The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-11
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SECRETARY OF TEE TREASURY.
EXTRACTS.

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EXTRACTS.
Congress having extended the revenue laws to Ore
gon and created Astoria the port for that district in
Of the execution of these acts the cutter
Cornelius w lawrence ordered to that coast,
der the command OF Captain Alexander " Fraser, an
officer of talent, zeal and fidelity The coast
was also extended there, and through its aid, the
buoys will be located there and lighthouses construct
ed,a directed by Congress. The revenue laws not
having been extended to California duties could
be collected there; but the department exercised all
its authority by issuing the circular hereto annexed
opening trade under the constitution between its
ports and those of the rest OF the MON. at the
time guarding the revenue from loss as far as prac
cable
1t is recommended that, besides Astoria collection
districts be authorized at San Diego terey, yet
SQUAD and San Francisco upon the Pacific Our
maritime frontier upon the Pacific is nearly eq ua
to our Atlantic ceast with many excellent BAYS and
harbors admirably situated to command the trade of
Asia, and OF the whole western coast of America
whilst coaStwiss trade between the Atlantic, the
Gulf and The Pacific must soon become of great value
Congress having directed this Department to
mend such measures will increase commerce
and revenue, il is suggested that il would desire
lucrative trade and augmeu ted revenue from Pa
cihc coast this object be best accomplished by
ny additional steamships upon that ocean, as we'll
upon the Atlantic aud the Gulf. Beneficial this
system has proved upon the Atanti" and the Cuff in
ard navigation it is still better adapted to the Pacidc
and the long along It's shores and Asia This
tranquil ocean, as indicated by its name, more sub
ject calms is better adapted to steam than the
boterous Atlantic and with less danger Of injury
the machinery. The Gains of the Pacific, so often
taIdipg the sailing vessel, make shorter and safer
the voyage of the steamship; whilst, at other
periods, the trade winds blowing for months
the course of the steamer, but forcing sailing
vessels so many thousands of miles out of their
vay render steam indi,peusaby necessary to the
profitable navigation of that ocean. From all these
the Pacific must become the principal theatre
the peaceful triumphs of the great expansive power
of steam and must extend it's there, under
own flag, If would desire to contend successfully
with other nations for the trade and specie of Asia
and Western America y Our IMPORTS f.om Asia such
teas, silks and chiefly costly articles still better
adapted for the steamship than heavy products.
the equator, from our Atlantic ports to Asia in the
long voyage of the sailing vessel is felt severely not
tox Of capital and realization of profits but the
still greater loss in arriving at home too late with
thecargo, and thereby losing the market at least
better price, and this loss of time and interest," Of price
and markets is great in the return in the outward
voyage The voyage by steam from our Atlantic ports
to Asia, by the route Of Chagres and Panama, with
railroad constructed by private enterprise
that isthmus, would soon be accomplished in month
instead of three four tbs and the gain Of time
in coastwise trade between both oceans would be
still greater In ancient and in modern times, the
cities and nations that secured the trade of Asia
greatly enriched We have witnessed this successfully
with Tyre, Sidon, Carthage, Alexandria, Venice Ge-
noa Lisbon, Amsterdam and London, whilst this rich
traffic built large cities in the midst of DESERTS
in the caravan route the track through which it
passed. With front upon both oceans and the
re voyage BY the lsthmus route, we may
secure this commerce, and with 1t, IN Time tha COM
mand of the trade of the world wv may also greatly
extend our commerce with all the countries bordering
upon the coast of Western America richer than
all others In the precious metals ana aoounding
also in articles which DESIRE but do net pro-
duce; whist, by the exchange, new and vast mar
kets will be opened there for our products and
manufactured and the number ana pron.s o. our
possessions upon the Pacific, If would desire to
tend them the benefits and blessings Of she Ameri
can nion and to unite them with in the bonds o.
an ever ugmentiug commerce aud intercourse, there
present nothing but steamships that perform
these important duties in connection with railroad
across the Isthmus Of Panama Such road would
always be useful for trade from the Atlantic and
least for heavy products with Asia, and especially
with that portion of 1t to south Of the equstor
with the islands in the Indian Ocean and with Aus
trala even IT, at distant period, railroad should
unite the Atlantic the Gulf, and the Mississippi with
our harbors upon the Pacific Ihat suon road wu
tcable route Ia not doubted although from the time
and capital required it completion unfortunately
must be remSte but the railroad which private enter
prise could build within year or two across the 18th.
would answer all our present purposes untl In
the distant future this greater work shall be accom-
pIshed), and would at once bring New York within
ten days of the Pacific and within thirty days Of
China and New Orleans still nearer-mai ntaining,
also the important communication between own
harbors on the Atlantic, the Gulf and the Pacific
ment for the revenue likely to from foreign
with all our ports, including those upon the
Pacific must greatly depend upon future events. II
private enterprise should construct the railroad
across the Isthmus-if adequate number Of steam
ships continuation of the beneficial system already
<hoto
and eur Pacific ports, bringing them within twenty
days of China, with the best steamers in sufficient
and the Gulf to Chagres, and from Oregon and Cali
fornia to Panama to Asia, aud to the whole western
he incalcusbiy increased and the revenue collected
on the Pacific rise In few years to several millions OF
dollars per annum Nor is It only with those nations
of Asia with whom already have treaties that the
steamships would increase commerce but 1t would
Introduce it. together with diplomatic relations into
vast regions Of the east with whom we have formed no
treaties estimated hundred and thirty
five mili'ons Of people Many Of these large and
articles which we need, but do not produce and de-
string also our products and manufactures In ex-
treaties and little or no direct trade are Persia Cores
Cochin China. Burmsh, and Japan, With whom no
thing but the steamship can successfully In
pire Of japan, highly advanced in civilization,
containing Afty millions of people, separated but two
trade s now nearly confined to Dutch vessels
though It is separated from Holland by thousand
miles and our Pacific asst only by thousand.
its commerce be secured to us by persevering and
peaceful efforts Our steamships would pass on their
the two great islands Composing the empire Of Japan
monthly weekly in sight Of both their coasts and
by thus familiarzing them with our nag ana mercsn-
tile marine, extending their knowledge, overcoming
their prejudice. and opening to them new views o
their trqe interests would soon unseal their port
to commerce. The acquisition of our immense
coast upon the Pacific and the introduction there
our steamships, especially when private enterprise
the most important In the history OF
and progress tince the adoption of the Constitution
Our port. upon the Gulf with our coast upon both
Oceans, fronting upon Europe from the east aud Asia
from the west occupying the central position between
81 the continents of the globe, nearer to them all BY
nient routes than any other nation, including
eaey access to the whole interior OF our country
We want only the ocean steamships Of adequate
strength, speed and numbers, to give us the com
maDd Of the trade Of all nations Nor should w
forget that in carrying our ommerce among the
great and popuous nations OF Asia, and facilitating
intercourse with that region passing from coast to
coast in the short period of twenty days and with
monthly weekly steamships, Christianity would