The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-20
The Tehuantepec Route.
New YORK, July IL, 1851.

NEW YORK, July rs, 1901.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
My attention has been called to an article in your
paper Of yesterdays date, under the caption Of the
"Tehuantepec Trouble" &C., which is in many
respects incorrect, and is also unjust towards
the members of the engineering party lately en-
ployed on the Isthmus of Tehuautepsc, that feel
constrained to address you this reply.
Without entering upon the legal question Of the
right of the Mexican Congress to annul the grant
Of Don Jose dc Garay, made in conformity with
the constitution Of that republic, wh,h vests in the
President the power to grant concessions of lands,
for colonization, internal improvements, &c.,
shall content myself with noticing such statements
only as tend to implicate, in some easure, those
persons in the service of the United States engaged
in the survey of the route, and the good faith of
those gentleman who compose the Tehuantepec
Railroad Company.
The statement that GO those associated with
Garay have attempted to go on with the work
commence the survey of the route, and 60 to
Coatzacoalcoas with boats, and engineers,
veyors, workmen, provisions and merchandise,
and land, though forbidden by the Mexican author
ities," is utterly erroneous. Every member of the
survey was provided with Mexican passport, duly
certified at Vera Cruz; the party was under the
direction of Major ]. G. Barnard of the Corps of U
S. Engineers, and by an order Of the Central Co
vernment of Mexico, "a copy of which appeared in
the Hnald) all the stores, instruments, and equip
ments necessary for the of the surveying party,
were admitted into the country free Of duty and,
moreover, permission was given to the steamship
Alabama to make several trips to the Cratzaco-
alcoas for the purpose oflandng and receiving pas
sengers, &c. The representation in the article in
question, of the conduct of the engineering party
arriving at the river Coatzacoalcoas is unjust to
them in every particular. They did not "invade''
the country. There was opposition to their
landing and going on with the survey which they
completed peaceably and quietly. They did not
land or attempt to land any A" merchandise The
only merchandise on board their vessel was q few
"plank," which was by permission entered at Vera
Cruz, and high duty paid thereon. Nor were any
of them imprisoned by the police, or threatened
nor had they any difficulty with the authorities
The passengers of vessel unc)nncctod with the
Tehuantepec Company, and having no connection
with the engineering party, had some trouble with
the Mexican authorities, as has been reported, in
various ways, in the newspapers; but we had no.
thing to do with them in any way, except gratuit-
ousy to aid in the friendly settlement of the dispute
Had such statements as these made their appear
ance in any of the trashy sheets of the day. CONTRA
diction Of them would be quito necessary; bat
most largely circulated journals in the country Is en-
ployed TO disseminate incorrect ssatements tending
TO impugn the good faith and patriotism Of some
Of the first capitalists in the South, and the con-
duet of scientific commission composed in part
of officers of the army ana navy, under the sane
ton of the President of toe United States il pro-
per that the same should be contradcted aud re-
iuted. l am aware that telegraphc and other
loose reports have been published in different news
papers, from time to time, from which, doubtless the
orr TOTS in your article have arisen; but am satis-
lied that IL will give you pleasure to correct them.
They are all without foundation.
BY reference to the numbers of the Herald
carly in this month, il will be found that all the
surveys on tho lsthmus had been completed, and
the party on til cir return to the United States long
before any ,tion towards the fabulous expulsion OF
the Americans was taken by the Mexican govern
ment; and, moreover, that every facility was and
bad been, freely furnished, and as freely paid for
during the progress of the survey, to advance its
completion.
Iii, no; my province nor my privilege to antici.
pate the publications of the ports of Major Bar
nard, except 50 far as il may be necessary in his
absence to relate charges which tend TO affect the
results of his labors, and his distinguished repu-
tation. In reply, therefore, to the statements con-
corning the Tehuantepec route, | beg leave briefly
TO assure you that it is quite feasible as any in
the United States; that there are no less than six
mountain passes, all admitting Of grades not
greater than 80 feet; tina. the road eau be built
upon grade Of 80 feet to the mile; that a ship
canal IS by no means impossible; that earth
quakes have not occurred on the lsthmus, so far /
am infoimed that the lands are incom para bly, rich
abounding in iron, tin, silver, salt aud coal mines
together with mahogany, lignumvte, India rubber
pine, live oak, and cypress, and every variety OF
gun trees and dye woods. We may add To these a
soil and climate adapted TO the raising Of rice, cot
ton, sugar, and tobacco, equal, if not superior, to
the finest portions Of the southern country, and in
quantities sufficient should the lsthmus fall into
the hands OF foreign capitalists, TO njure seriously
If not destroy, tho American trade to Europe; the
existence Of nm excellent harbor on tho Pacific n
nBgn mt river this side igabe for 30 miles
for hips; n salubriOus and healthy climate the
close proximity ofthe Isthmus 10 the United 5tates
the saving Of two thousand miles in the voyage to
California the control Of the entire India trade,
ard the market which the States Of the South and
West must have for their produce on the shores Of
the Pacific, IL IL plain, then, that the "iovason"
Of the ls'hmus, so literally imputed 60 the engi-
neering party, has been attended with some good
Iesulis: and that Tehuantepec possesses im neasu-
rsble advantages over the pestilential climate,
sIoDgy morassos, and barren heights Of Panama,
or he siagnant lake Of Nicaragua.
The action Of the late Mexican Congress, in
reference to the Tebuantepcc route, is due tn tho
influence OF the members from the states Of Vera
Cruz and Oaxacs, Who oppose it on the ground that
they are not likely TO reap any benefit from tin
other words, the decline of their capitals "a but too
plainly depicted in the approaching reality Of the
great dream which COrtez had centuries since
Every effort, therefore, has been strained to avert
this blow; and even the people Of Sonora aud Ia
mBulpas have been humbuggcd into the idea o.
railroads there, to secure their opposition to Tehu
anterec And yet, with all your swami Of al
extensive and abiding fait " with regard to the
pracicability Of the project, their resistance 60
tie lsthmus route " sue evidence of its feasibility
and importance. Respectfully, &c,
1No MCLEop MuRFuY, L. $. ",
Asst Engr Tchuantcpcc Survey.
Right of Way Across the Isthn,us or Tehu-
antepec.