New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-17
New Overland Route Through Mexico.


We have received from Capt Jonas P. Levy,
map Of section OF Mexico Illustrating the direction
| Of proposed route from New York TO San Fran
cisco, via New.Orieans, Tampico Vera Cruz and
AlvUado thence across the continent TO the little
| port of Hustuloo on the Pacific, whence steamers
| are to be run to San Francisco According to this
| map the exclusive privilege OF making the road
was granted to Capt Levy on the 9th OF February
1850, by the Mexican Congress. The capital Is 70
be a.. 100000 in 500 shares The map before rs,
representing this route is calculated 10 give avery
Incorrect idea Of that part Of Mexico through which
it must pass. Taking its outline of the shores OF
the Pacific and the Gulf as the relative measure OF
distance, a road from AlvMado to Huatulco, would
be little more than $50 miles in length! whereas
the shortest route for a railroad between the two
points could hardly fall short Of 400 miles. The
waters Of the Rio Huatulco are represented, bya
strange blunder as mingEng with those OF the hio
Tonic, lin reality the Rio Blanco,) which falls into
the Gulf at Alvarado In fact, most Of the details
are grossly exaggerated.
The little port of Huatulco, Tor Guatuco as it is
sometimes spelt) lies on the Gulf of Tehuantepec
not outside Of it, as represented on the map
about 100 miles west Of the port OF Tehuantepec
and $50 southeast of Acapulco. A railroad con-
Meeting it with Avarado would pass, for the most
part through the TERRA Caiente or tropical region
of Mexico, which is here uninhabited, except by
Indian tribes. The elevation to be overcome, is
less than on a more northern route, but the diff
culties Of constructing road are perhaps greater
Beside, the proposed route is but little removed
from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which is in all
respects preferable.
Nevertheless, the idea Of an overland route to
California through Mexico is deserving Of earnest
consideration. If the Mexican laws modified
that foreign capitalists take hold of the matter
without the burdensome conditions formerly i'm
posed, we know Of few schemes more promising
The table-land Of Mexico is admirably adapted to
the building of railroads. while the accents and des-
cents from the different terraces can in most in
stances be overcome without heavier grade than
80 feet to the mile BY far the most feasible route,
| in our opinion, would be one starting from Vera
Cruz, rising to the tabe-land little north OF Jala
pa thence running to Puebla with branch TO the
Valley of Mexico) turning south Of Popocatapetl
into the Valley Of Rio Yopez, which flows into the
Pacific near Acapulco. This latter port, the best
on all the Pacific Coast and of the healthiest
places in the world, offers remarkable advantages
for line of steamers railroad connecting Vera
Cruz and Acapulco would be the quickest practical
bic route to California, short Of the great Pacific
Railroad. 1t would pass through rich and highly
cultivated region, and the inland trade and travel
Of the country would alone than suffice to pay
its current expenses If Mexico had been blessed
with the right kind of rulers this road would have
already been built, but unless foreign capital and
enterprise are called to the work, it is very clear
that there will be nothing done. With the Panama
Nicaragua and Tehauntepec routes under way, the
prospect of such aid looks small. wherefore we eau
not encourage Capt. Levy in his plan Of connecting
Alyarado and Huatulco. d. 7.