The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-29
THE DAILY UNION.

the voyage between these ports, outward inward,
would not he shortened exceeding fifteen days. The
overland and over-water highway from London to
Canton is traversed usually in IS days. From an
experiment recently made, it has been ascerained
that by proceeding from Alexandria TO Trieste and
through Germany, instead OF to Marseilles and
through France, iwo days may be saved; and as
soos rs the railway line is completed between the
Adriatic and German ocean, the time will he fur
ther diminished three days. And, consequently, the
journey is likely TO be accomplished in 10 days, in
a twelvemonth or so, from the emporium OF Asia to
the emporium of Europe But beyond this, no
material improvement be made to facilitate tray
cling intercourse expedite the movements Of the
mail. Nor can the route, II IS believed ever become
a popular, or an inviting one, on account Of the
diseases which prevail at various points Immediately
upon, or adjacent 10 it. European merchants will
generally prefer TO go, has been the case hereto
fore, the sea route by the Cape Of Good Hope.
But what revolution in the existing state Of
things will be affected when locomotive shall
the Rocky mountains; and the railroads in continental
Europe be put in successful operation upon the
scale contemplated by the different sovereigns. We
could them with ARIEL almost undertake to fasten u
grdle around the earth in forty seconds. 1t is ex-
pected that the Black sea, through the enterprise Of
the Emperor Of Russia, will connect with the Baltic
by means of ralway--500 miles of which will be
finished next year. The entire length ofths line will
be 600 miles; and it is in contemplation to ex-
tend il from Petersburg 10 Konigsburg, and from
thence to Berlin-from which metropolis, with the
exception Of GO miles, Ito be opened next fall, J
there is already track to the North sea. When
this stupendous work is terminated, locomotives
will ply regularly between Odessa, and Ham
burgh, and Bremen--a, distance of 2,700 miles.
lf a steamship line ia established between one Of
these German ports and New Yoik---as seems prob
-Constantinople may be visited from WASH
ington, via ST. Petersburg and Moscow, in twenty
"A. l.
connected by railway 1000 miles long, running
nearly through the centre OfGermany In four years,
a railway of similar length, from Narcotics to Havre
through Paris, will be ready for public Thus IN
less than half dozen years. there is every certainty
that lines will be in operation between the Black sea
and the Baltic, the Adriatic and the German the
Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Their prosecution
to completion does not depend upon the price of
consols on Change, in London.
All the internal improvements Of Europe, whether
railroad or canal, after intersecling at numerous
points, have been steadily extending to the west
until they are about to reach the verge, in this d.
recton, of terra frma. They pass from one sea to
another Gin some instances through different pow
ers and states,) and exercise salutary influence
in extending the consumption of our agricultI-
raj and other products in the intervening coun-
try. But il is possible for us to make them
serviceable in other respects. If Oregon is taken
possession' of without unnecessary delay and a
post-road established to the Pacific, (and for this
purpose nothing but railroad will answer, instead
Of receiving our China mail via Europe, Euops
,coud rsceipe her China mail ria e United States and
especially that portion which had the principal COM
merce with ASIA. ! have stated that the London
overland mail cannot be expedited under existing
or intended arrangements as to be short Of 10 days.
on average, in its transit TO Canton. From Lon
don to New York the mail was carried last summer,
by the way OF Boston, in twelve days. At a speed
Of 20 miles per hour, (sufcienly slow for we-con-
sruced railroads and locomotives tidings could be
transmitted from New York to the mouth Of the
Columbia in little more than five days; and from
thence to Canton by Honolulu--by steamships
which, like the Hibernia or Cambria would perform
$50 miles, one day with another--n twenty DAYS;
in all, 81 days from London to Canton, or 80 less
than the route through Egypt! Is it not a primary
consideration with England TO suspend dcfinilivc
action upon Oregon when there is certainty of our
being so aingularly benefited by its immediate oc-
cupationS
In endeavoring to monopolizc the south China
commerce, England most distinctly foresees that her
only formidable rival is the United States France,
notwithstanding she has made a treaty with his
Celestial majesty, cannot enjoy large lucrative
trade with his subjects, inasmuch az she is not
tea-drinkng kingdom. Moreover, the manufactures
of the two countries similar that there can be
between them no exchange Of product for product.
Germany is not ambitious to push her commerce
into the China seas. She is more interested in
force her wooens and other fabrics into our mar
kets, and take in return for them the Ync cotton
which the English have been manufacturing into
t,cis for her to the value of l2 100000, or 3000
900 annually. The commercial intercourse between
Russia and China is confined exclusively to the fair
at Kiachta, in Asatic Russia which is held annu-
ally in January and February. Tea to the extent
Of 100000 chests is exchanged for leather furs &c.
The trade is perfectly systematzed and is purely
reciprocal.
The low price and abundance of our agricultural
staples, under our udcious navigation treaties, draw
to our searorls vessels from every power and state
in Europe; and ifther owners Gun find in our mar
kes, at fair prices, such products Of China as are
consumed in their respective allegances they would
unhesitatingly make purchases as to secure pro-
htabe freight, instead ofooking to England, as has
been done heretofore, to her infinite emolument.
BY establishing an expeditions conveyance to Can
ton, through the mighty valley of the West, before
another generation passes away the United States
would have valuable customers in Asia for their
surplus products, as they now have in Europe.
Yours, truly,
AGRICOLA.