The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-16
The Tehuanlepec Route.

LETTER OF COLONEL sLoO to THE CITIZENS OF
NEW ORLEANS.
The government Of Mexico, in spirit Of liberal
ity and mag unanimous Cancellation, and in the face
also of powerful and wealthy competitors, have
granted to myself and associates the right Of way
over tie lsthmus Of Tehuantepec. have thought it
proper and respectful TO the citizens Of Louisiana,
under whose general law have organized compa.
ny for the construction OF the various works conded
to NE, to explain to them publicly my views on the
benefits that may result therefom to the city Of New
Orleans, the postion OF the contract, the principles
upon which the charter has been drafted and the
calculations upon which it has been based.
presume it will hardly be necessary to expatiate
upon tie vast benefits this city, the valley Of the
Mississippi and the whole western country must de-
rive from the opening OF this route. A mere glance
at the makes them sufficiently conspicuous, and
comparison OF distances will make it evident that
this route once completed, the whole trade and
traffic OF the Pacific ocean must necessarily cOncen-
trate itself at New Orleans. For whilst we shall be
brought within three thousand miles and ten days
travel to San Francisco, New York, although
gaining by cur route eleven hundred and sixty
miles her Panama road, will be still distant 1900
miles from st. Francisco, at the same time that VIC
shall be brought 200 miles nearer to that city than
we now are by the way of the Isthmus OF Panama.
The effect OF this mutt be not only t. attract to New
Orleans the trade and passenger traffic OF the ceun
try generally, but to force New York herself to use
our road On the completion Of the Great Northern
Railroad, now p progress, it is estimated the pas
sage from New York tn New Orleans will be made
in three days. whence the transportation to Calfor
mia will be effected In ten days; thus the passage
from New York to California will be made in thr-
teen days via New Orleans. A some compensation
for the immense advantages that will thus inure to
the Great Northern Railroad company, IL certainly
is not an unreasonable expectation that its stock
holders will forward literally in support Of this
Undertaking
This contract assumes the character of great na-
tional act, as il was officially communicated by the
Nc xican government to the ministers Of all the Euro
ptan powers having represent ,tives in McKee, and
xvut.n tn ~fGrp ft hn Intt Efrfno md
they invited 70 join in treaty for the protec
tiob Of the right of way, and to guarantee the ncu
trality Of the communication in case of war.
The commissioners appointed by Mexico, with
Judge Alfred Conkling, Tie minister Of the United
States, the 2lst Of March last signed treaty, by
which it is stipulated that the conveyance OF per.
cons and properly on the route shall at oil
times be uninterrupted, and the capital invested
therein be made entirely secure. The route
ia declared neutral in case of war, and all ves-
sells owned or employed by the company in the
transportation OF merchandise or passengers to
or from the IstEmns, declared free nom capture.
This treaty was formally ratified by the Mexican
government and to set ut rest the many doubts and
surmises which were industriously circulated by in
teIested parties, President Santa Anna nobly came
forward and confirmed the whole transaction, and
caused the confirmation by his government to be
officially notified to the government of the United
States Thus every act has been done in the most
solemn manner by the government Of Mexico TO
validate the treaty and make it binding upon it.
The treaty 10 now before the government Of the
United States for its consideration, and have the
strongest assurances that 1t will be approved by the
administration, and that it will be submitted to the
Senate at early day Of the coming session, for its
advice and consent to it's ratification. There 10 no
doubt Of its confirmation by that body.
For the terms OF the contract, refer to . trAnsa-
ton Of the same published in the journals of this
city. For the nature Of the country the facilities
with which railroad may be constructed, and its
probable cost, well a. the probable revenue to be
derived from the same, refer to the report Of the
engineers who surveyed the route. II is proposed
however, to make the carriage road on a much more
extended and permanent plan than that proposed by
the engineers az the travel has 10 much increased,
and IL constantly increasing that greater facilities
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