Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-20
IRON STEAMERS WANTED ON THE MAGDA-
LENA RIVER.

We have received an interesting letter from
gentleman at Bogota the capital of the Republic OF
New Grenada, from which we make the following
extract:
BoGorA, FEBRuARr, 2s, 1850.
The Government Of New Grenada, with just appreca-
ton of the and wants OF the country anxious 10
improve its me ans of internal communications The extreme
mountainous character of New Grenada, and the sparse
of its population, forbid all thoughts of railways The
construction of good roads s difficult and their
good repair requires much watchfunes and
labor in consequence of their liability to injury during the
proraced and heavy rains in certain seasons OF the year.
The old Spanish Government did not directly repress all
commercial enterprise did little to encourage b by aoidng
the facilities of that all enlightened Co.
consider essential the industrial development
and welfare of their people The few roads made by the Spa
nards constructed with to military rather than COM
mercial operations. They were however, it is but just to
say, made in excellent manner, and OF them, even
now like the remains Of the old roads made for like Pur
poses by the Romans 10 the provinces OF their vast empire
energetic character and executive power Of the con-
queros and their Immediate descendants But for nearly
centuries the conquest the internal com
Of the ceuntry, excepting tie portions ad-
joining the Msgdaena, and lew other navgape rivers mas
been carried by mules over roads, 80 Called that
in reality nothing but paths trails at all times di-
cult and painful to traverse, and often dangerous.
The long war ofindependence greatly disturbed the indus
trial pursuits of the people, exhausted their available re-
sources and burdened them with debt At the close Of that
war they undertook to maintain form OF Government mat
for its successful support demands the highest degree virtue
and enlightenment without the requisite training to ht them
for enterprise Of such magnitude and responsibility
cannot be surprising, therefore, that, for years sue
ceedng the achievement Of independence the various South
American States, including New Grenada suffered so much
from civil dssensons, and the lack of pecuniay means that
they unable to do what needu for the develop
OF their resources and the accompanying Inn
provement of their internal communications The ordeal
through which they have passed has been severe almost be-
yond parallel buitis creditable to hem and affords
of the
have clung with rvor to the principles OF liberty however
mised times in the pursuit and that genuine freedom, and
the that will render secure and permanent just
moderate yet efficient Government the general dhuslon OF
educaton tolerance of religious opinion inducements to i'm
migration, by establishing equality of rights and privileges
between native and adopted citizens and making such mate
rial Improvements the condition and interests ofthe country
demand, now far better appreciated than formerly
In undertaking any works of the kind alluded to- the I'M
provement of the navigation Of the Magdaena river obvi
ousy the first to which the attention of the Government OF
New Grenada should be directed This river which ira
the whole length the Republic from the equator to
the Caribbean sea- the great natural commercial channel
Of the country II is New Grenada what the Mississippi
and its tributaries Southwestern and Western States
BY nearly all the expoabe products Of the country ex-
cepng the Ihmus Of Panama. and the strip between
the Coreras and the Pacific, sent to market and sup
plies Of foreign fabric and produce received in return or
the amount of trade this cannot speak definitely,
for the that full and precise Of the trade, if
any exist which doubtful, not accessible toeraby
correct inference, however, be drawn from the following
statement OF cargoes transported up the nVer o he steam
boat company for three years.
For the fiscal year s46 and AT, Sl3,67O ...a.
For the fiscal year AT and 4S, SlI, 9s7
For the fiscal year 4s and '49, Sl6,666
cargo $50 pounds and the price Of transportation IS ~
cargo The not large, but the means OF trans
poraion the river altogether inadequate to its require
nen,s Until within few years. the only boats in use were
bongos and champans. The bongos are heavy, cumsly
built boats somewhat resembling the Durham boats used TO
navigating the rivers of the United States before the employ
ment of steam. The champans fiat bottomed boats
covered amidshp for about thirds of their length VIII
round topped roofing called odo on which the boyas as
the styled travel while painfully propeing th
boat by poles The time Of making trip from Santa
Martha and Carthagena, the principal importing towns
Honda, the head Of navigation, less than five hun
dred miles, is usually two months; but frequently
pense, of course, very great to say nothing OF the
of me and the interest Of capital invested in goods sub
ect 10 such slow transit few years ago company com
posed Of Of the wealhiest and most enerPris-
ing business of the country, anxious to effect an i'm
provoment of this state of things, ordered two steamboats,
built in New York. for the navigation Of the river Unfor
unaey for the of the enterprise, the gentlemen en-
gagged in it had practical knowledge Of the business ant
the boats Of the kind best suited to the navigation
of the river. Accidents happened to them No provision
made to repair damages the machinery and the result
has been that, for most Of the time since the boats com
enced running the other has been disabled and a
up. What their speed may have been originally, am un
able say but when came up the Nuepa Grenada, las
December. the utmost speed we made was four miles
hour. The Government and the business public general
are alike anxious boats the river, that will
well managed and will perform their trips with punc,ualit
and dispatch The kind Of boats required iron hulls
not exceeding hundred and fifty feet long, of gh
daugh and propelled by two strong engines The river
rapid and when low, sbounds in sand bars but when low
est assured by those best acquainted with its naviga
ion three feet always be found in the channel
The boats may be fitted up in the paines Nothing
fact need be expended for painting upholstery furniture
dec raons Of any Kind which add much to the cost
boats in the United States capital of hundred thou
sand dollars should think amply sufficient to put three boat
the river capable Of making the trip from Baranglia
Honda about four hundred and fifty miles, in six days, in
cudng the necessary stoppages That the enterprise wou
prove very profitable feel perfectly assured and if any
parties in the United States will undertake to place boats
the river Of which shall leave Banangula every Mon
day morning, and deliver the mail at Honda every Saturday
evening Of the week, am authorized to say the Go
vernment Of New Grenads will pay fair compensation fol
the transportation Of the mail and will also guaranty net
profit Of ten per cent. the capital invested Wood 4
abundant all along the shore and coal of excellent quality
said can be procured small labor and expense Indeed
reghng coal down Carhsgena for the OF the Ame
rican and English steamers, business as yet utterly ne
elected, might he made very lucrative Without going init
more minute Details persuaded, from the information
have carefully gathered that if properly entered ant
managed by experienced men, steam navigation OF the Mag
dalena within the limits proposed, would pay twenty five
cent. on the capital necessary for its prosecution.
ROCK HILL ACADEMY,
| Ellic0tt's Mills, Howard District, Maryland.
TIME duties Of this Institution will be resumed Monday
the 9th of Nav next For circulars address, paid