The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-09
The News from Mexico.

ne x arrival Will be that OF the britannia, al Dos
ton. She left Liverpool on the 4th inst.
The News from Mexico.
The thousand and one rumOrs Of peace which
have been flying over the country in every di-
rection for some time past, received their quie-
tus Yesterday in the news from the seat of
war, and published in this days paper. In
stead of the probability of an early peace be-
ing concluded, the likelihood now is, that il is
as far off as ever, and that another bloody con-
aict will probably take place between the oppos-
ing armies of the two countries, before General
Scott can enter the capital.
We cannot say that we are in the least degree
disappointed at the purport of this news, never
having credited these peaceru mors. Our cores
pondent at Washington has as good facilities OF
obtaining information any person in that
city, and he never mentioned syllable on
the subject or referred to these rumors till to-
day, as may be seen in his letter, and then
only to contradict them
We are probably as far from obtaining
peace as we ever were and instead of Gen. Scott
taking unobstructed and quiet possession of the
capital, every inch of the way has likely been
contested, and determined effort made by the
Mexicans to annihilate him. This is startling
news when we place it in contrast with what we
have been receiving from the war quarter for
some time past. The enemy is determined, 1t
appears, to risk every thing in another battle on
the issue Of which will depend the possession Of
his capital. We cannot conceive, however, how
it is possible tor the Mexicans to make such
great preparations for defence, as we are
informed by the news they making
We heard that, at the battle of Cerro Gordo,
Santa Anna concentrated all his resources OF
military material, and there he was defeated with
the loss of all. We were told likewise that there
were no means of defence left to him, that all
the cannon of the country had come into our
possession. Yet now we hear OF the enemy act
ing on the offensive, and preparing to attack
General Scott at three different points, and that
the capital is to be defended with seventy or
ninety pieces of artillery, made of the bellssof
the churches.
leans have been moderated, and the next news
will, therefore, be looked for with increased In
terest and anxiety.
STEAM NAVIGATION IN SOUTH AMERrcA-The
National Congress OF the Republic of Vene-
zuela, South America, having granted to Mr..
Vespasian Ellis, citizen of the United States,
and to such persons as may become associated
with him, the exclusive right of navigating the
rivers Orinoco and ApIre by steam for the term
of eighteen years, that gentleman, we per-
ceive, is soliciting the attention of men of capt.
tai to the subject, and inviting them to co-ope-
rate with him in carrying out the enterprise.
The first considerations which the cOntempla-
ton of this grant suggests, are the present re-
sources of the country-the extent of territory
bordering on the Orlnoco, It's productions, and
its present trade.
respects, like the valley of the Mississippi in our
own country. 1t covers area OF four hundred
thousand square miles of land, yielding the
richest products of the earth such as cocoa, cot
Ia. id, foha hnr hra n INayn nod
&C., &C., and watered by hundred streams,
many of which are navigable. The climate is
temperate and salubrious The Orinoco is navi-
gable for four hundred leagues, and Its principal
are likewise navigabe. The total amount of
exports from the valley of the Orinoco, in the
year, was two millions of dollars; vast amount
when we consider thata great proportion of the
produce of the country is carried to the seaboard
hundreds of miles, and across mountains and
valleys, by means of mnles.
Notwithstanding the want OF steam communica-
ton on the Orinoco and its tributaries, we find
that the trade of the country is increasing at
surprising rate. In 1892 the exports from Angostu-
I'd were about $l52000, while in 1874 they were
upwards of 100000 and the exports for the first
quarter OF the present year amounted to $780,
6OO-showng surprisingly rapid increase, in
the face of the obstacles which trade has to con-
tend with there. The ratio of increase will no
doubt be 91adruPIed every year from , the time
eating those rivers; for BESIDES the regular trade
a large additional trade can, be carried on with
New Granada, the. Orinoco being navigable for
steamboats, TO point within hundred and
twenty miles Of Bogota, the capital. In fact,
the Orinoco is not only the natural outlet for the
produce of three-fourths OF Venezuela la, but also
of that OF Eastern New Granada, and Northern
Brazil the freight of which, at the rates fixed by
the grant of Mr.. Ellis, would annually amount
to very handsome snm.
The estimated sum that would annually accrue
from freight upwards for the first two years. forty
IL 4 Il rfIplp nf do est
fifty thousand dollars-for passengers forty thou
sand dolIars-and on downward freights for ag
ricutural productions, horses, mules, &c eighty
thousand dollars, making in all two hundred
trade of the valley all Of which would be car
ried by steamboats,.
II is proposed by Mr.. Ellis to commence ope-
rations with two steamers, Of three hundred tons
burden each, the expenses of which, including
every possible charge, he estimates, would not
exceed seventy thousand dollars annually, leav.
ing a profit of one hundred and forty thousand
dollars annually for the first two years, This
estimate, it must be recollected, is based on the
present export and import trade of the country.
and il would of course increase with the aug
mentation and expansion OF trade that would
follow the Introduction OF steam avlgatlon
Ii is the opinion of Mr. Ellis that, to keep
pace with the increasing commerce of the ORR
noco, 1t will be necessary to increase the num-
Der of steamboats, on the rivers which he has
procured the exclusive right to navigate, TO five
or six, or more.
The amount of capital requisite to commence
TINS great enterprise is two hundred thousand
dollars, and MIR. Ellis is desirous of assOciatlng
with him company Who'll can command thai
sum, and are willing TO invest il at once; for be
known, that unless he has the details of the
enterprise carried out and in operation before
eighteen months from the month of May last,
the grant Will be vitiated. Unless application
shall be made to him within few weeks by a
company possessing the means, ii is his intention
to form a joint stock company fixing the shares
at one thoueand dollars each. We think. how.
ever that he will not be forced to adopt the alter
native, because we are confident that ne will find
men possessing the necessary means to Join hin
in the enterprise.
In addition to the grant of the right of exclu
sive navigation, it is provided in the grant, tina
contributions, and from all national duties O