The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-04
EDITORS CORRESPONDENTS.
[From our regular correspondent
NEW YoRK. March q IaA


Additional facts In favor Of The praeiieabiy and I'm.
poriames Of the overland ailvoas bsi,oss the Allan
tic and Paeife.-Ihs statements Of Captain Roberts,
Of Nsto York, toh0 has crossed the isthmas from
Chagvss 10 Panana.-Its difficulties shO'0n in hs
land carriage being open 10 transportation BY males
alone, Se.-Ihs Statements Of Captain Tyson, Of
Nsp York, tohO asesndsd the ST. Johns riUer 10 Lake
Nicaragua, and along said lake 10 lis northwestern
extremity near the Paeife.-Ths great facilities Jor
railroad, Se--Ths abundance Of valuable timber,
cheap provisions, &c.
Since the date Of my letter Of the 25h instant in
reference to an overland mai-route across the 18th
mus of Darien, have had the pleasure Of CONVEX
sing with two practical gentlemen Of this city who
have visited the ithmus. One Captain Roberts) has
crossed from Charges 10 Panama. and gives tho fol-
lowing account oft.
He says the usual plan is to ascend the river
Chagres 10 Crusis in small batteaus. From Crusis
TO Panama the distance is only some Is or 90 miles,
but across a very high mountain range; the only
road being a mule-palh worn by the hoofs of the
| animals. All that admits Of transportation has to
| be packed on mules. He said the mountain mule
path at places WIS no very narrow that II was
difficult for rider TO pass without drawing up his
knees or legs on to the withep or neck ofthe mule
He says that the path is 30 very rocky that the
mules have to be shod every Trip they make. The
captain also thinks that TO construct canal rail-
road from Crusis to the Pacific will be next TO an
impossibility, and, in any event, can only be ac-
complished at an enormous expense,
The elevation OF land Lctween Cruss and the Pa
ehe is estimated at from 1000 TO 100 feet, and
not al o0o," as was erroneously Printsdn my frs,
letter.
Lat us turn from the Chsxrss and Panama route
10 that proposed through the friendly power gov
| eminent Of Guatemala-or from Port 81 Jaaa dc NJ
caragua 10 the Pashc. Since the publication Of my
former letter, have converted with Capt William
Tyson Of this city, who visited the port Of 81. Juan
some fifteen twenty years since, and assembled the
ST. Juan river to the Lake Nicaragua, and traversed
that lake to its northwest extremity. On ascending
an eminence 10 the west OF the lake. he had view OF
the Pacific ocean.
His statement as to the navgability OF the ST.
Johns to the lake differs very widely from the opin-
| ion advanced by Mr.. Thompson. He says the har-
Dor OF ST. Juan is very good, and contains sufficient
water for large class OF steamers or vessels, but
that the mouth Of the river is much ehoked with
sand or mud, which, he thinks, however, might be
| improved by artificial means He says he assembled
the river in one Of the small native boats 10 the
lake, but II frequently got aground, and that the
boatmen had often to wade out and search for
| channel The party, however, reached the point on
the lake from whence the river takes its departure,
and near which is situated the small town Of Carlos
and fort St. Juan.
He saws the grounds Immediately bordering the
river on the right and left hand, are very level, af
fordng excellent levels for railroad the whole dis
lance from the port the lake. At little distance
from the margin ofthe river, either side, the land
| rises To q very considerable height He also states
that the whole country between the Atlantic coast
| Tor Caribbean sea- and Lake Nicaragua Is remark.
| ably well timbered; and thai. in case railroad
should be contemplated, the greatest abundance OF
timber would be at hand for the whole distance for
| It's speedy construction From Port 81. Juan to
| Lake Nicaraeua, via tho river, the captain found
| N be 100 mil Q. Suppose railroad to be made
this 100 miles engines would be able to pass
| il in Eve hours. At its lake terminus steamboats,
| l.. and
goods 10 the northwest Pacific extremity Of the
lake-say a distance Of from 100 to 100 miles; and
| from whence another railroad. Isl miles long, would
| land them on the shore of the Pacific. By such q
route, persons could readily pass from the one ocean
TO the other in from Is TO 20 hours-thst IL say.
| by railroad from Port St. Juan to the lake, 100
miles, in hours by steamboat, through the lake,
| 100 to 100 miles, in hours and again from the
lake to the Pacific. Isl miles, in 2 hours Total
distance, from 2l5t to 245A miles. Total time Of
sumo "a hour, The whole distance would be less
than from New York to Boston, and the conmuni-
cation could be established at less expense than the
| Communication from this city to the latter via the
i Long Island railroad, &c. Who estimate the
| advantages Of such communication to the civil
| lied world and to the United States in particular
| Captain Roberts told me he had once sailed from
New York to port St Juan, in eleven days, in pilot
boat IL this great improvement were made, what
then would the to pass from New York to the mouth
L
| said, by steam, would consume only ten days.
Across the isthmus per railroad and Lake Nicaragua
| to the Pacific, would be only one day. From thence
| to Oregon, by steam, would be ten days more--ma-
king the whole time twenty-one days. The trip
| from New York 10 New Orleans formerly consumed
| this much or more time If the voyage to Oregon
was commenced at New Orleans, ria the same over
land route, the trip would consume at least five days
less time, or be accomplished in sixteen days. or
| if from st. Louis, or Louisville, in twenty-one
| days.
In my next, will enter into some calculations, to
show the probable cost of building the one hundred
and fifteen and half miles of railroad, the putting
on the necessary steamers on the lake, to per.
feet regular and speedy transit route for the mails
of all governments, for passengers and for goods,
with the probable resulting profits to the stock
holders of a chartered company, &c.
| Captain Tyson informs me that he found pro-
visions very abundant and cheap on the northern
shore of the lake. Chickens were plenty at 81 cents
each, with other things in proportion He found
foreigners in general. He prosecuted his jour
ney to Grenada near the upper end Of the
| lake, which he found quite populous town.
He represents that both the northern and south
ern shores of the lake, with the banks Of the
streams emptying into it, abound with great guam
titles Of the most valuable timber, such as splendid
red cedar, satin wood, mahogany, &C. Some of
this timber is annually cut in very slovenly man.
ner, and foated down the st. Johns to the port of
st. Juan, from the lake. "A gentleman resident at
the port owned boat which usually brought down
about ten tons ofmahogany, &c.
Captain Tyson states, that about 30 miles IN
land, the st. Johns gives off a branch, which en-
ters the to the southwest Of the port OF st.
John, which is quite navigabie from Its mouth to
the ST. Johns. This branch or mouth stream is
called the Colorado but the port near its mouth, he
thinks, is inferior to that Of st. Juan.
| The next great movement to be accomplished by
the progressive spirit of the enlightened and enter
prsing age in which we live will be the perfection
of this great overland route between the Atlantic
and Pacific.
| Among the passengers who were to have sailed
in the Cambria from Boston yesterday, was Joseph
Napoleon Bonaparte, son ofthe late Joseph Bona
| parte. ....
Late advices from Canada state that considerable
excitement prevailed in the province in reference to
Sir Robert Pees proposed commercial reform.
| Preparations ola warlike or defensive character
were still in progress or contemplated.
The imports under the drawback bill in Toronto,
| Canada west, amounted in lS45 to $4,000, Of