New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-28

charge Of persons competent TO lay II. The con-
tractors are now preparing to get out the plank,
IN Florida and II IS the intention 20 have the
road completed and ready for carriages by the
hrst OF March at tarthest. When the road IS
built, contracts are TO Re made for q sufficient
number OF light covered carriages to transport
any number Of passengers ia speed and safety ;
by which time, also, there viii he large and
commodious hotels erected both at san Juan Gel
sur and Virgin Bay, 20 feed and lodge all who
may cross. But this land travel is far less diff
cult than is the road from Gorgona to Panama :,
so that, ritiom plank road, deem this the mos.
desirable route for passengers.
ne second difficulty IS encountered IN pass
ing from Virgin Bay TO the Atlantic terminus,
on the Lake. Running from Virgin Bay TO
the Rapids of Fiejo Castillo (Old Castle there
has hitherto been bu, one small steamboat.
called the director" which is incapable of
carrying comfortably with no accommodations
for sleeping or cooking) more than $50 passen-
gers. On the 22d Of October. the Company sent
out new boat called the Central America. "
of $50 tuns burden, and which was built ex-
pressly for this service, having comfortable ac-
Communications OF every kind tor 500 passen-
gers. This boat cost the sum OF $4,000, and
her capacity viii enable passengers to prosecute
their Journey without the usual detention al
virgin Bay, matter Of so much complaint here
tolore. AS this boat arrived safely in the River
San Juan on the Cd of this month, there Is no
reason TO doubt that 1t is now IN readiness to
convey all who may be crossing. Another boat,
still larger and more comMOdlous than the Cen
trail America, is to be put upon the Lake by the
lst Of February.
Below the Castillo Rapids, there are now run.
ming three iron steamers OF light draft, each ITO
feet in length by IA feet beam, capable of con-
veying $50 20 $50 passengers each. These boats
ply between the above Rapids and San Juan del
Norte, or Greytown, so that the Company have
a, this time two boats on the Lake, coming down
the River to the rspids--in addition 70 which,
another Lake boat Is 10 be sent out when COM
pleted and two more River boats, capable OF
carrying 500 passengers each. are so far IN readl
ness at Bangor, that they only wait their ma
chiney, which is being manufactured al Boston
BY the first of January there will re five boats
on the San Juan River, and by the first Of Feb
uary three boats two of large class on the
Lake. At the Castillo Rapids portage OF about
100 yards will be necessary in changing rom the
River to the Lake Boats but eventually the
navigation OF this the only obstruction IN the
River, will be removed. To effect the removal
of the distractions at this and the other Rapids
Of the San Juan, a powerful Excavator has
been purchased of Mr.. Osgood, OF Troy,to be
sent out In December under charge OF compe-
tent men to work 1t.
1t will be seen by the statemen. have given
Of what the Canal Company have done, and are
doing that they have not been remiSs IN efforts
to place on their portion of the line the best &C
Communications for the comfort OF passengers that
money could procure, and this, too, IN the short
est possible time. They are III no wise blame
able for the loud complaints that have been made
recently by many who have crossed, for they
have never yet advertised being IN readiness 10
convey passengers, but will be prepared to do
so by the end of December. when any number
can be taken from ocean to ocean, without de.
tention, without discomfort, and IN period
not exceeding "a hours.
Nor is Mr.. VANDERBILT liable TO the charges
made against his line, for he has, as am rell-
ably assured, and as his advertisements show,
been careful to caution those applying Tor pas
sage not to expect TOO much II rs well known
that he has refused 10 receive more applicants
than he believed could 60 through comfortably !;
and TO his own temporary disadvantage has run
his steamers with a smaller number OF passen-
gers than they were calculated TO carry. men
tion this as simple act OF Justice to Com. VAN
DERBILT, whom the whole travelling pubic know
to be one of the most honorable. upright and
interchangeable men In the Union. Connected as
he has been with steamboat navigation for long
time, and having by his enterprise done more
than any other man to increase the accormoda-
tions and lessen the cost of trasel, by the con
stnctien OF first class boats, the public VIII not
now believe him guilty of deception, nor hold
him responsible Tor defects In the working OF so
extensive Ineof communication, which there
has been yet no time 10 remedy. Com. v never
takes matter In hand that he does not do thor
oughy and well, and the popularity OF the Mica
ragua Route cannot be rendered unpopular oe'
cause in the first few months OF It's opening
every part fails to work as smoothly as Is uesf-
able.
No one experienced mere OF the dlscomiOrts
on this route than nv self, and | am prepared to
aver, without fear Of contradiction, that me route
,fs,lt-so far as regards healthIness, safety, eN-
petition ard natural beauty OF sceneTy-cannot
be surpassed by any other now open. during
detention Of twelve days at Greytown bur one
death occurred In the town, and that native OF
the country Among over 800 americans wait
ing for passage at the same time, no sickness
came to my knowledge and could not learn
that the fevers, more or less prevalent IN all
tropical countries, were other than OF very mild
tyne. While unreasonable people complained
OF the proprotors of the line for al SORTS OF rea!
or fapcied grievances everybody was delighted
with the route and such have been the repre-
sensations of passengers gong rom TINS slte'
that every steamer and sailing vessel which mas
left San Francisco for san Juan del Sur, has
been crowded II is these srfra numbers, brought
in other craft than those OF Com. Vanderbilt,
that have exhausted the means OF transPorIa-
ton heretofore provided by the CANA Company,
and given rise TO the faut.fnding IL the news
papers. 81 .
route this side. Qhe Prometheus and Daniel
Webster) another nearly ready. (the Northern
Light and the keel OF fourth has been laid
On the Pacific side are three steamers-the Pa'
cifc. Moth Aa.rica and Iad,P"ad,ace-the two
former acknowledge 10 be the fastest steamers
on that ocean. The rate Of fare for through TICK
cts is. for first cabin, $500 second cabin, s2S(,
and in the steerage $50 What dlscoun, IS mace
for families consisting in part OF small Children
am no, able 70 say. the agent of the line, Nj d..
B. Allen, not having replied to my inquiries on
this ana other points which wished to give 70
those desiring information: but nave no DOUBT
the terms are as liberal a. any other line
TIE Canal Company have expended $500 Ooo
in surveys boats &c, and have contracts N
voIving a hundred thousand more, including the
plank road from Virgin Bay to the Paclhc. The
rate OF fare charged by them from ocean 10 ocean
Ia "a