The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-27 00:00:00

AMERICA.

Among the items of intelligence in the papers last re-
ceived from New York may be mentioned the construc-
tion of two iron steamers, intended for commercial uses
in South America. These boats have been ordered by
a company quartered in New Granada, for purposes of
general improvement, with a capital of 200,000 dollars,
and will navigate the Magdalena river, plying between
Santa Marta. on the Carribean Sea, and Honda, the
head of navigation on the .Alagdalena—a distance of
about 600 miles. The river being very shallow at cer-
tain seasons (having at some points only about three
feet water in the channel), the boats are constructed
with flat bottoms, and so as to draw, with their engines,
the necessary fuel, and 60 tons of freight, only two feet
nine inches. They are 100 feet on deck, six feet hold,
25 feet beam, 40 feet ov« r all. Each vessel has two en-
gines (high pressur. ) of 50 horse power, and their 2 3
2t
tonic, and they are fitted for the accommodation._
esti-
mated -peed is 12 miles an hour. The tonnage
isof 20
if they can obtain so
pany will be perfectly satisfied, . .
it is said, the coax-
number with which,
mcoaymee.ffecAtnaticgirpettattiornesv!riue en-
tertainedtio
in the trade of New Granada, by developing the re-
many,
sje.eabrosattso
I sources of the interior and collecting them on the sea-
board, The Magdalena, although one of the finest
rivers in the world, and accessible for more than 500
miles from its mouth, has yet been of comparatively little
benefit, owing to the strength of its descending current.
Another point of information contained in these
papers Is, that the proposed chain bridge over the
Niagara river, near the falls, is now surveyed and about
to be commenced. It will be 700 feet long, and 200
feet above the river, and it will afford a continuous route
from Michigan by the Great Western Railroad in Canada
West. At present the time occupied in reaching Buffalo
from Detroit is about 40 hours, but it is calculated that
by the proposed route it may be accomplished in 8 or
10. The bridge is to be completed by the autumn of
1848, at a cost of 225,000 dollars. Twelve and naF
cents (about 6d. sterling) is the proposed to.ll I.each
passenger, an
of 22f per cent. on the outlay.
Through the same channel we have also accounts of
discoveries which now seem to
d the revenue is calculated to give a return
an addition to the mining
Missouri lead is said to. have .
dance,
be taking
other mice. parts othe world. In the state of
and not inferior in quality to the Galena or any

By the last Indian mail we have been furnished
with important intelligence, tending further to stimulate
the expectations entertained of the growing importance
and prosperity of. our new acquisition, the island of
Labuan. On the adjoining coast of Borneo extensive
coal mines were known to exist, and as that part of
the country is within the territory of Sarawak, and
under the sway of Mr. Brooke as Raja, there was every
reason to rely that they would aid in no slight degree
the future commerce of the archipelago. Fortunately,
however, this advantage now promises to be su-
perseded by another of greater magnitude, since
we are informed of the discovery of a large seam of coal
on the island of Labuan, and consequently in our own
possession. An opportunity has just been takcenyn
Lieutenant Heath, Commander of the Wolf, to
island,toasertai
D and
as far as possible the general products
is tsof the
oeo rff
not t
he y i n
guamongest
io other
o.
The
resultshe
sea of
commencesm his researches
ba rescchhe,a
t sad,aw
the
distancehd a i set
iosv
more than 334 yards from t
he neighbourhood
asufficient
depthof a bay f where
r
isimportance,
good anchorage,
lerate draught to proceed close
bestowed in ascertaining its
direction, and it .vas
observed at seven different places,
the thickness being mes.ly about ten feet. In trials
made of the c 111 on moderate
of
itno
shore. allow steamers
xfuth,
careosf ti
was
this coal it was estimated as
about equal to N.:
i n
tewcastle as regards heat and flame, but
b u
its consumption was more rapid. Situated near the same
bay were a great number of camphor trees, which are
described to be of the finest kind. There were also found
large quantities of iron in its native state.

The bikers of Glasgow have this day raised the
price of bread Id. The 4ib. fine loaf is now selling from
11d. to is.; household ditto, from 10d. to 11d., according
to quality.—Glasgow Herald of Monday.