The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-27
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE
lFroa oar resuIar e.rre.pondenl /

The importance ofaregtlm overland mail from IN
United States 10 the Pacific, BY Steam on the OCEANS
aad tralsu transportation The kttm,ls Of Da
rien.-Two routes pointed out and their rslaiip,
adsariagss and facilities considered; first from Cha
u grss 10 Panam1; SECOND, from Port S. John, BY III
ST. Johns rissr, Lake Nicaragua, Lake Leon, ana
TortOsa ripsr, SC.
The necessity of regular overland mail between
the United States and the Pacific, is becoming daily
ofgreater importance. There can be no doubt that
the shortest, least expensive, and most practicable
route for sustaining intercourse between the United
States and Oregon with the Sandwich islands, Chi
ma, and west coast OF South America, is to cross
the Isthmus of Darien at some practicable point.
Two msil-routes might be arranged-one from
New York to Chagres, and crossing the isthmus
from thence to Panama, in the Pacific. Another
msil-route, for the accommodation Of the people in
the valley Of the Mississippi, might be established
between New Orleans and Chsgres.
Between Panama and the mouth Of the Columbia
river California and the Sandwich islands, regular
mail packets could be established in eonnexon with
those running in the Atlantic. This would become
decidedly the best route for emigrants going to
Oregon, or to any part of the shores of the Pacific
They might go by this at all seasons, but es-
pecially in the dry season in the isthmus, which
lasts from December TO April, the best sea-
son OF the year for emgrants, and for making the
overland journey across the narrow strip Of land
| BY establishing this overland route on a safe and
sound basis, IL would, no doubt become much tray
eed, and exceedingly valuable TO the United States
THIS route would also afford the safest and most
expeditions mode Of transporting Alpaca sheep into
the United States Instead Of shipping them around
Cape Horn in cold atitudes-so fatal to them that
II Is said, out Of number bound to England around
the Cape only two or three suryyed-they could
be driven across the isthmus in dry weather, and
on being embarked board Of a steamer in ten or
fifteen days more they could be landed safe and
sound in New York. or, il landed at New Orleans
their journey would be still shorter. From the lat
ter city, they could be, in few days more, trans
ported by steamboats, TO any part Of the West.
There two routes the sthmus which
deserve the attention Of our government which lie
within the Jurisdiction Of two distinct governments
The route from Chargers TO Panama crosses the
sthmus within the province Of New Grenads-a
department Of the Colombian government The
other route land probably by far the most feasible
well the most advantageous for perma-
nent communication between the Pscifc) lies to the
north Of Chagres and Panama and is contemplated
to be effected through the river st. Juan having its
mouth the Atlantic side, the port Of St. Ju-
an, little north Of 100 north latitude and between
$40 $50 west longitude. II is proposed 10 ascend
this river to Lake Nicaragua, from which it flows,
and traversng that lake for nearly its whole length
pass over the intervening land between its western
shore to the Pacific, distance Of only fifteen and
half miles. This route lays within the jurisdiction
Of the government Of Guatemala, or Central Ameri-
ca. Il is well known that they are both on terms
Of the most friendly and peaceable relations with
our government. At one period the latter govern
ment made offer Of annexation 10 the Uni.
ted States, which was respectfully declined.
Our government would do well to have both
routes carefully surveyed, with the view Of estab-
fishing great overland regular mailroute from the
United States to the Pacific; and at the same time
instruct our representative the government
through whose territory the route selected may pass
to waive all custom-house regulations and duties
with regard to passengers and their effects in their
transit from ocean to the other, well the
transit Of merchandise, as is now done on the East
India overland route through Egypt, and on the
transit Of passengers and goods between New York
and Canada. Such an opening to travel and trade
would greatly benefit the ctes and country through
which they would pass, as well as the world at
large.
Twill briefly consider the facts in relation to the
two routes:
|. From Chagres to Panama, by the Chagres riv-
er, to within twenty-five or thirty miles Of the Pa
ci6c ocean.
II is proposed to make an overland mail-route by
a line Of steamers from New York to Chagres, and
from thence to ascend a small river, in steamers Of
light draught, as high as they reach and cross
the remaiaing intervening land, twenty-five miles,
to the Pacific by land contrivanccs The isthmus
at this place il very narrow, not exceeding from one
sea to the other sixty miles. This is the pres
route, but il is liable to several objections In
the first place, Chagrcs, a depot, is very UNI
healthy secondly, the piece strip Of land to be
crossed is very elevated, rising to the hight of
ten or eleven Thousand feet above the level Of the
M,,la a. oG,r 81 III
only means of conveyance, and that by packing
articles on their backs. The forest is heavily tim
bered, and ugly to pass in the rainy season, which
lasts all the year, except few days in June, stated
from December to April.
Panama is considered more healthy than either
Chagres, Porto Belo, or Port Juan, on the At
antic side; but it is excessively hot, except
in the rainy season, when the thermometer usu
ally stands at about $40. The land is also
more fertile on the Pacific side and produces
rice, corn, coffee, and sugar to a small extent.
Panama lies in latitude go 81 north, and longitude
100 3O' west, and 4sO miles north of Bogota, the
capital of the rspublic-popuation about ii 900.
The other routc--via Lake Nicaragua-has been
actually surveyed, with view Of fixing upon it
route for canal, by Mr.. Thompson, (see his
work on the geography Of Guntemala,) and with the
isthmus the north of that from Chagres to Pana-
ma lying little north Of the parallel Of 100.
The isthmus, in straight line from Port ST.
Juan, on the Atlantic side, to the Pacific, may be
| about one hundred miles; but the Lake Nicaragua
lays diagonally across the sthmus in the direction
from northwest to southeast, and to the Pa
cfc side than to the Atlantic. 1t is one hundred
and thirty miles long, with an average breadth Of
forty miles. Its depth is said to be fifteen fahoms
and is adapted to vessels Of the largest SIZE 1t lies
between Ito and 100 north latitude, and $40 and $50
west longitude. It's nearest approach on the west
in direct line to the Pacific is only twelve miles,
while its southeastern extremity is only fifty miles
from the Caribbean sea, part of the Atlantic ira
versed the whole distance by the st. John (St Juan)
river.
The Lake Nicaragua is connected by small riv-
err with another small lake to the northwest of it,
called Lake de Leon which itself, is fifty miles long
and nearly thirty wide and sufficiently deep for the
largest ships. Its westernmost border is but thlr-
teen miles from the Pacific, and five from the river
| Tosta, which enters that ocean; and the height Of
intervening ground is only fftyone feet above its
| own surface, which last is only three feet higher
than the Tortosa.
The river St. Juan, passing from the southeast
ar, extremity of Lake Nicaragua to the waters OF