Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-10-04
NATIONAL I-iNTELLlGENCER
UNION OF THE ATLANTIC PACIFIC OCEANS.

which !, has been transferred from the (London)
"Ciyil Engineer and Architect Journal for June"
The work il appears is about to be undertaken I'M
der very favorable circumstances the Mexican Co
yernment having granted to Don Jose de Garay the
most ample power, and conceded to him very ade-
quae means for executing it. SO far territory and
right of passage CO. The grant consists of a terri
tory thirty miles on each side of the canal in fee
lin perpetuity we suppose,) and the entire receipts
of the tolls during fifty years after it shall be COM
peted. These, we suppose, will be sufficient IN
ducements for capitalists in England to furnish the
necessary funds for the execution OF the canal lhe
territory granted contains nearly 5,OOO,OOO acres,
and is said to be of great value.
The Journal we have quoted says that :" II first
submitted to the public Mr.. Galoways plan for
constructing railroad in the DESERT and uniting
Suez, Grand Cairo, and Alexandra by a few hours
Journey instead of days and that It now has the
means of calling attention to much greater and
more magnificent project for uniting the Atlantic and Pacific,
saving to the vessels Of Europe eight thousand miles, and
those of America twelve thousand miles in Soyagng China
and the East opening world the enterprise of the
old ones connecting the mother country with her distant colo
nes obvng the present difficult and dangerous passage by
Cape Horn, twice under the burning of the tropics, and
contributing than any discovery since that Of the
nes compass and those made by Columbus the oh
scts and civilization, the enrichment of man,
and the enlightenment of more. To Don Jose de Garay
sisted by the Mexican Government is the honor of planning
surveying and demonstrating this magnificent project due-t
Mr. Alderman Vickers the credit Of approaching conse
quences and capabilities, and adopting and bringing
the British public The distance the Isthmus
100 miles, the length of the river with its winding which
nagabe is 40 miles, and 80 can be dredged; the
length of canal to be cut is 40 miles"
The American Railroad Journal then adds the
following extract from circular lately issued by
Alderman VIcKERs of London, which details more
fully the nature of the grant to Don Garay:
"Don Jose de Garay, who is in London conceived
the execution Of this grand project and the Government OF
Mexico, approaching its Importance granted him the
most able concessions in he should succeed in carrying
out Fortified with this concession, and the OF
the Government the protector formed under the direction Of
Don G. Moro, Gan Italian engineer scientific commission
the members of which, after an examination Of the Ishmu-
for upwards of year, made report in the favorable
to the practbiy Of the undertaking The Mexican
officers Don Manuel Robes and Don Jose Gonzales (whose
services the Government had placed the protector disposal
took part in this commission The most important
made Don Jose Gay by the Mexican Government
First Power granted that he is fix such dues tolls
he deems eligible and to receive for years Commencing
from the day that communication shall have been effected be-
the oceans) all tolls and dues accuing from transit
both by of canal and railroads. either, with tn
condition that oneourh of the dues CATER expenses paid
is to be advanced the Government during the said ty
years for this advance the popretors win be compensated BY
the payment of oneouh Of all dues received for fifty
after the project shall have passed into the hands of the Gov
eminent Second guaranty is given that for sixty year
no company shall have power employ any stea
vessel steam carriage of any kind within the Ishmus
Tehuanepec without leave license from the said Don Jos
de Gany his assigns Third. The Government cedes
Don Jose de Garay in fee simple the breadth of ten league
(thiry mles) Of land each side Of the communication
These lands of the first quality embracing numerou
points favorable for the construction oharbo towns villages
&C., and amount to nearly five millions Of Fourth
The valuable privilege purchase lands &C. Of estabshr
colonies the of so leagues Zone hundred and m
mles each side Of the line in addition; with all rights
privileges in perfect equality with Mexican citizens, which
granted to other settlers The present Government
Mexico has recognised the grants which form the basis of h
object The celebrated Aago has submitted il with his
commentator the academic des Sciences Paris, and
has been mentioned most voraby in various learned assoca
lions Of this country By the adoption Of this project all
sells that double Cape Horn from the United States would
upwards Of twelve thousand miles of the distance and
those from Europe eight thousand reaching the
Of Mexico, proceeding from thence China &c, and all
vessels bound the Pacific would only time but also
avoid the dangers of the present navigation BY his under
taking the Oregon territory the CALIFORNIA; Mexico Peru,
and Chilli Of eight thousand miles from Nooa Bay
Cape Horn, will receive what may be termed exist
These countries produce hides, fish, OIL whale
bone, fine woods cotton, indigo, coffee, sugar. cocoa, Cloves
and other Spices cochnea ivory furs coral of the pre-
cious metals &c. and offer for colonization many advantages
to capitalists.
The project looks well upon paper, and we sup
pose that the surveys Of scientific and practical men
guaranty the feasibility Of its execution upon an
outlay of capital not than proportionate to the
prospect of an amply remunerating income. The
commercial importance of the communication is
also obvious enough. There are various questions
however, which we should like to have answered
before we quite satisfied that the project, how
ever well executed, would work we'll In whom
and where, is the sovereign jurisdiction Of the canal
and Its contiguous shores to be vested We sup
pose in the Government Of Mexico. If so, what is
to prevent the closing OF this line of transit TO the
vessels OF any nation with whom she may not be
on terms OF friendship In case of war between
France or England and the United States or
between France and England, or between any other
Powers, what is to prevent one of the bellgerents
from bockading the points of entrance of this canal
against the other To be sure, the entrance of the
Dardanelles, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean are
IN the same condition, and afford the same means
OF annoyance between conflicting nations But we
would wish to guard, if possible, against any addi-
hon 10 these means Of annoyance We are willing
to hope that if this new highway to the commerce
and the intercourse Of the world be opened, it NAV
be so arranged by the deliberations Of philanthropc
merchants and patriotic statesmen that shall never