rio Grande, which discharge themselves into the Pacific, in the +immediate vicinity of Panama, can be made available. + +4. That the soundings of the River Chagres show its depth to be from +16-1/2 to 22 feet, to its junction with the river Trinidad, the tide +being felt for four miles up the last named river. The breadth of the +Chagres is 220 feet from its mouth to the Trinidad. + +5. That it becomes only necessary to unite these rivers by a Canal, +the length of which would not exceed 25 miles, and which would be +abundantly supplied by the numerous streams already mentioned. + +6. That the land through which this Canal is to pass, is almost on a +level with the sea, the highest point being 36 feet, thus presenting +none of those serious difficulties which generally attend a work of +this description.[14] + +7. That the country abounds with the necessary materials for building, +such as free-stone, clay, lime, and wood. + +8. That there can exist no fear of a scarcity of labourers and +workmen, from the number who have already been enrolled by the +government of New Granada, which amounts to 4000 and upwards. + +9. That the objection which has often been started against the +possibility of forming a water communication across the Isthmus of +Panama, founded on the difference supposed to exist between the levels +of the two seas, is totally at variance with the natural state of +things, the tides rising to different heights at Chagres and at +Panama, thus placing the Pacific sometimes above, and sometimes below +the Atlantic. + +Lastly, M. Morel remarks, that Baron de Humboldt, the celebrated +Geographer, M. Arago, the eminent Astronomer, F.R.S., and Commander +Garnier, of the French Brig of War, "Le Laurier," have proved that if +there be any inequality of height, the average difference of level +cannot exceed one metre (about one yard English). + + + + +POSTSCRIPT. + + +Since the foregoing pamphlet was in print, an Article has appeared in +the Morning Chronicle of the 16th May, 1845, in which it is alleged, +upon the authority of an Article in the _Journal des Debats_, that M. +Garella has given in his Report to the French Government, and that he +reports in favour of the practicability of the scheme, but that he +found the lowest elevation between the two oceans to amount to, from +120 to 160 metres, and that this being, as he says, too great an +elevation for a Ship Canal, he proposes an enormous Tunnel capable of +allowing Frigates to pass through--that he thinks from examination of +the soil, that a Tunnel of 100 feet in height above the surface of the +Canal will be practicable, and might be made with a reasonable outlay +of money; and that the length of the Tunnel would be 5,350 metres, and +the expense of it about 44 millions of francs (£1,760,000). + +It is impossible to read this statement without feeling a strong +suspicion that, for some object which does not appear, it is the wish +of the French Government, or those who have put the statement forth, +to deter others from embarking in the formation of a Canal across the +Isthmus of Panama; for the recommendation of a Tunnel of 5,350 metres +(about three miles) in length, and 100 feet in height, is not only +preposterous in itself, as applied to a Ship Canal, but is wholly at +variance with M. Garella's own letter to the Governor of Panama (ante +p. 26), and with the statement of his opinions in the Article in the +_Moniteur Parisien_ (ante p. 23), which Article is believed to have +been written by himself. It is true that M. Garella, being a Mining +Engineer (_Ingénieur des Mines_) may have a partiality for +subterraneous works; and this refection provokes the observation, that +it is singular that the French Government should have selected, for +this very important survey, an Engineer of Mines (however eminent in +his department), rather than one experienced in the formation of +Canals, when it had so many of the latter at command. + +It is difficult to conceive that the writer of the letter to the +Governor of Panama, and of the Article in the _Moniteur Parisien_ can +be sincere in recommending a Tunnel; and the conclusion is +irresistible, that if the Article in the _Debats_ has any foundation +in the forthcoming Report, it is a stroke of policy on the part of the +French Government, to discourage an undertaking which its own subjects +have not sufficient enterprize to accomplish, and which it would +object to see executed by other nations. + +In the present state of the question, it may not be immaterial to +remark, that on a comparison lately made by an English Engineer of Mr. +Lloyd's levels, with the survey alleged to have been made by M. Morel +(the accuracy of which is necessarily impugned by M. Garella, if he +asserts that an elevation of 120 metres must be overcome), it appears +that the levels ascribed to M. Morel, very nearly agree with those of +Mr. Lloyd, and are substantially corroborated by his survey. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] The reader will remember that to discover a more direct passage to +India than the voyage round Africa, which the Portuguese were then +exploring, was the object of Columbus' voyage which led to the +discovery of America, and the present proposal is to realize the +project of that great navigator. The name of "Indies" was given to his +discoveries, under a belief that he had actually reached India, a name +still preserved in our "West Indies."--_Robertson's America_, book +ii., vol. i, pp. 70 and 124-5, (edit. of 1821). It may well excite +astonishment that more than three centuries should have been allowed +to elapse before the full accomplishment of this great man's +undertaking. + +[2] The intelligent observer of passing events will not fail to see in +the "signs of the times" indications that the day is not far distant +when the important Empire of Japan will follow the example of China, +and throw open its harbours to European commerce--a consummation +devoutly to be wished--and which the present expedition to those +shores, under the command of Sir Edward Belcher, is likely to +accelerate. + +A more immediate development of commercial enterprise cannot fail to +result from the opening of a Ship Canal through the Isthmus of Panama; +viz., _a direct trade_ between the West India Islands, English, +French, and Spanish, and the countries which have been named. From +this consideration, the West India proprietors and merchants, whose +property in those colonies has been of late years so much depreciated, +are deeply interested in the success of this undertaking. + +[3] The opinions of writers who have visited the locality, will be +found in the Appendix. To those of Mr. Lloyd, who was sent by Bolivar +to survey the Isthmus in 1827, in particular, great weight is due. + +[4] It was formerly called the Isthmus of Darien, but that name has +fallen into disuse among all persons who have any intercourse with +that part of the globe, though still preserved in some of the atlases. + +[5] J. A. Lloyd, F. R. S., Philosophical Transactions of the Royal +Society of London, 1830, Part I. pp. 62, 63. + +[6] J. A. Lloyd, F. R. S., Geographical Society's Transactions, vol. +I. + +[7] J. A. Lloyd. See Appendix. + +[8] The writer has conferred with several gentlemen who have visited +the Isthmus, and who agree in this opinion. + +[9] It may be here stated that the Caledonian Canal, and the Canal +from Amsterdam to Niewdiep, the two most expensive Ship Canals which +have been made in Europe (and which approximate in magnitude the Canal +now projected), were formed at a much less expense per mile than has +been allowed in this estimate. + +[10] See Appendix, page 26. + +[11] Probably the Farfan. + +[12] Malcolm MacGregor, Esq. + +[13] The Canal of Languedoc is at its highest point 600 feet above the +level of the sea.--_M'Culloch's Commercial Dict., Art. Canals._ + +[14] It may be possible to reconcile the apparent contradiction +between the fact here stated by M. Morel, and the report of M. +Garella, by mentioning that the latter suggests the propriety of +carrying the Canal over a hill 120 yards high, and thus shortening its +length, rather than to adopt M. Morel's line of survey along the flat +and low lands, which is the longest of the two. + + +THE END. + + +W. LEWIS AND SON, PRINTERS, 21, FINCH-LANE, LONDON. + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +The transcriber made these changes to the text to correct obvious +errors: + + 1. p. 21, propably --> probably + 2. p. 29, impunged --> impugned + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Succinct View of the Importance and +Practicability of Forming a Ship Canal across the Isthmus of Panama, by H. R. Hill + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FORMING A SHIP CANAL *** + +***** This file should be named 29269-8.txt or 29269-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/2/6/29269/ + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Richard J. 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