The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-27

INTERCOURSE WITH CoLoMBIA.-The republic
OF Colombo, few years after having declared
itself independent OF Spain, divided itself into
the three independent Republics of New Grana-
da, Ven zuela, and the Ecuador. With the two
first named, the United States have always kept
up considerable direct intercourse, as they lay
the Atlantic side Of the continent chiefly,
whilst with the Ecuador, our relations have not
been direct in consequence Of Its situation
the Pacific side. The trade with New Granada
and Venezuela, from their different seaports, viz
Chagres, Carthagena Rio de la Hacha, Mara
caibo, and La Guayra has always been one Of
considerable profit to the United States, receiv
ing we do from thence, coffee, cocoa, indigo,
hides, gold, and various articles fproduce; in
return for which the outward cargoes mostly
consist of -four, manufactured goods, SC.
Among all the various South American Inde-
tendencies, probably none are more stable in
their governments than these two, and none
possess more natural resources within them
selves than they do; every variation of eli
mate is met with in them from the sultry
heat of the equator to the regions OF perpetual
snow; this is owing to the different degrees of
elevation which their mountainous country az
fords. Large tracts of table lands, at an eleva-
above the level of the sea- occur in various parts,
and in proportion TO the elevation of course is
the climate modified; thus the city of Bogota, the
capital of New Granada containing some 1000
inhabitants, enjoys climate of perpetual spring,
although it is in latitude A north of the equator
only, but the plain on which tits situated is nine
thousand feet above the sea. From these great
variations in climate it can be readily under
stood nd of nroduce he laed
both that of warm as we'll as of temperate eli
mates. =. The same remarks apply to Venezuela.
The only difficulty, and very serious one it is
too, under which these countries labor, is the ia
ciities for internal transportation. The mountain
Gus and rugged regions with which they abound,
and the difficulties of making roads suitable for
wheels, have, as yet in great measure, been in
superable, as they are but ihiny settled with in
habitants, and have not as yet overcome the debts
which the achievement of their independence
forced them to incur. They are thoroughly
awake, however, to the importance of quick and
easy communication from the interior with tho
seaboard; and within the last year or two both
governments have taken steps to avail them
selves of the great highways which the magnifi-
cent rivers that flow through their territories
offer to them
Inc rivers OrlnOCO anu hpuIes III eHcH"cia,
and Magdalena and Cauca, in New Granada,
are probably as magnificent streams, and as capa-
bic of being turned to useful purposes, are our
own Mississippi and Missouri. They flow
through valleys of unexamped fertility, and are
Joined by innumerable tributary streams, which
form means of communication with almost all
the provinces The navigation on these rivers
has hitherto been confined to the primitive
"champan" or fatboat, propelled by means Of
poles, as was the custom on the Mississippi prior
10 the introduction of steamboats,, thus entailing
vast expense, both in money and time, In the
transportation Of goods and passengers. There
Is every probability, however, that American
steamboats, will ere long awaken the soitudes
OF these rivers. We understand that couple
oil iron boats have recently been built in this
city, and are soon about to depart for Santa
Marta, IN order TO ply regularly on the Magda-
lena. These boats are built for a company that
has been formed in New Granada, and we have
no doubt that they will succeed and be the first
of busy feet that will, ere many years are over.
be fully employed on the Msgdalena and It's
tributaries.
In Venezuela too, the government have lately
granted to Mr.. Vespasan Ellis, formerly Ameri-
can Charge d'A flares there, the exclusive right
of navigating the Orinoco and APure rivers by