The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-15
From The London Times, august 26th.
The Nicararua Route.

Jotity.
From The London Times, august 2Sth
The Nicaragua Route.
In February, lS49, the Times directed public at
tenton to the desirableness Of transit route from
| the Atlantic to the Pacific, by way of Lake Nicara-
qua. At that time we exercised an inoffensve con-
troll over the Mosquito territory. which commanded
| the entrance to the passage; West India colo
mics gave US an interest as they still do, in every
thing connected with the region; we possessed ar
| ready lines OF steamers both the Atlantic and
the Pacific side; our traffic from to ocean, in
the shape of specie and passengers, was SO consid-
cradle as to call Tor our fullest activity with regard
to every thing that might facilitate it; and above
all, the privileges necessary for the construction
| of the route in which Nicaragua Costa RIGA, and
| the Mosquito territory were Interested, were in.
| stantly obtainable on such moderate terms as
| would have been consequent the absence
| of competition. Nothing was done, however
A scheme based upon commercial considera-
tons, and which, to be appreciated, required a
| comprehensive faith in the inevitable march of
western civilization, had few attractions after
period OF excitement, when fortunes to
| be made by any thing rather than the exercise
| of judgment and knowledge of the laws of pro-
gress. The enterprise, moreover, according to
| some, was not sufficiently exclusive, and would
merely result in the loss OF capital for the BEN
eft of the Americans who were .'too shrewd to I'M
dertake it themselves" few months afterwards
the announcement came that the Americans,
aroused to the value OF the route, had lost time
In opening negotiations in Nicaragua, and had ac-
tually succeeded in concluding contract. The
cry was then raised that they seeking grasp
Central America; that they would construct the
canal and exclude our vtssels from entering it
upon equal terms, and that we must forthwith pre-
vent their proceedings by contesing, in the name
OF the King Of Mosquito, the right of Nicaragua to
conccde the route. The answer TO this was the ar
rival of two commissioners from the Canal COM
pany to offer to English capitalists upon little
than nominal terms, clear half vf all the privi-
leges which they had acquired by their prompti-
tude, and which now held under Joint guar
antee of protection from the governments Of the
United States and Great Britain. The desire fl r
participation, however, was again cooled as soon asl
was found that it could be graiified. The prudence
OF Engiishmen in 1850 was enough tocompensate for
the entire history of 1886, and where E800 900 900
had once been considered moderate outlay 10 be
incurred during two three years for local traffic.
the possible expenditure by England and the Uni
ted States combined of E300 900 per annum for
twelve years. to revouonize the traffic of the globe
was something almost too much even for
gresa OF capitalists to contemplate. direct pur-
chase therefore, was out of the question: and twas
apparently only from sense OF patriotism and of
the shame that would be incurred if the power Of
accepting the offer should be wholly lost u.s. that
at the eleventh hour agreement was entered into
with the view OF securing its renewal at fair price
IL the company should ultimately succeed in de-
monstrating the feasibility of their undertaking.
In October last this agreement announced in
the Times, and Messrs. Vanderbilt and White, the
commissioners of the company, returned to New
York, with the intelligence to their colleagues that
they must proceed in their work without any CO.
operation from this eide until the results of co ope-
ration would be no longer doubtful. From that
date there have been almost monthly assertions Of
impending failure.
Without ''British captnl' their attempts, il was
said, would end in hopeless insolvency. Costa
Rica moreover, would contest the territory through
which they would pass. Mosquito also, might still
be made cause of quarrel. Other competing
schemes, too, would extinguish them. Their two
boats first sent out Zone of which ia Mt present ON
the lake, were 'totally wrecked" The assertion
that they forming road over the twelve
miles of land from the lake to the Pacific was al
legged on the authority of two travellers to be de-
fusion; and finally, within the last fortnight, we
have had the statement that their privileges, which
had been guaranteed by England and America,
had been suddenly revoked by the State of Nicara
qua. more remarkable history Of Discourage
ments was perhaps never recorded, and cor
tainy never terminated in more concise or in
tercsting way than by of the simple paragraphs
in the American news of Monday morning: "The
passengers by the Pacific steamer arrived at San
Juan del Sur Nicaragua with the California mails
on the 10Th of July crossed the Isthmus in thirty
two hours, and arrived at New York after pas
sage from San Francisco of about twenty nine
days."
Thus, within thirty months of the time when
the question of Nicaragua first became generally
discussed the American company have entered
into and secured contract with that State, have
gained the advantage of protective treaty be-
tween Great Britain and the United States, have
established line of the fastest steamers both on
the Atlantic and Pacific, have completed a survey
which shows that the difficulties which for three
hundred years have frightened the world from at
tempting junction OF the oceans were absolutely
fabulous, have carried two hundred passengers in
a few hours down river which was represented
asalmost impractcabc from shoals and rapids even
for Indian canoes, have removed all the uncertain
ties and terrors that rendered the Isthmus the
great stumbling block of safe and cheap pas
sage to Australia, have brought California a
week or ten days nearer to New York and have
secured to themselves the monopoly of traffic
which Is the most marvellous that has ever been
known, and the disposal of fertile lands and trad
ing stations and natural docks that promise uti-
mately TO receive the commerce of the world. The
lesson which these things furnish to our capital
lists Is rendered, too more striking by the fact that
they have been achieved by small body of iHl-
ness men, without, we believe, the issue OF a single
prospectus, or raising dollar in the share market.
IL Will be useful if it should teach that the true
mode oil seeking fortune by adventure is to be
found rather in an energetic combination of few
individuals, animated by earnest conviction,
and ready to risk their own labor md means to
carry 1t out, than in accepting the invitations
OF the most wealthy spectators, however ready to
manage millions If they can raise it with small
risk 10 themselves and TO organise at a moments
notice board of directors and staff of officials
who will conduct the expenditure free from person-
al misgivings, and relying upon the dignity of
their names meet oil circumstances by q threat of
resignation.