THE PROGRESS OP THE PANAMA CANAL.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 23 September 1881, Page 2

THE PROGRESS OP THE PANAMA CANAL.

A correspondent of the Journal des Debates, writing from Panama, gives an interesting account of the progress made thus far with the great project of M, de Lesseps. The first practical work of any importance yet completed is tlie construction of a grand pathway from Colon to Panama, which has been cleared of trees and other obstructions to a width varying from 30 to 60 feer. Now that 'this clearance has been effected, it is pos»« sible for the 6rst time to get a clear idea of the work which is before the company. Hitherto, it has only bee<i by rather vague guesses that the lie of the surface could be conjectured, in as much as the thick foliago of the trees, spreading in dense arches over the valleys and ravines, often make it difficulty to see tfeat tkese existed. It was assumed, as the Debate thinks, that ie these cases the ground - was as flat as the tops of the treee, tlien the discovery of deep depressions e<> arched oyer will, of course, be a great game in estimating the extent of the excavation works, There is however, another point in which the most recent explorations are regarded as unexpecU edly favorable. It was assumed, when the plan was made, that all along the rpute of the projected canal a stratum; of hard rock would be found underlying the soil at abmt a depth of twelve feet. But qt Emperador where the principal borings have been made, it is stated that on March 31, the instrument had reached a depth of thirtyseven feet without finding any rock. And even the rock which appeared was only a layer about 6ft thief, succeeded underneath by a mixture of clay and soft stone which went down- to- a depth of sixty.fou? fe«^ where the bore was working without encountering any rock, It is now said that the excavation works wjll be begun, about October next, arter the rainy season and in the mean time the pre« parato.ry operation are being carried on by companies oi workmen, recruited from amongst the inhabitante^ and from Carthagena, whence they have been opportunely dnvea by an invaa* ion of locusts.