188 



Doc. No. 75. 



which, in New Spain, they convey boats from one sea to the other; fourth, 

 the pass from Nombre de Dios to Panama, where, they asserted, though 

 there were mountains, it was no diflicult matter to make a way. They 

 added, that from the Gulf of TJmha to San Miguel, (in the present State 

 of San Salvador,) there were only twenty-five leagues; and though it 

 would be a difficult matter, yet nothing was too much for the King of 

 Spain's power, and this would open a much shorter way to the Spice 

 islands through his own dominions, without any opposition."*' 



From this period to the present lime, the subject of the communication 

 has been a matter of much speculation; but, beyond a few partial surveys, 

 until very lately nothing of a practical character has been attempted. 

 The recent acquisitions of the United States on the Pacific, attended by 

 the discovery there of much mineral wealth, have given this direction to 

 American enterprise, and it is now probable that the two oceans will be con- 

 nected both by a canal and railroad, and that a complete revolution will, 

 in a very few years, be effected in the commerce of the civihzed Avorld. 



It has been universally conceded that the only conmaunication between 

 the two oceans, which shall rccdly confer any great benefit upon com- 

 merce, must be by means of a canal capable of passing with safety and 

 rapidity the largest ships. And it has as generally been conceded, by those 

 who have investigated the subject, that the only route practicable for such 

 a purpose is that via Lake Nicaragua, and its dependant waters. It has 

 good harbors up(Dn both coasts, andpassess through a country remarkable 

 for its salubrity, and capable of furnishing all the supplies which would 

 be required by the commerce of the world, should it take this direction. 



But although it has occupied so large a share of the attention of all 

 maritime nations, and furnished a subject for innumerable essays in al- 

 most every language of Europe, it is astonishing that so little has actually 

 been ascertained concerning it. The data upon which most writers have 

 proceeded have been exceedingly vague, and have, iu more than one in- 

 stance, received an undue coloring from their prejudices. This renders 

 it more important that a complete and accurate survey of the proposed 

 route should speedily be made by competent engineers; not a simple 

 reconnaissance on a single line, but a thorough examination of every line 

 which may be thought feasible. The so-called survey made by Mr. 

 Baily, under the authority of the old federation of Central America, has 

 never been published in a complete form, but its various parts, and all its 

 results, have nevertheless come before the public, in one way or an- 

 other. Mr. Baily was not an engineer, and his survey only established 

 the impracticability of the line which he examined,, viz: from Lake Ni- 

 caragua to the port of San Juan de Sud. Any routa' for a ship canal 

 which involves the construction of a tunnel of any considerable extent, 

 (as this did) may be rejected without further consideration. 



It is, however, fortunate that there are other lines besides that to which 

 Mr. Baily directed most of his attention, which, although considerably long- 

 • er, not only appear to be feasible, but to hold out advantages compensating, 

 in a great degree, for their greater length. Among these advantages are, bet- 

 ter ports on the Pacific, and a better relative position, when they are at- 

 tained, as respects the western American possessions, the Pacific islands, 

 the Lidies, and China. Besides these advantages for purposes of navi- 



*Hisiory of America, vol. iv, p. 14. 



