The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-08-17
From the Washington Union.
New Route Across the Continent

Recent events have directed public attention,
m a marked manner, towards the central parts of
the continent. The annexation Of California to
the United States, the extraordinary mineral
wealth which has been discovered there and the
still more extraordinary emigration which has
taken place IN consequence, and which has already
raised California from little known and sparse
ly populated province to powerful and rapidly
growing state, have given an immediate and
practical Importance to the long.talked-of project
OF opening ship canal between the two oceans :;
aud as the preliminary steps to this grand enter.
Prise have already been taken, under such cir
cumstances and auspices as to inspire confidence
that 1t will be carried into effect, the character
and resources OF the country through which it
must pass very naturally, and in a strong man
ner, attract the public attention Upon these
points 1t IL understood ample information has
been TO the department Of state by Mr.. Squier
our present charge daiiaircs in Central America
which has been or soon will be communicated TO
Congress, and thus come before the public
In the meantime, it is announced III the New
York papers that the company which has OBJ
tanned the charter for the inter.Oceanc canal
'ruas the Nicaragua government has determined
to cpeE IN immediate route of transit across the
continent, or very nearly the line Of the proposed
canal, from San Juan de Nicaragua, via the riv.
ance Of this plan, this company have sent oct a
small steamer to ply on the river in connection
with the "Orus," now cbristened the Nicaragua"
on the lake, and is building other vessels for the
same purpose. The route is entirely feasible
and, when in successful operation will shorten
the transmit to California not less than six days
besides having the advantage of being subject to
no contingencies on account Of change Of seasons
The port on the Atlantic is the welllinown one
of San Juan del Norte, ard Is ample, safe and
commOdlOus. The distance from here TO San
Carlos at the head of the rver-which, by the
way, is as large as the Hudson above tide water
is aboot ninety miles The lake i, then cross.
cd TO the city q Nicaragua, about so miles fur.
ther, from which point to the port of San Juan
del Sur upon the Pacific, Is but 5 miles, fo- the
most part through al open, cultivated country,
and over good cart road, and one susceptible Of
any desirable degree Of in rrCyemen,. Tie Whole
extent OF land travel will tieR be only 10 miles
which car be accomplished il carriages in tiycs
hours The port ur San Juan del Sur is small
but perfectly well protected and confessedly N.
tiuItely superior to eithe. Chagros or Panama for
purposes OF embarkation In fact, the largest
steamers can lie within twenty rods Of the shore
IN .atloms 0. water.
The estimated time required in the transit is
less than trcEtytOur hours. The proverbal sa-
lubrity Of the country is still another great rec
ommendation, aud supplies are of the greatest T..
bundruce and cheapness. Several Of the Atlantic
and Pacific lines ofsteamers have already arran-
ged to run in CONNECTION with the line Of transit
when it shall be fully opened, which will be in
September Or October next
lnrespec, TO tie proposed canal, It is alnoun-
ced that :hc engineers for surveying the route
sailed on the l4th, in thc schooner "Enerpr,e7 -
specially chartered for that purpose unlor the iii.
rection Of Mr. Chds, late state engineer of New
! York.
1t may be mentioned that the port Of San Ju.
an del Nortc Is 24O miles above Chagrcs, on the
| Atlantic, and the port of San Juan del Sur SO
miles above Panama, on the Paciic--or, rather
that in reaching the latitude of the latter, on the
Pacific, it is necessary to sail $40 miles The cal.
eulatiou is easily made 10y any one who chooses to
look at tue map