The New York herald., 1849-06-12
Pacific Railroad.

EprroR N Y. HERALD The article in your paper of
2lst inst the Of Our intercourse With the
Pacific; the 1sthmus OF Panama, &C. &C >, with the
distances from Liverpool and from New York to ports
beyond Cape Horn and the Cape Of Good Hope has in
auced me to ask You to place before your readers the
following facts arrived ut from actual experience and
calculations from the highest authorities and from the
results OF seven years Of investigation Prior any
proposition before Congress for railroad across at Pa
mama, took the ground that communication oct ween
the Atlantic and Pacific across any part Of Mexico,
could not have business sufcient to sustain IT, and
that such communication where could not be of
use or benefit to unless located far north that by
the sphere Of the globe tho distance would be much
reduced as would force change of route for the
merce and intercourse Of Europe with ASIA
north that the climate would not damage and destroy
animal ana vegetable products so that the great Mis-
sssipp basin would have Europe on the side and
on the other side all Asia for markets; and ready
with facts aud figures to sustain my position.
The figures from which you speculate. all OF which
are erroneous being not your own, and for which OF
you not responsible well understood by
those who acquainted with the and misead
those only who have not examined it all.
Before going further, will state, that not op-
posed to a proposition for the construction of any
means OF transit at Panama. other part of
Mexico Were there fifty canals railroads to- NOR
row. or should the Pacific bu-st its bounds and mngc
its waters with Its sister Atlantic and open space
an unobstructed passage, sufficient for the all
the world 1t could in way interfere with my project
or plans but on the contrary 1t would prove aud
tain the position | have taken. But such erroneous
statements put forth to the world based upon
calculation OF actual distances sanctioned commented
and specuated upon by the Press generally made
to injure my plans by misleading the opinions Of the
many who do not calculate for themselves or have not
made voyages to and from the places named therefore
My figures will show that no commerce from our
Atlantic slope or from Europe to any part Of Asia,
be carried across ~ Panama part Of Mexico
the southern part Of our territory, and road if
built, must depend for its support entirely upon the
intercourse and exchanges between the sides The
mountain range from Cape Horn to the Arctic Ocean,
which divides both of these continents their products
commerce and all prohibits an exchange of conmo-
oitles because each produces the same except
factured goods.
Now, all the commerce of tho Pacific which could
possibly be diverted from its present route road At
Panama (not including the present temporary rush of
emgrants to California; amounts to but 932 tonnage
per annum as appears from Treasury reports and
The emigration to California will soon be reduced
and confined to those who 60 with their families
ain ana tney, to save expenses will 70 xroand the
Cape
Ihis isss1 tonnage and the present emgrants might
good wagon or plank road would, no doubt be use
full and for several give good for the in
vestment for its construction but it appears to me
that there is point this subject which has been
entirely overlooked. Now, from New York the centre
VI commerce. on the Atlantic coast to Chagres $500
mnes-s long voyage. almost IS far to Europe-and
from Panama to San Francisco still longer voyage OF
to any passenger from New York, bound to San Fran
cisco whether he is five ten hours in crossing the
lsthmus! IL certainly can make but five hours diff
ference IN the long voyage OF more than 5000 miles
and the same with merchandise.
The position which have taken Is that a railroad
to us that the produce Of the Pacific .ope ana
except the gold and oil, cannot be brought to for
market and the gold and oil purchase only with
such articles the wants Of the people there
and which we may be enabled to furnish in compet-
tion with other natons the avas Of labor bs re-
turned to where produced and there used. that IL
we take their gold and OIL it is to An i'm port not
product-the same as If we purchased from Russia or
China-not so with the settlers in Texas Iowa. tho
products OF whose labor must come to for market
and be exchanged for commodities which their wants
and cannot be supplied from any other
The fruits OF all their toll is to the ation product
Q source OF wealth and
II am right and believe am, what is the object,
and what the gain In facilitating and urging emigra-
tion to California II the produce of labor wealth
nation, IL not any man thus urged OFF loss!
MY statements are not biased upon exaggerated re-
commerce Of the world must know that such climate
~ that Of Panama is runous to animal and vegetable
products At New Orleans, which Is more than 20 deg
north OF Panama the annual total destruction from
climate is immense; and shipments be made to Eu-
rope and the Northern ports for only three four
months OF the year On and wheat shipped Eu.
rope the deterioration is rs per cent; bacon Is Der
cent, and all commodities more less injured This
is subject which wants argument aud if the gold
gathering should occupy millions we cannot supply
them with food across Panama-eyen if the climate
would destroy the heavy expense OF traushpm.nts
and transit would be a sufficient nducement to no on
the side near to, and produce for their wants
But we Will suppose as your speculatons would lead
us that Panama becomes at once the entrepot tho
whole world, and the gate through which the
commerce OF the Atlantic and Pacific must passD [
ask what can we gain by it; Can econtrol it, Can
eas OF the Cape Of Good Hope and of Cape Horn
including the whole fishery, amounts to annual ag-
gregate OF exports and imports of $25lO7,94S while
the commerce of Europe, with the same r. ions
amounts to an annual aggregate OF exports and
oi about s2SoOooooo Now, allow it possible (but my
figures will show 1t te be impossibe) to make Panama
the en'repot Of this vast commerce; ask what be-
neht could II be to these United States And ask the
people and the capitalists Of Boston, Of New York Of
Philadelphia Of Baltimore and the people of all these
United States are you willing furnish means to build
o b. soa Uus OF city to So the
which you can participate in its benefits than
you Dc on its present route around the Cape Good
Hope! Will you, at your own expense, attempt to d.
vert from your own country commerce which COM
mands and controls the world, And ask the people
of the South and the southern statesmen parcelarlv
are you willing to furnish your quota Of means to
draw to your coast the entire marine force OF the
world to watch your motions and interests, and to
guard commerce in which they cannot participate!
Could your speculations be realized the result must
be as have described 1t; but will come to actual dis
tances, which must settle the whole question =
You say from Liverpool to Canton, via the
Cape OF Good Hope. is ........... Is 900 miles
And | make from China to England, via the
Cape OF Good Hope during the north
From Macao through the Chinese sea, TO
(North-ea east monsoon, blowing with force i''" miles
strong current setting to the south -west)
Thence to Sundea Straits to IL deg south
North west or west monsoon-short calms
in the sea between Borneo and Sumatra-
currents running south with force)
Thence through the region Of the south
east trades to II deg south latitude, and
60 6o deg east longitude. $500
Southeast trades varying much to the
east; but sometimes weak and inter-
rupted current setting to the west mo
derate)
Thence to the Cape Of Good Hope. 49,. l.. $500
variable winds south easterly and south
erly prevail; current setting to the west
and south west)
Thence to England. ..................o $500
(South easterly trades to near the equator,
from 30 degrees north latitude. variable
winds south and northeasterly prevaill
From China to England the Cape Of
Il
Only 4670 miles less than your figures; hut
owing TO trade winds vessel bound out TO the Cape Of
GOOD Hope would be obliged to rundown the coast Of
Brazil and would increase the distance $40 miles;
still $50 miles less than your statement.
From New York to Canton ria the Cape Of
Good Hope, by your figures Is. .... 10 500 miles.
Now. Captain Waterman, in the Sea Witch,
last voyage, made his sailing distance
from Canton to New York. ....... .14,255
Less than your statement. t........,.... 52&5 miles
For the distance to Calcutta you equally errone-