The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-01

west 70 east under the belt Of calmg entrs
compenaates the level, which Is sensibly the ssme
the currents OF the Pacific set up the coast Of South
America towards the Bay Of PANAMA. and another
me contipuauon o. sne Japanese current, unnoticed
stream Of the Atlantic runs down the coast Of Mex.
leo and California also toward the bay Thus natura
seems to Indicate both by winds and currents that
ships crossing the ocean from east to west must ia
SO between 80 degrees and the equator, and from
west to east, in higher latitude than this. In the
large diagrams, which illustrate the paper, these
currents were clearly shown, and were on Mercatora
projection; which though indispensable in nayiga-
ton, gives very erroneous notions Of the properties
OF the sphere, which in extended Pacific voyages
must be taken into account
Thus, the apparently direct track On tho chart
from Panama to Shanghae, China, is w. 8 deg. 50
min. Ma line which intersects the Sandwich Is
lands, and is 1882 miles in length, the Sandwich
Islands lying about midway. But this is very far re-
moved from the shortest line, which from Panama
near Behring's Strait down the eastern side of Tar.
tary and the Korean peninsula, which line will be
S,0s0a miles, or just nine hundred miles shorter
than the rhumb, or apparent direct course Such
being the case it is manifest that ship may sail i'm
course anywhere between these two lines and will
shorten the distance the nearer she keeps to the
course in the higher latitude; so that the direct
course TO or from China will lead up the west coast
OF America-say as high as San Francisco, and then
across the ocean nearly up to the Aleutian Islands
and down the japanese group, by which she would
save about four hundred and fifty miles. As an ex-
IRENE case, 1t may be mentioned that line of $3.50
miles IN length from Panama to China-that Is, the
same as taken through the Sandwich Islands-may
be drawn across the western part of the Atlantic,
through Iceland, between Spitzbergen and the North
Cape, through Siberia and Chinese Tartary to Shang
haze. This may appear paradoxical upon Mercator's
chart, but 1T is correct and may serve to disspate
many preconceived notions of distance between these
widely separated countries.
Of the navigation of the North Atlantic either BIZ
1 iasct tn ks fho ioto
times, and delays for coaling have been long tried
and tested and therefore may be presumed that i'm
each case these particulars are minimised. But the
steam voyages to Australia, entering upon new
ground, have been most decided failures as vet and.
In almost every case. have been beaten by ordinarv
sailing vessels There must be some general reason
for this series of failures besides the ineiciency Of
the ships, and think 1t may be sought for in the
great variety of circumstances that the navigation
around the Cabo Tormcntoso-the Stormy Cape OF
the Portuguese, Or the Cape of Good Hope Of the
Dutch.-will carry vessel through 1t is seen that
the whole system Of winds and currents are inter-
seced in this voyage, and therefore that in the main
they are both adverse and the actual distances to be
traveised are very great.
We come now to that part of our subject which
relates to the absolute distances which will be thrown
open to shipping by the canal, compared with those
at present ollowed Or what is still more important
the absolute time that it may be expected may be-
sions in India China and Australia, there is won
derfully great similarity in the distances which must
now be sailed over to reach any of them from Eng
land. Thus, the mean sailing distances, which we
take from Capt Wises interesting analysis of 100
voyages, is from England to Bombay, 3D. 42l miles;
time, lis days Is hours. From England to Madras,
l3 500 miles, time, log days l6 hours. England to
Bengal lCalcutta) ID, 4O5 miles; time, los days
hours. And from England to China, Is ,23S miles.
The distance necessary to be sailed to Adelaide may
be about 1920 miles, and to Sydney, $500 miles
around the Cape OF Good Hope or by steam, IL, $50
miles, to be performed in 81 days.
vfn~r a.
rom the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, portion Of
which has been long established-would make the
distance to Sydney. via Torres Strait about 1888
niles; but in the outward passage the wind and cur
ent would be almost always adverse, so that this
ength must be increased, on the score of current
lloIe, perhaps one thousand miles. The time cal
ulated by Captain Hammond for this route is seventy
i've Gays. The distance and time to the westward Of
Australia, which avoids all the terrors to steam navi-
yation in Torres Strait, would be about the same.
Vow. it will be seen that these distances represent
more than half the circumference Of
he globe; moreover, they lead through seas where
he winds at seasons in most furious opposition
o Their pr0gresS-the currents also most violent. It
only OF late years that to beat agdus the adverse
monsoon has been attempted; and it is stated that
me OF the fine steamers employed in the Oriental
ransit was compelled to burn nearly every available
,art OF her construction, when having run short Of
uel decks, spars rigging and cargo were all cut up.
such an occurrence In the Pacific would be most Sc
ious.
Turning attention to the routes in the Opposite
Erection, or across the lsthmus and Pacific very
llEerent order Of navigation will exist. The Pacific
deserves its name; fine weather and moderate breezes
Prevail almost entirely across 1.-THE western poi.
ions, perhaps, excepted In these respects it dfeH
widely from the Atlantic, where, perhaps, from the
accumulation Of the trade winds over the Eastern
Ontinent they are impelled with great force on the
comparatively narrow breadth of the ocean.
The shortest distance across the Atlantic, from the
lizard to CbagTes and which, perhaps might be inn
'lcitly followed in the homeward route, is 1866
niles, which il steam vessel can make good ten
,nots an hour, would be traversed in twenty days,
Inclusive of the relay if necessary Cat the Berrnu.
as). In the first part of her voyage out, the mean
Erection OF the wind and current would be adverse,
r favorable on her return; and the latter portion Of
his would be reversed SO that these would neutraze
ach other, and the distance remain the same. The
'assage OF the canal could be made in few hours.
The shortest distance from the Gulf Of San Miguel
nd leads as shown, thence to Sydney, about 1,Os0
niles further, which, at ten knots, would occupy
hrty days; SO that the entire distance from the
lizard to Sidney by this route is IL AGO miles, or
400 miles shorter than by the Cape OF Good Hope
nd might be done in fftythree days actual steam
ng; and as it is pre- sulned that this course would
re nearly the best for sailing vessel, it is shorter
~ nearly 5000 miles than the eastern route for this
But there is another feature in this route. The
Winds favorable for the passage either way; and
utwaids, after passing the Galapagos, she will be-
SISTED BY current Of twenty miles per day asfa ss
500 miles; beyond this they will probably ba-
ance themselves 1t is presumed that one stoppage
or caol, &c, Will be sufficient between the Isthmus
md New Zealand or Sydney. BY the chart, Tahiti
appears to be the best placed, being midway, and
n this line; but there are reasons why another
,ort would he preferable. In the first place the
Society Islands are under the French domination,
md might not be 80 advantageous to British ship
IS one more independent. l therefore beg :,
propose that the Gambler Islands, or Manga
aeva Group, which possesses all the requisite advan
ages Of, with some superiority over, the TahitiaR
Stands. In the first place it has good harbor and
abundance of fresh water. 1t Is iofty--l,250 feet
high and at present uncolonized. 1t lies near the
great circle route, 3,700 miles from Panama, and
1860 from Sydney OF still greater importance, it
les to windward of the Low or Dangerous Archi-
lelago, which, with this exception, are exclusively
oral formations. Tahiti, then, would be most
dangerous landfall either for steamer sailing
'esse Should steamer become disabled, or ex-
iaust her fuel before reaching her port she might not
,e able to weather it, when she would DRIFT by wind
md current To Tahiti. whereas il she made for the