The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-13


ing from New York 10 California by The railroad direct
that OF Tehusnepee would be sufheeni 10 secure
the construction OF the railroad ship-canal through
the sihmus would not change the result nor do away
with the necessity OF railroad.
Il has been urged that railroad 10 the Pacific, il con-
sracted. would not eld enough 10 pay interest ON the
investment deiray current expenses and keep the work
in good repair II can be shown beyond controversy
that the basis OF the present trade and travel between
the Atlantic and Pacific, the road would not only be
good stock, but profitable investment
The present emigration 10 California u not iikely 10
diminish for number OF years II viii continue so
long as gold is found in its present abundance IN ina
region; and there does not appear to be any mll 70
II. The mines, from all appearances are as productive
they have been since the discovery OF me
gold IN California The returns show mar .ne comne'ee
California for the fiscal year ending he SON OF june
1851, foreign and from other pofuohs OF ihe oniiea
States was upwards of 23S 900 tons. VI this, the tom
mage from the United States upwards of 1000
tons. It's known that vessels out always 70 with Iqll
freghs. Let US go more inliy INTO details as 70 The
means OF sustaining railroad to California
Length OF the road from the Mississippi river 10 the Pa
chic taking the largest esiimae, thousand seven
hundred miles, cost of construction $4,000 per
mile $6s 900
II is ascertaned that. in order 10 pay and de-
fray expenses. road should divide IL per
cert; which on the cost OF the road $500 900
The next question s from what sources is this amount
to be derived known that an ordinary trip around
the cape TAX hundred and fifty days As much as
fast clippers The steamers according TO their adver-
semens charge seventy cents per cubic loot TO Chagres
and $i0O per ton from Panama 10 San francisco. Al
$40 per from the Mississippi river, heavy fIegh,
would pay cost charges and repairs the road. AT this
rate freight the road would do nearly all the business,
owing the greater expedition and saving in insurance
now make the trip 10 twenty six days II could by rail-
way be made from New York to San Francisco in six.
The profits from travel would be go great as TO warrant
very low rate OF freighis II is estimated by Lieutenant
Barnard 10 his survey OF the shmus. from ohcla docu
mens that The average travel 10 California Tor the years
ls49 1850 and 1851 was l4l $780, which, at $50 per pas
han tourh q
would give the sum OF W 066 600
Then freighs 1850 900 tons, at $40 100000
Which would produce an annual profit of $ss,56G.Ooo
More than sufficient, without allowing for any increase OF
the present Pacific commerce.
Ii will be perceived tina, the foregoing estimate OF re-
for the support of railroad is based almost ex
clasyely upon the present domestic trade and travel be-
tween the Atlantic and the Pachc 10 tins must be add
ed the commerce OF China and other portions oil ASIA
The foreign trade with China, in lsi5, was S43 800 7sl
In American Ships. including specie 22sss go
All other countries % ~ 400
Opium, smugged |'oVoooo
TOTAL $40 800 -.
Exports from China to British Empire s2Sss7 saI
+" g g the United States S2bI7O2
all other countries I972515
Total ssossl sss
Balance Of trade In favor Of England ss45s $50
Balance OF trade in favor Of China and against o,o
the United States paid in bills on London So 80 OS3
China consumes in raw cotton foOoWo
Lieutenant Maury estimated in 1s49, that in transport
ing oil the railroad instead OF sending home by sea,
there would be saving 10 the whaling business OF
81 900 year, in avoiding loss OF time, interest," and
insurance. well the loss incident 10 the present char
acter Ships and that this freight would pay 70 the rail
road S97osoo, at $50 per ton This trade would probably
pay $500 900 year on freight, at $40 per ton.
There is still 10 be taken into account the way trans
porta,ion and travel, which all must perceive will De i'm
mense if we estimate only Tor the rich planting district
haM ,azts mi and Tho I'm
ton of the road alone will pay good dividend as soon
as /, shall be constructed There is also the country
from the Rio Grande to the Of s the Qua and lss
Go bs fch copper and silver and the working
the country as demonstrated by the recent scarcity of sill
Tor the ordinary purposes OF circulation Not only
does New Mexico possess valuable silver mines, but
they abound also in the three northern States of
Mexico ii we had railroad TO the Pacific,
could by commerce. command the produce OF these
mines, together with the Mexican trade generally And
let you, sir, that this Is most important trade
which we have too long neglected. Mexico has popu.
laon OF than eight millions oil people, aud may be
said TO be nation without manufactures. Merchandise
has been taken overland from Texas not on into the in
terror of Mexico, but TO the capital itself With road
the Pacific the United States could control tins
meEce certainly in all except the southern States of
Mexico. Now, suppose this population took Of mer.
chandise and goods OF all sorts only S. per year for
each person-whch is small esiImate-It would
amount to $40 600 This of itself, would create
very large yreigh and travel IL well known that
the OF these people increase with the habit of con
sumption II must be apparent and il is The opinion OF
commercial men, that trade with Mexico can be
made quite important commerce with Asia, be.
cause with proper exertons the part OF govern
ment IL may be nearly monopolized by the United States
and open q vast market for American manufactures TO
effect this railroad is not only necessary 10 transport
merchandise, but 10 enable 10 furnish the heavy
chinery indispensable TO the profitable working OF the
rich silver mines OF northern Mexico.
1t is admitted that the efficiency OF any road TO the Pa
chic as a medium OF commerce must depend greatly
upon the rate of tolls charged for freight II is
tanned that at cent per ton per mile road will pay
dividends and It will pay expenses and repairs al half
cent per mile AT these rates heavy freight be
ported. There is doubt that the road would take the
This would be cheaper than il could be taken round the
Cape or the sthmus BY steamers and railroad.
Calculating the distance at seventeen hundred miles. il
would leave profit of 81 so per AT these rates.
ton, -four, beef and pork could be transported
the road for the Chinese market from the valley of the
Mississippi, and leave fine profit But they can b.
raised in great abundance east OF the Rio Grande within
one thousand miles OF the Pacific, and therefore be
transported there for S. per ton. Such rate OF freight
large proportion of its food in exchange for Asiac
products thus creating extensive market for the ag
ncultural products OF the United States. This rate
OF freight will enable dealers 10 transport corn four and
provisions from any portion OF the valley OF the Mssis
spp TO the Asiatic market II has been estimated that
these articles be transported from the Pacific China
for Sl4 per ton, which would make the freight on corn
about fifty cents per bushe, and -four 81 rs per barrel
from the Mississippi to China. At these such arti-
ces would bear transportation and yield a fair profit
The route from the Mississippi through Texas has this
great advantage the ncThern route passes through
country which in its whole LENGTH can produce some
thing valuable for export, and therefore