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Is a Ship Canal Practicable?: Notes, Historical and Statistical, Upon the Projected Routes for an Interoceanic Ship Canal Between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in Which is Included a Short Account of the Character and Influence of the Canal of Suez, and the Probable Effects Upon the Commerce of the World of the Two Canals, Regarded Either as Rivals, or as Parts of One System of Interoceanic NavigationAbert, S. T. (Silvanus Thayer)

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Is a Ship Canal Practicable?: Notes, Historical and Statistical, Upon the Projected Routes for an Interoceanic Ship Canal Between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in Which is Included a Short Account of the Character and Influence of the Canal of Suez, and the Probable Effects Upon the Commerce of the World of the Two Canals, Regarded Either as Rivals, or as Parts of One System of Interoceanic Navigation

Name: Is a Ship Canal Practicable?: Notes, Historical and Statistical, Upon the Projected Routes for an Interoceanic Ship Canal Between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in Which is Included a Short Account of the Character and Influence of the Canal of Suez, and the Probable Effects Upon the Commerce of the World of the Two Canals, Regarded Either as Rivals, or as Parts of One System of Interoceanic Navigation
Author: Abert, S. T. (Silvanus Thayer)

Abert, S. T. (Silvanus Thayer)

Canals, Interoceanic

───────────────────────┼───────┴────┬───────┴─┬──────┴─────────────
                           │            │  CANAL  │ AUTHORITIES
           ROUTES.         │ ESTIMATED  │   OR    │     AND
                           │   COST.    │RAILROAD.│  REMARKS.
    ───────────────────────┼────────────┼─────────┼────────────────────
    Tehuantepec            │$ 16,900,000│  Canal. │ M. Moro.
         “                 │   7,847,896│Railroad.│ J. J. Williams.
    Honduras               │            │  Canal. │ Trautwine.
    Nicaragua to Realijo   │  20,000,000│    “    │ Napoleon III.
        “     “  Brito     │  32,000,000│    “    │ O. W. Childs.
    Panama                 │  27,000,000│    “    │ M. N. Garella.
      “                    │  50,000,000│    “    │ Col. G. W. Hughes.
    San Blas               │            │    “    │ McDougal.
    Darien to San Miguel   │  65,000,000│    “    │ Gisborne.
      “          “         │            │    “    │ Prevost & Strain.
      “    Lara to Sucubti │            │    “    │ Bourdial.
    Atrato to Humboldt Bay │ 145,000,000│    “    │ Kennish.
      “          “      “  │ 134,450,154│    “    │ Lt. Michler, U.S.A.
      “    to Cupica       │ 325,000,000│    “    │ Trautwine.
    ───────────────────────┴────────────┴─────────┴────────────────────

From the above table it would appear that the altitude of the dividing
ridge falls off toward the two extremities of the Isthmus, viz.: near
the Tehuantepec and the Atrato routes, but the greatest depressions
have been found between Aspinwall and Panama, and on the line by the
way of Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua.

At the Isthmus of Darien _altitudes of from one to two thousand
feet_ are found. Cullen’s pass of 150 feet proved to be estimated at
one-ninth of its true height. The least elevation of the divide is that
given by M. Bourdial. This engineer did not cross the Isthmus, and his
statement is so vague, the reader is left in doubt whether he actually
reached the summit. Notwithstanding this uncertainty, there still
exists a faint hope that “it is to the Isthmus of Darien we must first
look for a solution of the question of an interoceanic canal.”

From another statement in this very valuable report, we feel
reluctantly compelled to dissent. By imposing unnecessary conditions
in the statement of the problem, its solution may be indefinitely
postponed.

“The interoceanic canal,” it is affirmed, “in width, depth, in supply
of water, in good anchorage and secure harbors at both ends, and in
absolute freedom from obstruction by lifting-locks, or otherwise, must
possess, as nearly as possible, the character of a strait.”

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