The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-03-03
From the N. Y. Journal Commerce.
THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC.

ION indicated by nature, Is obviously by way OF the
lsthmus, where the space between the two Oceans,
or navgable waters pertaining To the same is IN some
places only 80 miles. Between Panama and Ch,gres
il is only SO miles Although there have been seyes
raj attempts 10 survey the sthmus, with view TO the
best route for Rail Road Canal, yet there exists
TO this day great uncertainty IN regard 10 the whole
matter. The general features OF the country are in
deed well known, but who can tell where is the best
route for Canal or Rail Road Who knows that
ship Canal is practicable any WHERE except at ex-
pense TOO great 10 be encountered The govern
ments both Of New Grenada and Guatemala ia
sorable TO the proposed work. and will afford all
sonable facilities and guarantees but the money
must come from other sources. The great CONNER
ca nations most interested in the undertaking,
and II is they who must accomplish II, II done at all
The first step IN the process Is TO make thorough
exploration and survey This would be attended
with comparatively small expense, and would be an
achievement of far greater practical usefulness than
the discovery of the Antarctic Continents. We have
| plenty Of capable engineers, who for suitable
compensation would gladly undertake the service
aud perform IL faithfully and thoroughly. The world
would then know " bat is practicable, and what is
not in regard to a eonnexion Of the two oceans.
| The kind of structure most available for CONNER
cs purposes il the face of the country permits it,
a SH CANAL, of sufficient capacity TO pass all YES
sells engaged 10 the China Pacific trade including
whalemen. A Rail Road would be of little value 10
comparison with such a Canal-bec there would
necessarily be an unloading Of the vessel at end
OF Il, and reshipment at the other In different
sci whereas, in the of Ship Canal, the same
vessel could lowed directly through by means Of
a small steamboat or otherwise, and proceed It's
voyage without breaking bulk. Or an Ocean steam
boat might be hoated through and thus bring China
within thirty days navigation from New Orleans
Sailing vessels would, Of course, require a longer
time The expense of conveying goods by this route
would be much lees than by the route proposed by
Mr.. Whitney, via Oregon, even If Railroad were
made to that distant country
! In the hot competition with sailing vessels and
STEAMBOATS, via New York, the Western Railroad
carries (or has carried) -four from Albany TO Boston
for 80 cents barrel which is believed TO BE- below
living profit. The distance from Albany TO Boston
is say 200 miles the weight OF barrel Of -four, say
200 lbs. AT The rate Of 80 cents for 200 miles, the
freight of barrel of -four 5000 miles would be 81 So
barrel OF flour Is about equa in weight to q chests
OF tea, on an average. The cost of bringing 2
chest. from Canton TO New York. by way Of the
Cape Of Good Hope, is about s.. From Oregon to
New York, 5000 miles by Railroad, the lowest cost
would be ~ so leaving SO cents for transportation
across the Pacific Ocean. Hence it is obvious that
in ordinary circumstances no body could afford 10
the New York and Oregon Railroad for the China
tea trade, even if made. Ship Canal across the
ISL linus would reduce the China voyage about one
third, compared with the present route, and the
pehse IN about tie same proportion. 1t may there
fore be saey asserted that the cost of transporting
w,
Saying nothing Of the voyage across the Pacific }
would be greater than that Of porting the same
cargo from China TO this city by way Of the Isthmus
If Ship Canal were made. The saving in time
would by no means compensate the increase Of ex.
pense. And nothing could be gained by way of an
ucipang the market, because all dealers would then
as now, be on par with each other
The time may come, when Mr. Whitney's maguif.
cent project will be carried into effect; but not in
this century, probably. Meanwhile we should Ike
to careful survey of the Ishmus ordered by our
Government with view TO the construction Of
! Ship Canal as urged by the Hon. Jos. A. Wright
Of Indiana, on the floor Of Congress, Feb. 10Th. He
had presented petition from Thomas E. Clinton,
praying inquiry into the feasibility of surveying
and cutting such a Canal
Mr.. w. said: A project, whose grandeur, though
commensurate with the conjoint una gnitude of tn
oceans, is yet oyershadoUed by its utility, forms the
prayer of this petition and il is with peculiar plea
sure that rise to announce matter towards which
the heart of the patriot and the hope of the Oregon
settler, loom up and beat in unison. | will not i'm
pose upon myself the ungteful task of enumerating
the failure hitherto OF measures that should have
been effectual for this purpose. They known to
the world through the various works published on
this subject, from the time of Columbus down to the
present day. There was reason for this and it
was, that the time had not come. Scarlett Thomp-
son, Pitman, Stevens, Montgomery, and host Of
older authorities, evince this. But the time has now
this petition. Oregon, and those portions of our soil
most accessible thereirom, demand at our hands
that we should exercise prudent foresight and give
to our settlers there some ground of reliance that
| sovereignty we about to revive 1t is the deep
interest which the friends and relations of western
emlgran,s have at stake that makes a fitting ad-
vocate for this marriage of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. Who will bubble about cost, where west
ern existence is the question at issue or deem the
countenance of our government inaptly bestowed at
a time when the people Of this great republic are
crowding to battle their feet in the Pacific and WOO
to their commercial embrace an empire whose wi
dest door has recently been opened to American en-
terprse $50 900 900 has been estimated as the sum
required to cut ship canal from ocean to OCEAN
Half century, Mr. Speaker, would save more than
that sum in the expenditures of our navy through this
measure, throwing out of the calculation the terrible
risks of Cape Horn OF the sacrifice of human life
In doubling that cape, TO bear to speak for who
estimate the value of immortal soul, or who can
make Tangible to our senses here in this carpsted and
warmed hail. the unheard, unamenting, but freezing
suferings of The saiIor2 Let him who would gather
to his knowledge somewhat of these things, turn
to Dana's " Two Years before the Mast
But, as said before the time has come, both to
and to Central America. The career of one is on
ward to The Pacific the welfare of the other rcpos-
/ me the bosom Of domestic tranquility and hap
PLY we may now wake up the sumberng energies II
her commercial genius at the time that we pro-
vide for the defence the welfare and the increase of
Oregon and her rising fortunes. The loom of the
Yankee and the asso of the Spaniard will twirl busi-
ly alike, while the music of the steam engine will
wake to response the echoes of bays and rivers and
mountains and plains that have yet ceased to indulge
IN the virgin sumber of creation. Yes sir the age
the county, and the ceaseess progress of commercial
intercourse demand response to the prayer of this
petition, and am blind to the spirit and character
evnced in this ball at this session. if see pa
rotic pride in existence that will promp, us all to pro-
mote the welfare Of Oregon settlers, well as to
meet the disposition manifested by the Central Ame-
rcans to honor us with offer to place in our hands
this great work. Mr.. Montgomery (sent by this coun-
try in 1888, on other business,) says: 49,.
at seems singular that subject so peculiarly in
teresting to the United States should not have at.
tracted more attention in our country The enter
prise, however, could only be successfully underta
| ken under The AUSPICES of the Government and with