The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-19
From the Neao Orleans Picayune.
The Tehuantepec Nee ing.

The Permanent Committee Of citizens the
Tehuantepee road, had meeting last evening at the
office of the Crescent Insurance Company. Peter
Conrey, Jr. was in the chair, and b. Falon, Sec
retary 1t was called to receive the report of the
proceedings of the Managing Committee since the
last meeting in June. 1t was made by J. P. Ben
iamin verbally, at great length, and was listened
10 with deep interest and with great qualification.
The results were Of the most propitous character.
He read n large number of documents, including
important correspondence with various parties in
interest. Among them, we heard letters from
Mr. Trasteur, the engineer sent down by the
committee in this city to explore the Pacific coast,
with a view Of determining the character OF the
harbor, and fixing the site for the western termi-
nus; and from Captain Barnard, OF the U. 8. To-
biographical Engineers, who has been selected to
command the surveying party on the whole route,
for the location of the road. There was also a
very important correspondence between Mr.. Har-
gous, the original owner Of the grant, and Mr..
Webster, Secretary of State OF the United States,
on the subject Of the treaty negotiated by Mr..
Letcher, the grounds Of objection to IT. and me
course to be pursued to have it amended, and the
advantages which the grant Of the right Of way
comedies, secured to the citizens of the United
States, under the express protection OF the Gov
eminent Of the United States. '-
Among the papers submitted was the original
deed of conveyance just received from New York,
by which the whole OF the grant is conveyed by
Mr. Hargous to Peter Conrey, Jr., J. p. Benla-
min, Samuel J. Peters, Leonard Matthews, J. L..
Lapeyre, and Bernard Fallon, Of New Orleans.
This deed gives full and absolute control of the
whole grant and all it's privileges on the sole condl-
ton that the road shall be efficiently commencedb by
sufficient company, according to the agreements
already published, before March, 1852. This
gives the friends Of the road here secure footing
upon which to proceed. They have the full own
ership Of all the rights of the original grantees,
and if they cannot and do not have their plans in
= Laf1e ia oKNrtax -
they will egregriously disappoint their own hopes,
which are most highly excited
Mr. Tresteur's letters from the lsthmus show
great zeal in the duty he has undertaken. He had
not crossed the lsthmus, but his careful invesga-
tons Of the bar at the entrance OF the Coazacoal-
He sounded the bar in all directions carefully, and
found two practicable passes. That which is
westermost carried in the centre depth Of four
teen and a half feet at low water; but the width
Of the channel of that depth was extremely mar
row, not over fifty feet. The soundings on each
side were less, but left width Of three hundred
and fifty feet, on the bar, over which the water
was twelve and q half feet at low water, over a
rocky bottom; deep enough for the largest steam
boats that could be used in the trade. The bar is
narrow; by his estimate only eighty feet thick
He has forwarded map Of the mouth Of the river
and the bar, on which are Marked an inc souhu'
ines with the directions for sailing and entrance
He has moreover, forwarded an accurate chart
of the " hole coast between Vera Cruz and the
mouth Of the Coa,zacoalcos river. The commit
tee were much gratied with his report, and fur
Their pleased with some specimens Of the produc
tons OF the country which he sent up Tor tne.
examination. Among them were tobacco, cohee
cocoa, the bark Of the chincona, (Jesult's bark
which were grown almost spontaneously with
little aid Of cultivation, and was pronounced TO b'
remarkable productions. MIR. Trasteur is pro
ceeding on his duty to the Pacific coast. ,
Capt Barnard s letters are full of practical sug
gestions, marked with that extreme caution which
is with that gentleman an accompaniment Of pro
found scientific knowledge and much practical ex
perience. He detailed plan of exploration, ant
gave a minute estimate of the expenses whicl
would be incurred and the proper method OF pro
oeeding If the committee agree to his plans h
win be ready to start the duty during the pres
ent month"; and expects to be able to complete tn
survey and estimates within six months. 8agb
One of his letters refers exclusively 10 the con