PROGRESS OF THE PANAMA CANAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4161, 22 August 1881, Page 3

PROGRESS OF THE PANAMA CANAL.

A correspondent of the Journal des Debats, writing from Panama, gives an interesting account of the progress mado thus far with the great project of M. do Lossops. The first practical work of uny importance yet completed ia the construction of a grund pathway from Colon to Panama, which has been cleared of trcca and other obstructions f o n width varying from 30 to 60ft. Now that this clearance hue been effected, it is pebble for the first time to got a clear idea of the work whir.h is before tho Company. Hitheito, it has been only by rather vague guesses that the lie of the surface could b.? conjectured, iriiiiiiiiHch as the thick foliage of tho treoa, spreading in duLsc arches over tho valh-ys und rnvincs, often mudo it difficult evi-n to seo tit .t these ei!6led If it was assumed, as th « Dehats thinks, that in these chmw the ground wa3 as ih:l us the tops of tho trees', then the discovery of deep depressions so arched over will, of course, ho a great gain in estimating tho extent, oi tho excavation works. There is, however, :•,«<•.: her point in which tho moet recent explorations are rcp.udcd as unexpectedly fiivourabio. It was iiseumcd when tha plans were 'tm.'c Unit all alonjj tho routo of iho projected canal a &: rutum of hard rock would be fcir.-.d ui:..ir-r---ljtng tho soil lit a depth of :.bo;:i 1 .v.-lvf. (a,.;. Hut at Kmporador, win re !•!:■.• prijicipiii borings have been made, it is »b<led taut on March 31 the instrument hnd reached ■;. dopth of 37" without finding any rock, and even at that point tho rock which appearod was only a laj er about 6ft iMek, succeeded underneath by a mixture of clay and soft stone, which wont down to a depth of Gift, v.hero tho boro was still working lately without again encountering any rock. It ia now said that tho excavation woi ks will bo begun ihmit Of>tor">r f-T* , a'; or 'W r°?*iy Rp««rtn .u.ii ia the iiieaiiiiuic liiu tn^parutorj operations aro being actively carri-d on by companies of workmen, recruited from amongst the inhabitants and from Oartha£ona, wbonoo they have boon opportunely driven by an invasion of locucts.

The late Perol l.ardner, of Philadelphia, left £300,000 worth of property behind i im. Ho bequeathed £3800 to dwritablo und religious associations of tliut citv.

A wealthy German recent ly bought a farm near Curlinvillo, 111., for £25C0, und has returned to Germany to bring over his own ar,d : o:ec fifteen other families.