The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
Extract Of letter from officer u the nary, 10
tor Qfths United Siaisss

Vf W thc S"'s~ ~'-~'~-
PANAMA, January 8, 1886
felt disappointed at not hearing from You pre-
yious to sailing from Norfolk, bat look forward TO
that pleasure, ere long, as il will be convenient TO
you to send me letters through the Navy Depart
ment. You vii. have an interesting session this
winter. Our Presidents message has been received
and read here by the English residents and others
state paper Of great interest, proper and just in
its purpor. They make some aaimadyerslon on
the course Of Mr.. Pakenham, with desire that war
may be ayerted. ...
We had passage (part Of it a very boisterous
one) of II DAYS 10 Chagres and from a very cold
climate reached one where the thermometer stood
at $40 Farenhet assembled the nver Chagres in
canoes, cooped up in a covered space with scarcely
room TO stretch out for 36 hours-warm, filthy, and
disgusting. In the dry season, from the middle Of
December to first Of May, the river has from IL TO
feet Of water Goo to $50 yards wide) us far up
Paaquln, distant from Chagres 90 miles from Pa
laquin to Gorgona, l2 miles; thence 10 Cruises 6
miles. The river is shoal and viii admit the pas
sage Of light canoes only, say 10 or ~ inches in
draught. In the wet season, Dscsmbsr TO May, the
Chagres is nayigable for IL miss above Cruises for
2 to feet draught; below Paaqnia, the snags and
bars in the river may be removed, IL u supposed,
for $3.50. En- engineer employed by the French
government thinks a ship-canal may be cut across
TO terminate al Panama-at, however, considerable
expense, as a tunnel of one and half miles is ne
cessary; summit level lis French mstres, or $50
feet English II is said a company 10 now organ
ling at Paris Macadamzed read from Porto
Beo, TO Panama. distance 40 miles, it is estimated
~ill cost s250 900 sterling; ths Engiish wish TO
lsin some privileges. There would be n difficulty
in getting laborers. The natives here viii not work
long at a time; they mixture Of the Indian and
negro. The machinery for a ssw-mill was brought
here by Mr.. Nelson, (our consul, which he has not
vet got in operation for the want Of laborers those
who came with it died Of the fever. He had also a
cart brought out, in which TO carry hides 10 the
beach to be washed. The people would not hear
to pdtting horse to it, and, for while, hauled il
by hand, which they soon tired Of, saying II was
easier TO carry the hides their heads. A nice
cleansing machine was introduced, which, when the
novelty over, they gave up and returned to the
wooden mortar and pestle
| visited the hacienda or estate of Mr. Zachrson,
one league from Panama, from which there is fine
view Of the bay, Pearl island and city and country
around. The city contains 1000 inhabitants, and
the province or department about ,0O0 Mr.. Zach
rson purchased the estate 1.-TWO leagues square) Of
the frars for Gil 10000 head Of cattle it at
sl2 a head. He says the milk of twenty-four
cows yields him $50 to $40 per month Mr.. Far
rot "a member Of the congress- of New Grenada,
which sits great portion of the year at the capital
Bogota) told me land could he purchased in the
interior for fifteen cents per valuable mines
throughout the country Of silver, gold, and mercu-
ry. An estate Of several leagues, with cattle on It
at 81 so head, land inclusive.
have given you this brief and hasiy statement
thinking you might find something in II to interest
you. The road between this place (Panama) and
Cruises Is very rough, passingthrough deep ravlnes,
wide enough only in places for one mule-average
height Of hills 900 feet. The country bordering
the river below Palaquin is low and fat; very rich,
dense thiekets; plantain and banana; a spot here
and there cultvnten Indian and rice for food;
hides are, perhaps, the only export. There Is little
or commerce intercourse between Panama
and the northern coast Of the Pacific excepting via
Calao, in Peru, and Valparaiso, in Chile. There is
monthly packet between this and Caliso. A
couple Of steamers would be of great Importance Ia
communicating with squadron. Owing to the
prevailing calms at this season, IL will take twen
ty.hve or thirty days to reach Mszatan. The
Warren is now watering, and we. expect to sail in
day or two. The Commodore she left at Mszatlsn,
and lie TO meet him there, or Acapulco. Many Of
our oonsuls abroad, you know, foreigners; they
Of course cannot feel that interest in country
native would, and perhaps arc mors interested for
the English-their trade being principally with them.
believe goods from the United States pay duty
of al least 20 per cent more than the English. No
treaty Of commerce concluded between this govern
ment and our own; one made, not yet ratified.
There ~ q roate acroee soufA ~ Panama which
would require road OF only eighteen mdes from
river to river. The government here viii not per-
NIT any other terminus than Panama From all
can learn, think the Nicaragua" route the best.
Very truly, your friend and obi serv't.