The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-20
The Tehuantepec Inter-oceanic Route.

The New Orleans papers have been much
occupied of late with proceedings and specula-
tons touching the conneXion of the Pacific
Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico by means Of a
railroad across the lsthmus of Tehuantepec.
The project is now in fair train for its sue
cessful accomplishment. 1t has been started
| under the auspices of some of the most dstin-
guished and enterprising citizens Of Louisiana,
who appear to have directed their whole ener-
gies to the contamination of this great under
taking The names of SAMUEL j. PETERS,
PETER CoNREY, jr., LEONARD MATTHEWS, j.
P. BENJAMIN, }. M. LAPEYERE, and BERNARD
FALLoN appear in the published proceedings
| as those of the permanent committee for organ
izing the company, and their names are sat
lsfactory guaranty that the work will be car
red through. Before embarking in it, these
gentlemen thoroughly examined the subject
| with view to ascertain its practicablity, and
having ascertaned that, they are now engaged
| with laudable industry in perfecting all the de-
tails necessary to accomplish it. Nearly all
the papers in The city of New Orleans are the
warm advocates of this undertaking. Perhaps
| there is but one journal which has taken ground
against the project. We see from the proceed
| ings that Mr.. BENJAMIN, with his usual talent
and manly ardor, has encountered this opposi-
ton, and is boldly and successfully defending
the positions taken by the permanent commit
tee, of which he and the secretary, Mr.. FAIL
LON, are such energetic members. The sub
ject is worthy of his pen, for, distinguished as
he now is as one of the most prominent mem
bers of the bar of New Orleans, his powerful
advocacy of this great work will place him
still higher for his future fame.
There is another trait in the movement al
New Orleans on this subject, rather novel in
It's character, and which assures us that a work
undertaken under such auspices must succeed
If we are correctly informed, large portion Of
the stock now subscribed has been taken by
persons subscribing for one, two, three shares,
and so on, in small quantities of stock, by which
means til will s of the citizens will become
stockholders in this great project.
The work now about to be undertaken is one
which interests the whole community, and the
best wishes of every true friend of his country
will be enlisted in its behalf. In speaking OF
this route, we are not to be understood as ex-
pressing any hostility to other routes In fact,
the excitement Of any thing like rival feeling is
unworthy, and, To say the least of it, unneces-
sary for the keen sagacity of the American
public will very surely discover what is the
best route, and will certainly adopt that one
In our own mind we are convinced that time
and circumstances will lead to the opening OF
the various routes proposed, and each will &C
complish in its turn high social and commercial
results.
| The great desideratum nop, however, is Il
obtain-and that as speedily as poosibe-the
shortest and quickest communication with our
Pacific possessions; and, according to a statement
by gentleman who had resided sixteen years
on the Isthmus, DR.. BALDWIN, the mails and
passengers could be put in San Francisco in moi
over fourteen days from New Orleans With
the lines of railroads which are every day being
made in the direction Of New Orleans. an en-
tire line will soon be completed, which will
make the time between San Francisco TO New
York in less than twenty days. 1t now takes
thirty-fve.
The high moral effects Of the railroad system
in ccmenting the various interests of the Union
are obvious to every intelligent mind The
present project will unite widely separated
worlds, and bring in its train countless blessings
to mankind. As we have every reason to be
lieve that the grantee, Mr.. HARGoUs, has beer
actuated by sentiments Of the highest patriot
ism in securing the advantages Of this grant foi
his country, we wish him and his project entire
success.