New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-07
steam Navigation on the OrinOcO.

paper published in Trinidad contains the fol-
lowing article which find copied in the Kingston
(Jamscs) Journal. The enterprise it commemorate
Is highly creditAbe 10 those of capitalists who
started it, and will undoubtedly give important. slim
illus TO the commerce of the South American coast:
On Wednesday morning the inhabitants OF Port Of
Spain surprised 10 md the har5or occupied by a
mons;rous building, which, from its immense proper
lions and. two large chimneys bore something of the
appearance Of set OF sugar works adrift, or il might
be, emiRrsng some more genial market. IL proved
10 be the American steamer Venezuela, belonging TO
the Ohnoco Steam Navigation Company, which had
come anchor in the course of the night.
AZ eight she Immediately attracted crowds OF visi
tors who by the urbane permission of the commander
and officers thronged on board 10 crafty their wonder
ing curiosity.
IL will be remembered by readers, that shout
eighteen months ago announced the fact Of the es
elusive privilege of navigating the OrnOc0 by steam
having be, granted 10y the Venezuelan Cover nment 20
Mr. Vrspassu lis the United State. Chsrle Ahaires,
10 the former Republic Upon obtaining this license.
Mr.. Ellis proceeded II the States. where a Company
formed with subscribed capital Of s3COOO0; and
with the usual activity Of American enterprise
ures were immediately taken for carrying their pro-
j-ct into action.
The object of the Company. AZ we understand il.
to be to establish itself carrier for the trade
which now flows down the Ornoco from Bogota 10 it's
mouth direct line of 500 miles and embracing, by
medns OF its tributaries nearly three times that
OF river coast
Tue trade at prssen, scarcely extends beyond Ansos
turs not oneourtn of the distance the extremely
diOus Of the voycge above AngOstura driving
commerce. in spite OF long inland journey the op.
pOsie or northern coast OF the continent. which
parallel with the OfinocO III the distance Of huu
dred miles. aud 10 the River Magdalena Beyond and
around Angostura lies country Astounding in cattle
mules. tobacco indigo. drugs and dye.Hoods which
from the impossihiliiy of carrying them 20 msfket
Of value. the cattle being slaugh for the
sske OF their hdes, the at aud the talow be-
ing abandoned from the want of means to it
capital never having penetrated to the dis ie in which
II so sbounds. Indigo asd tobacco are indi zenOus
weeds, and variety of starch Yielding roots grow
spontaneously. and yield in prolific abundance
will give fair Idea Of the :ulties which at pres
ent attend snd hamper the trade of the OrnOcO when
We state that the average length Of the voyage up the
river from this Island TO Aogosturs, IL fifteen days,
sometimes requifug month a large portion Of the
distance being passed by polling along the banks Of
the river or hauling BY ropes which are carried forward
and made fast 90 tree snd toe facilities snd proba-
by of grt impulse being given the traffic by the
Introduction Of steam age msy be easily calculated
when reflect that ibls voyage will Ia future be re-
duced to sixty or seventy I'VE hours.
Whatever this trade msy be. Trinidad must neces-
sariy the trade be freed of is present destructive
restraints be the enirepot from which the riches
dow down the waters OF the noble river will b. die
trihuted 10 all parts OF the world, and where will be
gathered In return al that the country contributing
the wealth vii require IN exchange. In short Trinidad
will b. 10 the Orinoeo what New Orleans is ~ the Mi.
sissippi
The Venezuela I. the first Of four vessels which are
intended . be pug the river Her freight tonnage
10 200 tons aud nor steam power $50 horse Her build
although Is the usual build of all the river boats 10
the United s,seshai given an impr ssiou here where
such vessel has never before been seem that she 10
opheavy and unssfe The beet proof to the contrary
has howeve. siy been afforded in ket having sac
c-ssiuy sud safely passed through the gale frum the
North which began here On Sunday evening. and cen.
tnued blowing until che II knchor Tni. gale
overlook the vessel within few hours Of her leaving
Cumsna, and she continued 10 IL Che wind a.d ire
menions ga striking her beaml All the way on the
coat Of Nentzuea until Der rirg the Cult Of Pars
Having mentioned Mr.. Ellis the protector Of this
Company, W fee il O. De Necessary under the efcuu
stances 81 The adjacent state OF Ven, zues being 10
e'h war 10 state that In Consequence ~ hst genie
man having scted ~ the Of General Psez In the
purchase OF steamer called the Scourge the Company
~hing to avoid being mixed up with the party politics
OF M country roasted Mr Eli, from The Presidency
ana elected another shar, holder in hi. place.