Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-04-25
OREGON,

OREGON.
importance of the Nvthera portion of Ore
gon.-The distance from New York TO the
mouth Of the Columbia round Cape Horn, is
1900 miles. The distance between the
two through a canal across Panama, would
be 700 miles. The distance between the
two by land, over New York, Michigan, Il.
linois and other parts Of the west, is $500
miles. If a ship could sail 10 miles in an
hour, speed which could not be continual.
~ expected in voyage round the Cape,
the time Of the voyage outward and back.
without including time Tor dischargng and
loading, would lie 5000 hours, or 1875 days
round the Cape, and laO0 hours, or SO / 2
days through the canal. Ii The ordinary
speed on railroads be 5 miles in an hour.
the time Of the outward and homeward
passage would be 493 10 hours, or 90 days,
IS 10 hours, or about 90 l2 days. Thus
the railroad would have over the voyage
round the Cape, the advantage OF lo4 10
days, and over that through the canal, that
of 81 l-2 days. But as we have assigned
TO these voyages by water, continuity Of
speed far beyond the average, the advan-
tage in favor Of the railroad would be much
greater. Ships meet with Gains, contrary
winds and storms, contingencies from which
railroads are exempt, excepting snow storms
which never cause delay OF more than three
days.
Blu, If the British command this canal,
we must build this railroad. The British
will make great efforts TO obtain it., and will
do so, if we all)w them to acquire any per
manent position in Mexico. And If they do
obtain il, they will be stupid indeed in con-
ceding its use to US. The whole value OF
the canal 10 them would be the monopoly
which it would afford them, Of the China
trade. We are their competitors for it
round the Cape. Will they, having incur
red the expence of making the canal, admit
Us as competitors in its use 2 Their prin
ciple or only inducement 10 making it being
the advantage which it would give them
over us, would they admit US to par,icipa
ton in such advantage? When did they
share with US or any other nation, a mo-
nopo!y which they could kept And hav.
ing made it could they monopolize it 8
Spain can answer the question by pointing
10 Gbralter, Holland by pointing to the
Cape Of Good Hope, France by pointing to
St. Lucia and Tobago. Having made the
canal they vii! close it against US, and thus
destroy our competition with them round the
Cape. This would compel US 10 build the
railroad, as the only means of preserving
the China trade.
But The British know that the railroad
would give the monopoly OF this trade,
even against their canal for the passage
over the railroad is shorter than that through
the canal, by $500 miles, and the advantage
OF the railroad IN time, as we have already
said, 81 l.2 days. Hence this will impose
upon the British the necessity of preventing
the construction OF the railroad. And they
would do this by excluding US from all Ore.
gon north OF the Columbia. The harbor al
its mouth is OF little value, and all the good
harbors in tho region are in this northern
portion. And all the materials for mer
camille marine are in this northern portion;
and hence, even il we should build the rail.
road to the Columbia, or any port 10 Cali.
fornil, all the shipping for conducting the
China trade 10 and from the railroad, would
be British. Would British ships carry for
our railroad, when they could go through
the canal on British account! In other
words, will the British divide with us the
profits Of the trade, when they can monop.
Ollie the whole Then il Mey make the
canal, ,ce must make the raii Dad and to
avoid the construction of the railroad in
vain. we must keep the northern portion Of
Oregon.-PhA ledger.