The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-22
Astonishing Short Trip from California :
Opening of the New Route to the Pacific

Opening of the New Route to the Pacific.
We present to our readers this morning, I'M
der the telegraphic head, news from California
to the I'd inst. This came by the way of New
Orleans through Mexico, over what is generally
known here as the Ramsey route. On the 9th
Of last month. the steamer Albatros left this
port for Vera Cruz, on the experimental trip
connected with this new enterprise, having on
board Mr.. Farnnm With instructions to
carry mail by land from Vera Cruz to
Acapulco for California He was also instruct
ed to wait at Acapulco until steamer,
leaving San Francisco at the beginning
of this month, should reach Acapulco, on
her way to Panama. Having received
her news, he was next ordered to retrace
his steps to Vera Cruz. Upon arriving at Pue-
bla he was to notify the captain of the Alba
tros, by telegraph, of his coming, SO as to be
ready to leave for New Orleans immediately on
his arrival.
Col Ramsey had furnished Mr.. Farnum with
etters to the authorities at Vera Cruz, to the
governors of the States ofPuebla and Guerrero,
and to the alcaldes along the route, all of whom
are known to him, and deeply interested in the
success Of this new enterprise From these the
messenger must have received all the assistance
which was anticipated by the company here.
The Instructions were precise, minute and could
not fail to be crowned with success if care
fully followed. 1t was anticipated that the
time from Acapulco to Vera Cruz would
be about five days, as there would be always
some delay in the towns where the alcaldes
were to furnish horses, and as the stage from
Puebla to Vera Cruz does not travel at night.
thus losing nearly twenty-four hours in the
two days between these cities From these
facts, it would seem that, when the line is FRO
perly organized, the time between Acapulco
and Vera Cruz can easily be made with the
mails in less than four days
We are thus particular in these details, as
the important contract made within the last
few days by Col. Ramsey with the United States
government for the transportation of mails
across this route is fresh in the minds of our
readers, and as many had predicted the utter
'Mpossibility to cross Mexico in less than two
weeks
By the terms Of this contract the mails are to
be carried in sixteen days from New Orleans to
San Francisco touching at San Diego and
Monterey. The time allowed by the depart
ment between New Orleans and Vera Cruz is
three days, touching at Tampico; from Vera
Cruz to Acapulco, five days; and from Acapul-
CO to San Francisco eight days. The steamers
on both oceans are now ready for this service
and the land part of the line is in a great state
Of forwardness. The Mexican Ocean Mail and
Inland Company, of this city, has been incorpo-
rated expressly to carry out this novel enter
prise, with sufficient capital to provide for all
contingencies. The Australia Steamship Com
pany, Of this city, formed recently, have for
mally proposed to run their steamers from Syd-
ney TO Acapulco, as that is the nearest North
American port. 1t is singular fact that Aca-
pulco although lying far north Of Panama, is
much higher to Australia, which is situated
south Of The equator.
Here, then, we have at the same time, before
US practical demonstration that a new and
much shorter route to California and to Austria
liza has been opened to the American public
Acapulco is known to be the best port on the
Pacific ocean. In the last century, and prece-
ding it was the only one used by the Spaniards
in their commerce with the midas. II is now
again likely to become once more place of
much importance for our intercourse with
Australia, Asia and California Time and dis
lance are fast becoming annihilated by the
enterprise OF the age. We thought II wonderful
when the mails were brought from San Fran
cisco in few hours less than twenty-four DAYS
the shortest trip on record Here we have a
mail in eighteen days, and in few months
more we will have news in sixteen days.
Among the various novelties connected with
this subject, we must place on record the singu-
lar fact that The government at Washington, III
his matter has come up to the just expecta-
tions Of the public, and for once has anticipated
the wishes If tho whole nation in making n