The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-28

Inns Is now IN ntr slNleeulu uiy, anu
may, therefore, be hourly expected to arrive
She Is iuil OF passengers, goods, and news.
Oar Geographical PosItion-rhe Sailroad
t. the Pacific ocean.
Since first gave this subject attention,
we have examined it in ali its de ais, and rhe
more we have examined it, the more W. are con-
vinced of its great importance and benefit TO he
United States in a CONNIE rcal and political point
of view, and the means of acceleratiug The
progress of civilization over the habtable world.
We have always been DESTROYS Of directing the
public mind to it, and for that purpose have from
time to time devoted portion of our columns TO
it's elucidation and explanation
In order to point out the nnumerable add
vantages that would accrue to the United
States from the completion of a work like this in
the plainest manner possible, so " that he who
runs can read" we have gone to the expense of
having map engraved, which shows the geogra-
phic position Of the United States on the Globe,
and also the distances from Europe 10 Asia and
the East, by steam, via sea and railroad across
our continent This map our readers will find on
the first page OF this days Herald. We recon-
mend them to preserve it as a valuable reference,
as it points out for the first time, our geogra
phical position.
1t will be seen that we geographically stua.
ted in the very centre of the world
On the one side we have Europe, with popu-
lation of nearly two hupdred and fifty millions of
human beings, and superfices of four millions
seventy-five thousand four hundred and twenty
five square miles and Africa with supposed
area of twelve millions of tquare miles, and a
population supposed to amount to sixty millions
making population on one side of us Of three
hundred and ten millions of people. We then
cross over TO the continents of North and South
America-the former of which contains an area
of nine millions and seventy-eght thousand
square miles, and a population of 33,74S, 900, and
the latter an area of 6,676 0C0 square miles, and
population of Is ,497 $40 people both contain
inga greater quantity ofcultivaable land than the
rest of the world besides. The most direct route
from Europe to our continent is from latitude so
north to Al.
On the other side ofus we have, at distance of
some five thousand miles from westernmost
boundary, the whole of Asia and Australia, com-
prising of Is, 243 900 square miles, and a
population of over seven hundred millions of hui
man beings. The population of Europe, on the
side is above the 10th parallel of north lati-
tude, and the other side two-thirds of the popu
ton OF Asia lie north of the 10th parallel of north
latitude. Mr.. Whitney proposes to connect Europe
and Asia by steam across our continent, by means
of great railroad to the Pacifc-passing
over a distance of some twenty-four hundred
niles, through territory, now wilderness, con-
tainin1 soil unequaIed for richness and fertility,
but Happot be settled by civilized man, in
cons >he want of channels of commu-
nication foad would make us the centre,
and be itself tne'ehoroughfare for both.
,ol, e "A H.
muncation, between England and China as an
example.
The sailing distance by the old way, around
Cape Horn, is generally computed to be Gig .teen
thousand miles, and taking from four to six months
TO accomplish it, BY railroad across the United
States the distance would be as follows, viz
From England to New York $500 miles
From New York TO the mouth Of the Co
lumba, or to San Francisco bay, 5000
From either OF these places to China direct 6,4o0
Making the total distance, IL 900 miles
Or a saving of more than six thousand miles in
point Of distance. Let us see how much quicker
in point OF time the cona cton between
these far distant countries wou be by railroad
AT fifteen miles per hour, as is proposed for the
steamers, it will require eight and a halfdays
from England to New York, or other ports
From New York to the Pacific 1000 milss nv ~ DAYS
railroad, at 80 miles per hour, allowing one
From the Pacific coast to Chang. hae in China
mouth of the Ysng.tse keang, which crosses
the great canal where all the commerce Of
the vast empire centres, is 5,40O miles at
is miles per hour. (which can be performed
as easily on the Pacific as IL the Atantcl
allowing one day for coaling, &c, Ia
From London, via New York, to Chang.hse, 81 DAYS.
AS the voyage, as now performed, takes at the
least four months, or 100 days, we have a saving
of eighty. nine days in favor OF the railroad.
These tables refer to the communication be.
tween Europe and China. Let us see how il
would affect the communication between the
United States and China.
The distance between New York and China,
as the voyage is now performed, is 1900 mile,
BY railroad Sc1 from New York TO
the Columbia, $500
Andtc China, B4O0
s400 miles
or difference of nearly ten thousand miles
AND the number of days in which the distance
would be accomplished is twenty.one. So that.
in fact, we would be within twenty one DAVIS OF
China.
What tremendously important and magni6cent
reflections are suggested to the mind INV ,hsse
da.s-the whole of the East is brought ac,p,lIv
within few days travel of New Yo,k-,ha,
country which has been the source OF opu,ence
and power Of every nation that engaged in II.
rsde, What becomes Of Enaland's m;gh,v