Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-13

l Total. S8,779,90I
The total amount of imports from all countries
into Canton In the year lS44 was...... ST. Sis, 2l9
or this, cotton amounted to......... $69ss SAT
Cotton fabrics 5,36S, 93
Total. $ia,s66 4lo
Showing that than twothirds the value Of the i'm
ports OF that year also Of cotton and cotton manuac-
lures.
Most Of this cotton goes from British India and is used
by the Chinese in the manufacture Of the fabrics
by the people II is very inferior American cotton
and the articles made Of arc, Of course durable
desirable manufactures Hence il is that the import Of
American fabrics into China gradually and surely ncreas
ing The common people, in the middle and southern parts
China, clothed almost exclusively in these cotton
cloths and when consider that the empire contains
than three hundred millions of people, may be regarded
an over estimate suppose that they cotton
than now grown in the United States. is quite clear
therefore, that the great field for american enterprise and
skill intercourse c China, lies in the adaptation of
cotton abrcs 10 the cants and tastes Of the Chinese
We have seen that Great Britain now supplies China with
cotton and cotton manufactures to than twice the
amount of the balance Of trade against us her favor This
trade properly belongs the United States, and the difference
OF exchange between Canton and London which operates
discriminating duty, bounty Of least six per in
favor of American imports is aiding manufacturers and
shippers compete successfully with their British rivals
When the superiority Of American fabrics shall have been fully
tested by the Chinese there be but little doubt that the
demand for them will increase to the full amount of
ports from China, whatever that may be- The balance Of
trade against shows opening for increased export
that country Of products and manufactures without dis
urbng the laws Of ade to the amount of six millions
Of dollars per annum, and further Of than
600 which cotton and cotton fabrics ought
supply, in place Of those Of Great Britain and India snot
to be supposed however that commercial intercourse with
that vast empire will be limited to- controlled by the pre-
sent amount Of exports from it. As have said
with that country possesses the elements of indefinite
expansion Our great stape cotton, in manuac-
tured sate together with ead ginseng and other commod
WhI hinarn
exchange her teas silk and infinite variety articles of
taste and luxury Certainty and rapdy Of intercourse now
only wanted bring these two great nations together
to give them perfect knowledge of each other develop
their resources and build up extensive than
has probably heretofore existed between two nations.
The improved condition of relations with that country
under the treaties, and the extension of territorial
possessions to the Pacific have placed in power uk
natey, to communicate with China almost rapidly
now do with Europe To accomplish this however
extend teegraphc wires the continent and establish
line of steamers from San Francisco Monterey Shanghae
and Canton the praccabiy and utility of which the COM
mittee will now proceed to examine into.
The idea has generally if universally prevailed that
communicate advanageousy with the of this
tnent and increase intercourse with China would be
necessary ship canal from Chagres Panama,
from other point the Gulf TO the Pacific, and to-
proceed from thence by way Of the Sandwich Islands, Can
ton. II had not occurred any who has written
spoken this subject that the distance Pacific on
this line is almost twice great it is go northery
great circle in conformity the figure of the car and
from continent the other where the degrees Of longitude
converge towards the po and much than half
far across they within the tropics
This route proposed by Lieutenant Maury United
States navy, in letter dated goth December, ls47, the
chairman Of your committee and fully and perfectly de-
scrbed in his communication of the 10Th January last See
Appendix A, in reply suggestions and inquiries propound
ed to him under date Of the 2ls December ls47 The chart
which is attached to and forms part Of this report shows the
and distances the Pacific the routes and
the advantages of the great circle As stated by Lieut.
Mauy, to place end Of string globe at Panama.
draw tight with the other end Shanghae will the
hmus dagona, pass up the Gulf Of Mexico, and through
Louisiana to the west Of the Mississippi river and describing
CIRCLE will pass the south Of Columbia river, and, crossing
the Pacific will, in its greatest northery inclination, touch
along the chain Of Aeuan Fox islands, and approaches
Japan and China, pass the straits Of Sanger between the
islands OF Nphon Japan and Jesso and through the Of
Japan, passing Quelpaerts sand-whch has been
taken possession of by the Bshand terminate Shanghae
This line expodes the idea Of ship canal the isthmu
and establishes beyond controversy the great necessity and
importance of railway from the Mississippi to the Pacific
As this wok-the greatest Of the age in which we
ve-has yet been commenced, and its completion will
gue several years. becomes necessary to avail ourselves in
the time Of the practicable and expeditions route
This forces down the Of the Atlantic, which
enables touch southern ports and at Havana and
the gulf Chages and the continent at the shmus to
Panama. and from thence nohwardy along the coast TO the
Pacific, until the point where the great
circle crosses and from thence that line described, 10
China Taking up the distances this whole route we find
them 10 be-
From thence 10 Panama. .................. 50 90
From Panama to Monterey or San Francisco 5000 do
From San Francisco TO Shanghae. ....... $500 do
Total distance from New York shanghae. .io,9so do
The present sailing route, round either Cape Horn the
Cape Of Good Hope is from 900 to 200 miles This
saves therefore, from 1000 TO 5000 miles going
returning from China, making total saving Of IA, 900
900 In the voyage and back This statement shows
that by the Of the Sd Of March, lS47 establishing the
line OF from New York New Orleans touching at
Havana, with branch line from thence 10 Chagres and from
Panama Oregon, have actually $3.50 miles,
than half OF the distance from New York China
We have but 54oo miles Of steam navigation to aecom.
plish TO carry Shanghae From what has been said
respecting the great circle route and by examination OF
the chart win be perceived that either Monterey San
Francisco become the port Of departure for China, as
being situated almost Immediately the route from Panama
The mouth Of Columbia river and the ports in the straits Of
Fuca far north, and would lead out Of our way,