, 1853-12-24
Navigation Of The Pacific Ocean.

From the San Francisco Commercial Advertiser
The settlement of the California coast
aud lis attendant effects upon the commerce
OF the whole Pacific, has sci at work all the
great scientific societies of the world in de-
wing means for securing TO each maritime
nation some share of the vast Commerce
thus thrown open 10 mankind. In Berlin,
London, Paris, and among the famous North
men, whose ancient navigalors have formed
themes for the historian and the pot, all
have bent their energies in some measure TO
the importance of sharing in the great trade
OF the Pacific. The United States have
not been behind in this movement. and we
have already an Exploring Expedition sent
| by Government to make surveys and form
charts Of the North Pacific, for the benefit
of our increasing whaling interests, and the
secure sailing of the steam lines about being
established between the Asiatic coast and
California. The French, too, have fleet
in the Pacific waters, furnished Of course
with saraHs and a scientific corps and the
Russians, as well as the Dutch and English,
are each awakening to The importance of
obtaining all information relative TO naviEa-
ting the North Pacific. Our own whale
men, however, are the best navigators or
explorers. Nearly all the valuable inlorma-
ton existing relative to the Arctic regions
has been procured from the Journals and
observations of these intrepid Mariners
Lieutenant Maury, in his book on Naviga-
ton, bases many OF his calculations on in
formation furnished him bv the American
whaling captains. The visit of Maury to
Europe has created the greatest enthusiasm
among the English, and repeated honors
have been publicly done one who is Justly
termed after BoNditch the greatest nayiga-
tor of the age. A great meeting has re-
Gently been held in Hull, England, where
the Rev c. G. Nicolay discoursed in the
geographical and chronological section, upon
the importance of certain places in the Pa
cifc with reference 10 great circle routes
across that ocean. The general want of
appreciation Of great circle sailing is evi.
drnced by the routes selected By steam
packet companies, both 10 the cast and to
the west. This has arisen from the habilual
disc Of Alercator's projection. 10 facilitate
the consideration of the subject, ste.eo-
graphic cha,l of the Pacific, showing the
linear conccntricity Of its shorS, has been
constructed great circles have been laid
down on Mrrcaio's chart between many
of the most important places in the world,
and tables of distances have been complete
y calculated. The lecturer makes the dis
lance from England 10 Sydney via Panama
l2,O49 miles From Lands End to Ho.
bart Town via the Cape of Good Hope
/ 1900 milrs-a ,liffrreuce Of $40 miles
MIR. Nicolay advocates tn, Panama route
from the reason that the Galapagos Islands,
where the existence ol coal is reported, af.
ford a refuge from the horrible climate Of
the lslhmus, and they offer every advantage
for a depot. The steam company formed
for the purpose Of eGecting communication
by this route proposes Tahiti as the inter-
mediate depot, but Tahiti lies far out Of the
shortest track and is dangerous of access
from the east. Easter Island lies nearest
the direct line, and, If its harbor be sufficient,
is we'll suited in other respects. The
Sandwich1lslands present themselves as the
most important insular position in the North
Pacific. They are distant respectively from
Vancouver's Island; 2293 miles San
francisco, 2.0S3 Central America, 4,O23 /;
Callao, 5000; Valparaiso, 5,905; japan,
1858 Chusan, 1901 Singapore, 5,S32 /;
Sidney, 1900; Auckland, 3,sl7. The
conclusions come 10 by Mr.. Nicolay, are,
that what is now called the overland route
to China ought to be the most rapid until
one is opened across North America. That
by the Cape has the next preference, while
the advantages Of that by Panama are al
most exclusively confined 10 the Southern
States of the Union and the West Indies (;
and with respect TO them, il will b. super
seeded by the overland route, British North
west America, Mr.. Nicolay considers more
favotaLly situated than any other part Of
the coast in the Pacific for commanding the
trade Of. that ocean, and the establishment
Of rapid communication with it, and the de-
velopmenl of It's resources are therefore OBJ
jecls Of the first importance, Il is evident
from the exeriions in improving the art Of
ship and steamship building in England,
and the urgent inquiry bring made as to
the speediesi and safest means Of navigating
the Pacific, that the English are put on
their mettle to compete with the race-horse
speed Of their American brethren in these
matters. The latest advices from Europe
give accounts Of The organization Of steam
ship companies with gigantic capitals for
communication between England and the
mighty colonies springing up in Australia.
These will connect al the Isthmus OF Pana-
ma until the Tehuanlepec route shall have
been completed, which will probably be in
another year, if we may put any credence
in the Sloo contracts. The many lines o!
steamships whose tracks will cross each
other at all points, in few years will for
ever dispal the reputcd LONELINESS of sailing
on the Pacific. There ten years since a
ship might 60 weeks without Sc ing sail,
Il.