Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-01-27
THE II. $. MAIL STEAMER "CAL-
IFORNIA.o

w z nave ndu VI
the Log Of this splendid vessel as far as
Rio Janerio, where she arrived November
Q, on her way out to take her place in the
line from Panama to Oregon. She was fol-
lowed by the +" Oregon" The . Panama."
the third and last of the line, will put out
again as soon as the accident to her ma
, chinery is repaired, which will probably re-
quire week or ten days.
The performance of the g California; has
beer admirable.
She took Lieut.. Maury's new route to
Rio, and was instructed by her owners not
to steam at the rate Of more than 200 miles
day.
With an average pressure of only 10 lbs.
: Of steam, she made 1877 miles day reach
ed Rio in % days from New York having
accomplished in that time, and without stop
ping 70 coal, upwards of $500 sea-niiles or
nearly one-fourth the entire distance round
the globe at single stretch. She might
have readily steamed 5000 miles without
letting her fires go down, for she had ample
coal on board for that purpose when she ar
rived AT Rio.
This is, we believe, the greatest distance
ever accomplished at sea under continuous
head of steam. 1t is more than double the
distance from Halifax to Liverpool; and
the ease with which it has been accomplish
ed viii give some idea of the ingenuity and
skill which have been brought 10 bear, and
the success with which they nave been APP
piled in combining models and machinery
for that distant and important service.
The distance from Panama to San Fran
cisco is about 5000 miles and this steamer
is capable of performing the passage with
great ease and regularity in TWO weeks
One may go on foot from Panama TO Cha
gres in a day, and thence, by the conducting
line of steamers on this side, to New Or
leans in week.
From New Orleans, by sea, to California
is "A six months voyage. Well may it be
said, in these go-a-head times, when men
have to count time as money: 80 by steam,
and get the lightning TO run of errands for
you; life is too shert to go to sea IN sailing
shps.'
Laws line of mail steamers from N. Y,
via Charleston, Havana, and New Orleans,
to Chagres, will deliver regularly, at the
aforementioned place the mails and passen-
GERS. These will be transported on the
backs of mules across the isthmus. On ar
/ riting at Panama they viii find two lines of
steamers in waiting for Them. Those bound
! for Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, or Chill, Will
take Wheelwright's line and steer to the
sotfh. Those bound to Central America,
/, Western Mexico, California, and Oregon,
or to the Sandwich Islands and China, Will
take Aspinwali's line of United States mail
) steamers-of which the California is the
| drst--und steer away north.
The distance from San Francisco and
from Valparaiso to Panama is about the
same. The mails from these remote points
and all the intermediate places, will reach
! Panama and be delivered TO Laws line of
United States mail steamers at Chagres
about the same time.
Nheolyvrights line from Valparaiso has
/ been i'm operation for several years. IL is
under the auspices of the British Govern
ment. The other two lines, Aspinwall's
and Laws, are under the auspices of our
own Government, and are just about TO
commence running. They were established
by the last Congress and the law authori-
sing them passed without attracting much
attention at the time. II was an admirable
stroke of policy aud seldom has legislation
been better timed or more wisely directed
than in this instance.
Hitherto the Pacific coasts on this contin-
ent have been removed from its Asatic bor-
ders many months. if we take into consid-
Grafton the uncertain occurrence of opp0rtu-
mites, and the length of the passage around
Cape Horn.or across the Rocky Mountains,
we should not be surprised ut the fact that
Government. in sending dispatches to It's
officers, and merchants Instructions 10 their
agents, along the Pacific coasts of both
Americas, have had often to await twelve
months for the reply.
Before the New Year shall have run half
its course, these two lines of mail steamers
will be in full operation, when the merchant,
the citizen, and the State may send letters
4 Ia M
, the south to the borders of Russian Ameri-
Ca on the north, and calculate with certainty
70 receive answers thereto in less than sixty
Jaws. Thus these hitherto remote regions,
hv american enterprise based on American
lIsr;slas;ou are about to be lifted, as 1t were,
and place.! as near to us rs England was
until the last ten years, when steamers first
lbegan regularly 10 cross the ocean.
What effect this admirable move Is to
have upon the destinies OF California ana
. Oregon-what upon the currency ana eN-
changes of the country by ta-n'Hs 'he SIT
of California wealth through our Atahuc
; ports-,hough we would gladly Know We
must patiently wait to see.
The increased facilities of communication
afforded by these steamers viii constitute
! an epoch Ia the history of commerce, and
perhaps too in the history of America, from
which many important consequences aud
events are TO lOw.-NGiioaal lnteliigelcer.
! 70 Referring to the dissatisfaction Of the
people with the new exemption law the Be-
, lot Journal says:
, We believe the tendency Of the condition
! of securities, is to make debtor and creditor
| mutually crafty and distrustiul, and to rem
= der their relations still worse than they are.
J Whether or not this sentiment has frequent
, IL found utterance in so ,aany words, we DO
I not know, but we believe if the opinions Of