The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-29
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PANAMA RAILROAD.

1t is now evident, that to the Americans
the Yankees-is to belong the honor Of build
ing an iron way across the Islhmus of Da-
rien. The truth is, Yankees are the pioneers
Of everything tending to develope the re-
sources of this continent They are sort
Of Israelites in the spread Of gospel civiliza-
ton. We refer to the following art Gle from
the Newark IN. J.) Advertiser in explana-
ton Of these remarks:
The surveys of the Panama railroad appear to be
In the highest degree satisfactory. Letters have been
received from Col Hughes the chief of the corps Of
engineers sent ont from New York to explore the
rout g wing the most gratifying accounts Of their
p u and discoveries. II appears from these ac-
ual ALTERATIONS that the construction Of railway
necrosis The lshmns is entirely practicable and that
entered upon the survey, at opposite points, In Feb
rnary under the command respectively Of Captains
l.. Tilghman and j. L.. Baldwin. And we learn by
their letters in the Journal of Commerce this morn
ing that the discovery OF a summit level thirty feet
lower than had ever been ascerianed before renders
It certain that on the whole route from the Atlantic
To the Pacific, the highest grade need not exceed fifty
feet to the mile and may be reduced TO forty while
the greater part of the distance will be under twenty.
Tho general features OF the country, Mr. Slidel
writes, far more favorable than has been repre-
scented. There are no sirnnps. There are inun-
daons Of course, during the rainy seasons, bni the
surface Of the country is such carry of the wa
ter rapidly, after the subsistence Of the streams The
Chugres is lovely river, with clear water, high
banks, and frequently pebby bottom.
So far from running through swampy grounds
auyial de1ositcs, the shores almost uni
versally high not giving evidence Of deposition from
the overows Of the river but Us If the river had cut
through rolling country There is no difficulty in
getting good location above the reach OF inunda-
lions and In most cases far back from the rvern
A letter from Capt j. s. Baldwin says
Is CAMP TWELVE MILES FROM PANAMA,1
April q, lS49.
Undoubtedly, ere this reaches New York, you will
have learned, through some one connected with the
survey, that success has been very extraordinary
BY the time this reaches you we will have Joined
the surveyors bet,reen The oceans.
We have already reduced the question TO a GER
tanty that there will be no grade exceeding fy feet
per mile, and that only for about three miles over
the summit on the Pacific side
Col. Hughes write as follows:
GoRaoSA, April 9th lS49.
Gentleman: Since my last letter, / have employed
my time, generally, In visiting the parties in the
field, examining the country, and procuring lnfor
your railroad between the Chagres River and the
Pacific and every day satisfies me, or at least
strengthens the conviction, that we have hit upon
the most advantageous line for connection between
the two oceans. There are however, more difficult
ties to be encountered In crossing the summit than
had been led to believe, when first wrote you; but
they ore certainly less than had anticipated lcav-
ing the United States and would not be regarded as
The country is, as you are aware, much broken and
difficult to examine satisfactorily but we are begin
ming, think, TO fully comprehend IL, and to ascer
tain the law Of its formation. hope to have every
thing essential finished by the first of June.
We have not had one drop Of rain,since landed; the
river In consequence, Is extremely low; the ground
dry and dusty and the forests have been on fire.
This Is the country In which is represented that Il
rains erery day. am also happy to say that we
have not single case Of fever In our parties few
have been sick and are no; fit for duty, but they are
free from disease
tor, says he would as soon undertake work here as
inthe United Staes and that he entertains doubt
that he could execute II 10 quite much advantage
here In every particular looking climate length of
working season, and cost OF labor and Subsistence
II 10 certain that all these points the greatest OK
aggerations have been forced upon the public mind
For about seven months work could be carried on
with very little interruption from any cause, and the
absolute suspension Of operations need not exceed
two months.
The more think OF the matter, the more deeply
am impressed with It's vust importance, and of tho
influence which II ID calculated exeri over the ON
marcnl world And / do most firmly believe that
moval Of the Financial Barometer OF the world,
which, Il has been said s hung up In Threadnecdle
street, London, TO Wall street. In New York. This
is emphatcally an American, and especially New
York worknnd ought to be executed on ecplc com
mensurate with its vast importance.
II would thus appear that the way Is now open
for the successful prosecution Of awork which has
moro OF less attracted the attention Of tho world for
century. All doubts OF iis practicabilty are re-
moved by the demonstrations of science, and tho
company at whose instance they have been made,
hold charter grant from the government Of New
Granada so liberal ss 70 leave capitalists nothing
more 70 desire.