The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-05-19

neous statement. As soon as the truth was no,y,
the vote reconsidered, and the subject referred
to committee which has not yet reported.
| Respectfully. obedient servant
| J. P. BENJAMIN,
| Chairman of the Managing Committee.
| Ell BARRIo, Mexico. April 4, 1851
Str--Your favors of the 9th and 9th of February
and 9th Of March, are just received by the Ala
bama. After my report of the 18th January. and
other letters from Chevela, again addressed YOU
from Boca del Monte, communicating the progress
| OF the survey up to that period. This was sup
posed to be the latest date which would reach
Minatitlan in time for the Alabamas third trip.
We were in daily expectation, for month or more,
| and for this cause wrote no further.
L have now to state that the survey is nearly
completed far as consider necessary for present
purposes, and that most satisfactory results have
been obtained. | will briefly communicate the
results.
Mr.. Temples survey of the river shows that he
considers it navigabe, at all stages, as high as
Suchil for light draught steamers, and to Paso
Sarabia, or higher, during the rainy season. He
has been on the Pacific coast for a mon tn, and
though he has not yet made the soundings, he has
no doubt about the depth of water, and considers
n
harbor, the latter preferable. In fact, this coast
may be considered as practicable many or most
land-locked harbors on the Atlantic for the pre-
valng and strong winds from the North and off
the Shore against which, of course, the land affords
protection; and though the surface of the water
may be rough, and strong surf breaks on the
shore, yet nothing like is raised, and steamers
or vessels lie in perfect safety The soutberly
nds xuhi =
periods of the summer, little more than SQUALLS,
and not at all dangerous. l do not think break
waters absolutely necessary, but eventually some
arrangements would be made for landing and
receiving passengers and goods with facility. In
the commencement OF the enterprise good surf-
boats are all that would be necessary I think
there can be no aon6t about the entire practtca-
b't'ty OF this coast. will now speak of the rail
road route.
From the Ventosa to the foot OF the mountains
we have level plains, offering choice of routes
plenty of stone and timber at hand, of the best
quality for the structure. The cost of this portion
about thirty-ive miles, will be very trfing The
ascent of the mountains, by the NASHUA Pass, has
now been surveyed and the line run through be-
yond the Sarabia. The result is found to be tina,
grade of forty fifty feet per mile can be carried
up the Pass and that the difficulties are not greater
than have been surmounted on roads in the United
States, thence to the "Lomas de Xochiapa" say
fifteen miles, the ground is easy or moderately
broken. Through the I" Lomas de Xochiapa," say
ten or fifteen miles, more difficulties again occur,
but they are not extraordinary; thence ten or
twelve miles further to the Sarabia, the ground is
perfectly easy. Through the forest country from
Paso de la Puerta," to the Jaltepec and thence
through to " Jesistepec," some difficulties will be
met with, but fancy nothing serious. The sur
vey has actually, at this moment, been extended
from the foot of the Nashua Pass to the Sarabia,
and thence Mr.. Avery's party is extending it
towards "Paso de la Puerta and the Jaltepec Mr..
Williams party have just gone down to the JaIte.
pee, towards Jesistepec. All this will, think, be
completed IN month, and the parties ready to
return by the middle or latter part of May. As
Mr.. Avery has already made reconnaissance from
Minatitan to Jesistepec, and found the ground to
offer difficulties, | do not consider an actual
survey necessary for present purposes as the ques.
ton is plain and the ground easy In addition, in
my letter from " Boca del Monte" | stated the
expedency, in the first instance, of commencing
the line on the Jaltepec.
Taking the whole extent of the road into con
sideration, the ground is remarkably easy, and
timber, stone, etc, at hand in abundance and
the right OF way, serious an item in the United
States, will have cost little or nothing No esti-
mate can be made at present, but think am safe
in saying that the means appropriated by the COM
mittee are ample. In relation to the lands con-
nected with the grant, think it safe to say liner
tract cannot be found in the world.
An immense number of invaluable productions
(comprehending all, or almost ALL the valuable
productions of tropical climates) be raised here
with the greatest facility, while the forests abound
with natural productions Of great value. Throw
in enterprising population here, and the Isthmus
would become the garden spot Of the world.
In relation to opening travelling route, l think
tits only necessary to establish steamers connect
ing with the two coasts, small steamer or steam
ers on the river and the horse mule transporta-
ton across would soon be supplied Passengers
can be got across the Isthmus with such means in
six or seven days from Mnattlan to the Pacific.
There are people the lsthmus ready to estab-
fish the land communication the moment the steam
ers commence running. So that this part OF the
business will give the company no trouble In
conclusion, there can be no exaggeraton in saying
that this is the route, and the one which will su
persede all others; and, leaving out of considera-
ton the value of the route, the value of the lands
and the local wealth to be produced would almost
pay the building of the railroad, and be an i'm
mense contribution to the commerce of New Or
leans. l believe, moreover, that no statement or
estimate you have seen made as yet realizes the
full value OF this route and grant--it can scarcely
bs appreciated | would saw too that tho n.ol