Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-07-28
FROM THE SEW YORKER.
ISTHMUS OF PANAMA-SOUTH SEA STEAM
NAVI.ATION

We are gratifed TO see, by recent for
egn journals, that there is at length a
prospect of a speedy prosecution of the
plan for connecting the Atlantic and Pa
cific oceans ty a ship canal acloss the 18TH
mus Of Panama. An enterprising COM
pany in Paris, after taking the necessary
preliminary steps, has sent out a ship
ireighted with engineers, laborers, tools,
etc., and it has probably by this time arri-
we'd at the mouth of the Chagres, ready
TO commence active operations. 1t is as
tonishlng that the execution of this PROJECT
has been so long delayed. The Edinburgh
Review, so long ago as 1909, spoke OF 1t
as the mightiest event in favor of the
peaceful intercourse of nations which the
physical circumstances Of the globe pre-
scented TO the enterprise Of man; and from
that time until the present there have been
intelligent statesmen and merchants con-
stantly, but vainly, endeavoring to bring it
about BY glance at the map of Amer
lea, it will be seen that the narrowest por-
ton Of the strip of land connecting the
northern and southern portions of the
Continent is in the Republic Of New Ora
NADIA, by the River Chagres, which empties
into the caribbean Sea. The distance di-
rectly across the Isthmus at this point is
less than thirty miles; but by pursuing the
course of the river to the town of Cruces,
some twenty-five miles from its mouth,
ships can go within fifteen miles of the
Pacific, and at this town the French expe-
dition will commence operations. To the
commerce Of this country and Europe
with the western coast Of South America,
the construction Of this canal would save
the circumnavigaton of the latter Cont
nent, the total distance of which is about
twelve thousand miles, together with all the
hardships and pc uls of going round Cape
Horn. Our great Pacific territory, now
almost inaccessible to the commerce of the
Atlantic seaboard, except by overland
conveyance, would be brought within easy
access; and the commerce Of the world
with China and the Indian Archipelago
would be facilitated by a saving Of about
four thousand miles in distance, together
with yet greater advantage in safety and
ease, from the route passing through the
most favorable ATTITUDES for winds and cur
rent each way. To the whale fisheries
and fur trade similar advantages would be
afforded. Great as would be all these
benefits. they would be surpassed by the
effect which such facilities of communica.
tons aud exchange would exert in extend
ing intelligence, stimulating the immense
masses Of The human race to new efforts
Of industry, and developing the resources
OF the richest portion oil the globe. 1t is
source of regret that our Government
could not have been prevailed on to under
take this great enterprise, in the prosecu-
ton of which they have an interest deep
er than that Of any other nation; but we
hope that the French company will sue
coed so perfectly as TO render its interfer-
ence hereafter entirely unnecessary.
Two other recent undertakings augur
VOL for the advance Of the southern nations
in wealth and intelligence. The first is
the establishment by the French Govern
ment Of two lines Of steamships to faciIi-
tate communication with the Antilles, Mex
leo, Buenos Ayres, and Brazil. The line
to Brazil will start from St. Lazaire, an
outport Of Nantes; that 10 Mexico will be
divided between Marseilles and Bordeaux,
and the vessels for both will be ready du-
ring the present summer. The second is
q plan recently matured in London for
line of steam-packets from the western
side Of the lsthmus OF Panama along the
coast, which will partially
subserve the purposes intended to be ac-
by the canal across the 18TH
mus, until the completion Of that work.
The system 10 which we aiude, we gather
from the Albion, has been making slow
but careful and certain progress during the
last five years, in the course of which the
protector, Mr.. William Wheel
wright, an American, has been able to Sc
cure most important privileges from all the
on the proposed line of coast
1t has now derived an additional and most
encouraging impulse from the determine
ton to run line Of steam packets from
England to the West Indies. Thence
say from Jamaica-to Chagres, on the
Isthmus OF Panama, is only about five
hundred miles. Transportation to the
shores Of the Pacific may be effected in
about twelve hours, and thence along the
western coast of South America as far as
Valparaiso, letters, passengers, freight,
&c, may be forwarded with an expedition
never before contemplated.
As regards the policy and commerce Of
Great Britain only, Panama and CaIao
are ports eligibly situated as points of de-
parture for New-Zeaand. Australia, the
eastern extremes Of the Indian Archpela-
go and China, the passages 10 which are
rendered shorter and much safer. So far
rs the commercial interests of the United
States are concerned, line Of steamers
might be arranged, running from Panama
along the northwest coast of North Anne
RIGA TO any given ports or quarters that