The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-08

protrac<d gains and excessive heat, this saving in
space is immense. IL ia to be hoped II at all the
natural obiseles in the way of the complete sue
cess OF this line, will be found capable of being
overcome; and the brightest an,icipations may be
realized fom the forthcoming report of the eng-
neer corps now employed in the survey.
The line OF magnetic telegraph has engaged
much of the attention of the Mexican government
This enterprise is now progressing, and is under
the name cement of Mr.. Stewart, the consul Of
Mexico III this city. IL is destined TO run from
Vera Cruz to Me xco, and from the capital to AGA
pulco The stock has been already taken by the
corporations of the large cities through which it
will pass by Vera Cruz, Jalapa, Onzaba, Perote
Puebla, Mexico, Cuamavaca, and the othsr i'm.
pOrtant towns upon the route. Individual subscrp-
tons have been added III these places The effect
Of this line will be TO put in possession of Cali
foinia news IN eight or nine days. Estimating the
steamers passage from San Francisco to Acapulco
al days, and from Vera Cruz 10 the mouth of
the Mississippi, where the Atlantic wires COM
mence. at Two days, our intelligence from this city
TO California will be transmitted In less than ten
days. is from the operation OF this Improvement
that Mexico anticipates the most favorable results
The earnest desire entertained among our enter
prisng citizens TO obtain short and easy route TO
California prompted some of our wealthy merch ants
70 examine the advantages possessed by the line
from Vera Cruz to Acapulco. To ascertain how
far this cad was practicable, as we'll to learn
the feeling OF the Mexican government towards a
project Of this character, Colonel Ramsay was
despatched to Mexico during the last summer
The result of his mission has already been pub
hshed but the great changes which will be effected
in our intercourse with California and Mexico by
means OF the arrangements made by hun while
there, are worthy OF more than passing notice.
Acapulco has always been, from the earlis times
port OF historical and commercial importance
Situated In the l7,h degree of north latitude, and
n - a. the IsthYnuS Of Daripn ia
about equally distant from Panama and San Fran
CISCO that is, 20d0 miesf from both Of THESE places.
Being harbor, land locked, Of safe anchorage,
OF great depth of water and without any bar at its
entrance, the Spanish government in 1910 selected
it IN preference TO all others on the lsthmus the
depot for the India trade. The galleons for this
trade entered and departed annually from Aca-
pulco, until the year 1888. when the route round
Cape Horn was chosen, and this city abandoned
The other routes across the lsthmus were only
used for The trade of Central and South America
The India trade with Europe took the road from
Acapulco to Vera Cruz
The city of Acapulco has again become place
of importance, as the touching point tor all the
California and Panama steamers for supplies, as 1t
is the only good harbor on the western coast OF
Mexico.
The arrangements entered into by Col. Ramsey
with the Mexican government, are Principally for
the privilege of Transporting foreign mails across
the territory OF the republic and also for carrying
the Mexican ocean mails to the United States and
Cuba. An understanding also exists, we believe,
whereby the road from the capital to Acapulco will
be under the superinteDdence of those engaged IN
the enterprise. The route will. therefore, at once
be made easy for the passage of carriages, il is
the oldest road on this continent and was IN ex
cellent constion long before the settlement OF any
Of the British colonies in America.
To comprehend the facility and rapidly OF the
transit for mails and travel across this route, IN
comparison with others, il is requisite to state the
time now taken BY the way Of Panama; and II must
be borne in mind that the project IS intended to
mt hn EtYpp we iaa
trade ard passage. The British Yves! India IN iil
service is regulated that there are two arrivals
at Chagres from Southampton, each month-the
time being fixed at twenty-four days-and one ar
rival monthly at Vera Cruz, from Southampton
the time twenty seven days. BY the Panama route,
therefore, the time from Eng Land to Cilforail
would be about fortysix days, and twice each
month The time taken from New York or New
Orleans, by The way of Panama, 10 San Francisco,
now is never less than thirty. one days.
BY the way of the. city of Mexico the time Is
estimated as follows From San Francisco to
Acapulco, seven days. to Vera Cruz, five days, and
to New York six days-in ALL eighteen days; or
from Vera Cruz TO New Orleans, three days-being
fifteen days. The time from Acapulco 10 Vera
Cruz is taken at what several proposals have been
made 10 carry passengers, mails, baggage, NC.
BY this route II Is intended to have weekly COM
muniealton with California and as there Is tn
same frequency Of trips between New FORK and
England, the time for The European correspondence
10 reach San Francisco Will not exceed - days
weekly, instead Of i6 days, only twice per month,
by Panama AS freight can now be transported
across Mexico at the same rates and with equal
safety as at Panama, strong effort viii be made
to turn the gold dust OF California, and all the
Mexican silver, which now 90 direct 70 Eagiand
into this channel TO the city Of New York Should
the mail line OF ste amrrs be established 10 emma,
no one can doubt that Acapulco Will be one OF the
ariLcipsl cepot-, ard, consequently, this route
will, from Its superior advantages, be adopted
The Mexican government is strongly impressed
with the superior advantages OF THIS line, and II
We may be permitted TO judge from their papers,
the executive IS inclined 10 render every assistance
20 the nterprise. As no roads have 10 be con-
sttucted nor steamers built TO open this commune
cation, in a very short period we hope 10 see the
Undertaking in full operation.
While the Mexican government hes thus eyincei
is friendship and liberaiy toward our Citizens we
regret that the wishes of Mexico, in relation TO the
ray ment OF the indemnity, have been frustrated.
We believe that this. however, has been unlnten-
tionsl on the part Of the government. consequent
upon change la the cabinet, after the death of Gen.
Taylo r. The understanding with MI CLAYTON
was not communicated 10 Mr.. Webster, and he,
therefore, not apprsed Of the state OF affairs
and of the great interest Il was TO Mexico.
The instsment Of g., 600, 90 Of the indemnity,
falling due in June next, had 70 be provided Tor 80
that il could be promptly paid IN Mexico The
Mexican government wae anxious that the pay.
nent should be made in New York in drafts .dra wn
in Mexico, upon the United States treasury, and
for this arrangement proposed 10 alloy oar govern
ment Al per cent premium for the difference OF ex-
object, and having the conhden,e Of the Minister
ot Finance, senior Payne, and Of Gen. Ausa, and
being also favorably known to Gen Taylor, II was
believed that this mode Of payment would be
adopied The death Of the President caused the
affair 10 pass into other hands.
Had this arrangement been entered into, Il was
the intention of the Mexican executive to apply
the drafts 10 the liquidation OF certaa class Of
De brs charging about IL per cent premium, or even
more. upon them BY the operation, the Mexican
treasury would have been benehted 10 an amount
equal to s300, O00-a large sum tn bankrupt go
vsrnnent with imporiunats creditors-anf the
United States would have received some $50 900
more than by the contract subsequently made.
In consequences Of the failure Of this negotiation,
IL IL epprehended that the arrangement Of the
Mexican government with iis creditors will be
seriously embarrassed, III not ending in total
failure. The contract 10 pay this indemnity was
GIVEN by our Executive TO Messrs. Baring " Co.,
they paying 10 our government ~ per cent a. the
premium ~ exchange Instead, therefore, OF the
Mexican government receiving the benefit Of the