The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-17

SAILING OF STEAMERS FOR CALIFoRNIA.-The
American ocean steam marine is rapidly attain
ing position, in point of tonnage, numbers, and
speed, which will be equal, If not SUPERIOR TO the
steam marine of Britain or any other country.
Splendid additions are constantly being made 10
our steam marine, and the timbers for each new
vessel placed upon the stocks the builder ex-
hausts his ingenuity to realize what he seems TO
consider a reasonable expectation upon the part Of
the public, that the new steamer will be superior TO
all her predecessors. Our progress in ocean steam
navigation is certainly thus far unequalled in naval
history. The principal owner of one of the New
York and California line of steamships we'll re-
marked yesterday, as we were looking on at the
departure of the Cherokee, the Crescent City, and
the Ono that II any man had three years ago
pressed the opinion that before the expiration Of
those three years we would three American
steamships, OF an aggregate burthen of fifty eight
hundred tons, leaving the port of New York at the
same hour OF the same day, the individual who ex
pressed such an opinion would have been set down
as a III subject for lunatic asylum.
American ocean steam navigation is only three
years old but it is even at that tender age contesng
and sharing the laurels OF commerce with the Eng
lish lines Of steamships it is already in this import
ant department of enterprise, crowding hard upon
the heels of the demurc old dame who claims us
her offspring, and an otfshoot of the same stock
The steamships Ohio, Crescent City and Chero-
kee, simultaneously let go their hawscrs yesterday,
at o'clock p. M, and started out to accompany.
The Ohio goes to Havana and New Orleans; the
Crescent City and Cherokee go direct to Chagres.
N
before the engines of the Crescent City put in
full play and the Ohio started about the same dis
lance behind the Crescent City. The departure Of
the Crescent City and Ohio was sgnalized TO their
agency offices in Broadway and West street by the
of their heavy guns-the former firing two,
and the latter one gun. They were responded to
by cheers from the thousands Of citizens who had
assembled upon the wharves, piers and shipping,
to witness their departure. II was spectacle which
would make any American proud.
The pioneer corps OF engineers of the Panama
Railroad Company went out in the Cherokee to
break the first ground in that iron link Of the chain
which Is to unite the commerce of the eastern and
western world. Mr.. Montane, one of the contract
of this railroad is already at Chagres; Mr.. Tot
ten, his partner, went out in the Cherokee. MIR.
Robb and lady also sailed in this steamer; this gen
teman goes out to California to take charge of the
State paper in that territory.
Messrs. Rowland and Aspnwall, one of the most
eminent firms engaged in ocean steam navigation,
have now six steamers running on the Pacific side,
between Panama and San Francisco, and two run
ming between New York and Chagres.
Among the passengers who sailed in the Crescent
City were Captain Ayres, Cornelius and Jacob
Vanderbilt, who went out in company with Jacob
l.. White, esq, and DR.. Livingston, consul at
Leon. At Chagres, Captain Vanderbilt and com
pany intend taking the steamer Orus, which has
been chartered for the purpose and go up the river
to the mouth of the San JUAN thence up that lake
Lake Nicaragua, and through that to the straight
river that connects that lake with Lake Leon.
This is sort of exploring expedition, and if prac
ticablc will result in the establishment Of regular
line of steamboat navigation from to ocean.
NJ Y Express, l4M.