The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-07
WASHINGTON, February 6, 1919.
To the Editor of the Union:

10 Ue CuUOT or We CUtOH'
Your correspondent the subject of the elave dis
between New York and other places, BY way OF
Panama and by other routes IN your paper OF This morn
ing at length declares positively that the line presented
and Canton, Cape San Lucas and the Bashee islands,
amounting all to $500 miles, is longer and less advan
tageous than another ne passing by way OF Cape San
Lucas and the strait between the two great Japan islands
sorry however 10 that he does not give the dis
this latter contenting himself as before
with referring to Lieut. Maury map appended to the re-
port of the Hon. T. B. King upon steam navigation to
China as proving the distance betceen Panama and
Sanghae to be $500 miles ,,...
With regard to the " authority OF Lieutenant Nlaury,
in particular, have observations to offer tins being
conceive, question: not of authority but OF SIMPLE
measurements, which any one possessing lolerable
knowledge OF geography and arithmetic, may make for
himself have not Lieutenant Maurys map, but
have before me his letter. dated January 10. lsi7, an
nexed to the same reports OF the naval Commee whcn
said regarding the distance from Panama to Canton
He there states that the shortest line, great circle.
from Panama to Shanghae passing through the Gulf OF
Mexico and Louisiana, is in length $500 miles: Now
Shanghae lies nearly in the great circle line from Panama
Canton, the latter being about 600 miles farther than
Shanghae and the distance from Panama to Can
ton on a great circle assuming Lieutenant Maurys
asuremens correct lar they CO., must thus be at
least $500 mesjust the sailing distance presented IN
the table accompanying the late report OF the Naval
Committee. Lieut.. Maury moreover shows that, an the
present of navigation steamer carry fuel
for 1890 miles at stretch, and pay and that It
would be absolutely necessary for steamer to quit the
American continent at least far north as Monterey,
and to stop point the way TO China, TOR which
he recommends the Aleuan islands Now requires no
great skill in practical navigation to in despite of
any authority that vessel going from Panama to Can
ton by way Of Cape San Lucas. Monterey, and the Aleu-
tan islands, must pass much longer line, than one
going by Cape San Lucas and the Bashee islands.
Your correspondent says: 81 still maintain that the ds-
tanees lin the table of the report] upon ,s Panama.
route acre estimated for the steamer oteric'se IS 9mte
clear considerable allowances poud hare been added
for head l0ds, &c. Now, this assertion is repeated in
such manner as to lead the inference that
no ho the table with
authorization and if this were certain, the conclusion
stated by me in my last communication would be I'M
avoidabe shall not repeat that conclusion, but will
present the title of the table the report of the
Naval Committee on the Panama railroad application,
which is in the following words "1abte aowing the
lstbmss Of Panama as compared Nth he old routes VA
therein named Estimating, the distance ,eh'd common
trading ship 1c sail per day to be one hundred and ten
miles, and calculating for the voyage out and home "
Now here is direct declaration, completely fulfilled by
the table ITSELF that the distances 'oere calculated az Of
them and each ,oue for sailing Ucsse only and that
received and viewed and presented by the Ma
val Committee, clearly proved BY the following words,
Immediately after the table: "1he employment Of the
steam uesseis ncould render Tie contrast favor still
more striking"
do not desire TO prolong this discussion, which can
be little more hereafter than reiteration on both sides
Ii was begun by the faith OF the contents and title
OF the table rhich the whoie report Of the Nauai Com,
mee rests, showing that the distances were all estimated
for sailing pcsses and it appears on what seems
to be the authority of the constructor OF the table, that
the distances the Panama route calculated only
for steam uessels and without any of those "aowances
for head winds, &c., which literally made on the
other routes If the constructor of that table is ready
openly to take the responsibility OF The table, including
il tie and under his own to maintain and defend
as correct the distances therein stated those "which
common trading ship lcH SAIL" shall not hesitate to
meet him openly and under my name IL, however, ne
should deny the title and the whole bearing OF the
table, by repeating the assertion that the distances are
presented as estimated for steamers route and o
sailing vessels on another shall not trouble him the
public by any further observations. H. IT,