The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-26


The extraordinary enterprise exhibited by the
American people in opening two different oomuu.
nicatiors between the Atlantic and the PaciG,
oceans within the short space Of two years, IL at
tracing the attention Of the whole world sad re-
eeiyes, as it deserves, commentator. There is no
people in existence, we are conf lent, who could
thus grapple Hith project which hal 70: con;u.
ries occupied the attention Of the GREATS, inteec
Of the old world, AID not only demonstrate its
:a5ily, bu: carry it into eeos as Il by ma,
gic, as the Americans have done. The press and
yeoIle Of England are pleased aud mortified a. this
exhibi;ion Of American energy and enterprise
pleased that Communication between these oceans
has been est ,blished-m ortiied tina. it was not &C
c5mplished By Britons, by Bitish capitalists, and
by British euteTrise--whi;h, By the way, would
be an urmaiketsble commodity ia the United
states.
There are now two eonmanicatiers with the Pa.
eifc in oIerationone by the way Of the lsthmus Of
Panama and tie other through the State Of Nicaia-
qua. In these lines a large number Of splendid
steamships, van ing in size from fifteen hundred TO
three thousand toLs burden, are employed on both
oceans, whose trips are so regular that the trans
mission Of intelligence between New York and Ca.
lifornia Is expeditions and uniform. IL rarely hap.
pens that these vessels detained beyond tho day
when their arrival is expected and their departures
never delayed. ~ these lines, freight and let
ters are resolved and transmitted rE times in each
month-four by the Panama, and two by the Nj
caTagua route; and when the railroad across the
Isthmus Of Panama il finished, which will be the
case IN les than year, We may expec: a greas
portion cfthe commerce between Europe and the
Last transettd over it, The time s rapidly
approaching when 1. vii be rare occurrence for
ship to double the stormy Cape. +" Balk will
he broken a. Chagres. cargoes will be con.
vcyed by railroad to Panama, and thence re-
shipred 10 the ports Of their destination, thus
faving several thoufand miles In distance,
great deal Of time, and q vast reduction in ex-
peLso, and wear and tear Of Shipping This will be
TIE re ut before another year, Of American enter
prise ar energy applied ia proper direction.
Il Is to be regretted that the competition between
The Panama and Nicaragua routes ;sads 70 impair
III profits which are the legitimate result OF Anne
fcan enterprise In the construction Of taese com.
mun.cations between the Atlantic aud the Pacific
oceans. The consequence is before ~. The
ccnfetition, which is natural under Heh circum-
stances, will reduce the price Of freight and Of the
sbsIofta ion Of rasrengers. 70 point that forbids
the idea q Tho Nicaragua line making much head
Way against the Panama line, which Is the best
organized srd IL q further reduction be made,
rivalry vii change int struggle ioi The supre macy,
in which the company uhish hls tse more capital,
or Is the best arranged, will be the visitor. The
PaEsma route, having iie most money and greater
resources, aud being tbs best route, taking tae
Uncertain and evolutionagg state OF asairs il Mica
ragua into confederation, has the advantage over lie
competitor O. course, the greater the ri yalry or
he greater the struggle, belzssn those companies,
The greater will b, the benef that the public will
receive from their competition.
But We are only n the beEiSajng Of toe great
obss-e which those in.srocesnis Communications
will egces en- the Coz merce o. che world. The
ies,.ny ofths city Of New York Il 70 be toe metro
pois II the void the focus Of com srcs the great
yaptnting heGtt and centse OF civilized and tissn-
ihr lied uatioas These commentaries viii hasten
- time.