124 COLOMBIA, UNITED STATES OF. 



COMMERCE, UNITED STATES. 



second, starting from Sarsardi, crossed the Cordil- 

 leras in the neighborhood, and, following the valley 

 of Morti, ended at the same point as the first. These 

 observations, carefully made with the air-level, 

 showed that both lines were impracticable for a ship- 

 canal. The Cordillera has not m any part a lower 

 level than 1,000 feet, and the extent ol the area^of 

 the mountain is such as to render the construction 

 of tunnels impossible. Nor does there exist a suf- 

 ficient quantity of water to enable us to overcome 

 the difficulties by means of locks. 



The expedition sailed for the bay of San Bias in 

 the latter part of April. This route formed the nar- 

 rowest part of the isthmus, measuring only twenty- 

 six miles from the Atlantic to the navigable river 

 Bayamo, all of which gave me great hopes that the 

 desired route would be found in this region. Ex- 

 plorations were accordingly made, following the 

 valleys of the principal rivers which fall into the 

 bay of San Bias, notwithstanding the principal line 

 followed the Mandingo up-stream, crossed the Cor- 

 dilleras and followed the Mamoni down-stream until 

 the confluent of the Bayamo or Chepo Kiver. which 

 up to this point is navigable. The results obtained 

 were equally unfavorable along this line ; the lowest 

 level of the Cordillera in this region was found to be 

 1,134 feet, and there existed heights of 800 feet each 

 side. This obstacle could not be overcome either 

 by a tunnel or by locks, and to make an open canal 

 would cost so much as to put all consideration of it 

 out of the question. It not being possible to con- 

 tinue the explorations during the rainy season, on 

 the termination of the last exploration the expedi- 

 tion sailed for New York on June 10, 1870. The 

 disposition of the Indians in the interior was not 

 found to be friendly. They refused us permission to 

 pass through their territory, and we had to go 

 through contrary to their will. The express orders 

 given to avoid all injury to their property, and tak- 

 ing always a superior force, avoided any hostile 

 demonstration on their part. 



Explorations in 1871. The United States Govern- 

 ment, being desirous of including all of the Isthmus 

 of Darien in this exploration, in order to settle defi- 

 nitely the question of its adaptability for the con- 

 struction of a "ship-canal, I received orders to con- 

 tinue the survey, and, consequently, the present 

 expedition sailed in December last for the gulf of 

 Darien and anchored off the mouth of the Atrato 

 Kiver on the 30th of the same month. 



The explorations of this year comprehended 

 routes which follow certain tributaries of the Atrato, 

 as well as a line said to have been discovered by 

 M. Lucien de Puydt. From M. Truchon, French 

 vice-consul, who accompanied M. de Puydt, I ob- 

 tained the necessary data to follow the same route 

 in which he pretended to have discovered a summit 

 level of only eighty metres elevation. Your Excel- 

 lency doubtless has heard of this route. I will not, 

 therefore, go into any details about it. It is enough 

 to say that no such pass exists as that pretended by 

 M. de Puydt. A careful exploration, made with an 

 exact mercurial barometer, showed an altitude of 750 

 feet in the valley of Tunela before arriving at the 

 Cordilleras. 



The principal labor of the expedition has been to 

 explore a line beginning at the Atrato and following 

 the valley of the Paranchita (a tributary of the Caca- 

 rican), crossing the Cordillera of Cu6 (a tributary of 

 the Tiura) down-stream, and from this point to*Pe- 

 nogana and thence to a navigable point. The total 

 length is fifty-five miles, and the route is generally 

 known as that of Tuyra. The lowest point of the 

 Cordilleras in this line following the valley has some 

 400 feet, but crossing about two miles to the south- 



ward^of this point is an altitude of feet and the 



land is more uniformly level. The land throughout 

 the whole extent of this line is too broken, and 

 crossed by mountain-spurs and hills every now and 

 then of about 250 feet aoove the general level. 



for ships above the 



in iiKe manner nas oeen explored tne wnoie lengtu 

 of a line extending from the bay of Cupica in the 

 Pacific and following the valley of the Napipi to its 

 mouth. By this route the ground is probably more 

 level than by any of the others examined in Darien, 

 but it has the drawback of requiring a longer line of 

 navigation in the Atrato Kiver against a strong cur- 

 rent, and there is much doubt whether the river 

 would or not prove navigabl 

 mouth of Napipi. 



Haying finished these explorations, there did not 

 remain any other part of the isthmus to be examined, 

 and, although these explorations have not entirely 

 fulfilled the hopes of the United States Government 

 nor my_own, they have, nevertheless, been of great 

 utility in having thrown much light upon a subject 

 little known, and have also added to what was al- 

 ready known of the geography of Colombia. I have 

 been informed that there is a route by way of the 

 river Bojaya, but I received the information too late 

 to make use of it. It is impossible to continue the 

 explorations during the rainy season ; the dust has 

 exhausted my strength, and I am unable to begin 

 anew. It is not likely, however, that this route would 

 give better results than that by the Napipi ; both 

 rivers run at but a short distance from each other. 

 Although the Bojaya is wider, canalization is not 

 practicable on account of the frequent floodings, 

 caused by the tropical rains. The routes that were 

 examined last year viz., that of the Tuyra and the 

 Napipi are practicable for a canal, but at an enor- 

 mous expense ; the first would cost $140,000,000, and 

 the second $110,000,000. 



Before concluding, I beg to make a few observa- 

 tions : 



The United States of America are interested, to a 

 certain extent, in the construction of a canal across 

 the isthmus, but the perfection of the railroad system 

 across the continent has removed many inconven- 

 iences met with in the transit, and a canal is, there- 

 fore, now not so much of a necessity. England, with 

 her possessions in the South Seas, and Germany, 

 with her daily increasing commerce, have the same 

 interests with the United States ; but to the Kepub- 

 lic of Colombia a canal across her territory would be 

 an incalculable gain. The benefit she would derive 

 from it does not so much consist in having a share 

 of its profits as being placed in the most remarkably 

 central portion of America. The cultivation of her 

 great extension of lands and attraction for immigra- 

 tion cannot fail to bring great wealth to the country. 

 The immense sums of money required in its con- 

 struction, the great scientific problems to be solved, 

 as well as the doubtful financial results of the Suez 

 Canal, will all tend to make capitalists unwilling to 

 undertake the work unless on the most favorable 

 conditions. 



The route by Nicaragua, from its immense water- 

 supply, and with an elevation of only 120 feet above 

 the sea, is a formidable rival to all the lines I have 

 yet examined. It becomes a serious question for the 

 people of Colombia whether they had better grant 

 liberal concessions to those who will construct a 

 canal within their terrirory, in view of the immense 

 benefit that must indirectly flow from it, or concede 

 a privilege with the conditions which hitherto 

 served as a base to previous proposals, losing, in 

 consequence, a brilliant opportunity and turning at- 

 tention toward the advantages of the route through 

 Nicaragua. 



With sentiments of the most profound respect 

 toward your Excellency, and the most sincere wishes 

 for the prosperity of the Kepublic of Colombia, 1 

 have the honor, etc., TH. O. SELFKIDGE, 



Commanding U. S. Darien Surveying Expedition. 



COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES 

 FOR 1871. For the fiscal year ending June 

 80, 1871, the general commerce of the country 

 shows the sum of $541,493,774 in foreign im- 





