The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-30
Communication with the Paoific.
From the Liverpool Standard

We have noticed q work written by MI Mc0eachy,
crown n; ;u,vsyoT J.Haca in whch h. PROFOUND. plan
ways, between the eastern and western hemispherss.
The author has evidently devoted much Of his attention
wsllwerthy the serious Of the board OF
trade. and of the general mercantile community The
may Be accomplished by continuous lines Of rapid steam
ship and railway communication along the coast Of
North America. from Halifax to Tampa Ray on the west
thence to jamaica and thence to the sthmus Of Panama.
which it 10 proposed to cross by railway, and thus OBJ
tain ready access to the Pacific Ocean. He properly
considers, that such scheme carried out (oher
by great joint stock company, by the concurrent
whsse territories the lines Of railway would psss Pa
nama would become the grand point of commercial
The subject recalls to memory project which we
have entertained for many years, and which, though
much less comprehensive than our authors, would,
think accomplish efectually Of the prime OBJ
jech which he has in view, and npleed under Bri
fish auspices would be Of incalculabls advantage
only regsrds trade, but affecting national
and colonial security in reference to the whole Of the
western world. A railway las proposed by Mr.. Nc
Geachy) across the isthmus Of Daren would undoubt
eddy be highly advantageous, but our plan would
comprise, in addition to thisor rather as the more
importan-a canal of sufficient size to admit Of the
passage Of the largest ships The idea is by
means new, and we had long hoped that our
would have taken the project up but though
I has BEEN frequently talked Of from to time over
series of years il appears to have again fallen abey
Some years ago the Admiralty ordered a survey
Of the sthmus with view Of forming communication
Forster, r. N, Of the Chantcleer gun brig. was ap-
pointed to conduct the expedition, which he did
fully to q certain point, when his death deprived his
country Of bis further services We are moi aware Of
any further effort having aimee been made the part of
our government to renew the survey and grange for
ever, who have crossed the ishmus, and amongst
laterly Captain Lott the superintendent Of the Royal
Mail Steam Packet Company in opinion tina,
railway may DO termed very extraordinary cost
and there doubt but that with the engineering
and appliances OIL the Irs'sT! aay an ample
difference in levels of the o believe
as readily end safely be employed as in our ordinary
canals Notwithstanding the respective breadhs Of the
place and the highest land not above six hundred
and o.iy feet above the level Of the Pacific 1t IL
said ,hst company OF French gentlemen , con- q.
two but II does not appear that they have yet con-
menced operations, and it 10 high timc that England
should adopt the motto "earpe dem and bestr herself
while she may She has but possessions and these
comparatively minute and far between. on the South
American continent-nsmely, Demarara and Essequibo,
British Guiana and Honduras The recent "doings" Of
the United States Of America and their grspng at new
territorial dominion in Mexico, California &c render
further 10 ting in that country Our proposition there
FORE is that "trip of land OF considerable breadth
should after survey be selected for ship canal across
the isthmus and that negotiations should be made by
government for its purchase aud possible its in
tegrity under the flag The canal might then readily
be formed either by the government or joint stock
company The purchase could in all probability be easily
effected for the government Of Panama 10 proverbialy
psor and the commerce which such canal would bring
10 themselves would be nducement to accede to
derate terms.
The advantages OF such project appear to to be
obvious to supersede the necessity Of detail
We should in the rst place, hold the key to the Pac
&c and s boundess shores the west Of both the Anne
rcan continents and ready for European ship
ping would be afforded to all the ports In the North and
south Pacific from California Tor farther north) to
the southern extremity Of Chill. No ship, sailing
steem bound direct TO Valparaiso, Lima or Guayaq
would require to double the stormy apex Of the South
American continent Cape Horn il this canal were open
ed them. To reach most of the principal ports
they would thousands Of miles of sailing.
Our ships might pay moderate toll for passing
through the canal and foreigners something ALL
indeed, would gladly pay considerable sum to save
time tear and wear, wages, &C., and ct the same time
the western coasts Of the Americas would be CONNER
ciay approximated, and the trade probably doubled
Direct and sailing conveyance could also be had
from Panama TO Canton, and also to- New Zealand and
New Holland, Sc Another grand advantage Of a ship
canal railway across the isthmus would DO that
the expense and loss arising from trans
shpments would be entirely done away with and Pa
mama would moreover warehouses being consructed),
become grand depot for Britain and European goods
and manufactures as well for American produce, to
be dispensed required throughout the several ceun
tries in the two hemispherea