, 1855-05-12
Completion Ofthe Panama Rail
road.


The waters of the Atlantic and Pacific
have at length been connected by a Rail
road, and the iron horse now wakes the
echoes among the primeval forests and
rocky deiiles of the Isthmus. After years
Of labor, and in dispite of innumerable OBJ
Staclcs, the Railroad from Panama to
Aspinwall has been completed, and the
transit across, which once consumed many
weary days and nights, involving hardships
and dangers without number, is now made
in a few hours. This is great point
gained by the Panama line Of steamers, as
twill enable them TO reduce their time be-
tween New York and San Francisco to
twenty.Onc days-remove all objections
urged against this route, on the score Of
the unhealthiness Of the climate, as passen-
gers will pass so rapidly through that there
will not be time to contract diseases. II
will cfFectually put stop to the impositions
of rascaly natives; the plnnderings and
murdcrngs by the banditti that infest the
country, and afford a safe and easy con-
veyancc for ladies and children, who may
be coming without protectors to join their
friends here. The splendid steamship Gold
en- Age, Capt. Watkins, leaves on Friday,
and her passengers will be the first from
California to pass from ocean to ocean,
over the Railroad. The completion Of this
road is a triumph Of American genius and
enterprise. II must in time exert an i'm
portant influence upon the course Of trade
and the movements of population. There
is not doubt now, line Of fine steamers
will be established between England and
Australia, by way Of Panama and Tahiti ;
and over this American road must pass all
the gold-seekers that swarm between the
old settled countries and the golden shores
washed by the Pacifc-ISaG Francisco
HeydH.
The above announcement was made upon
what was supposed to be the design Of the
proprietor, as published in our last issue,
and not from knowledge Of the fact after
it had transpired. 1t however marks an
era in the history of the world, aud exhibits
a most important advance in the progress Of
wonderful events, by which the 10Th cen
tury will be emphatically Distinguished
The project of uniting the Atlantic and
Pacific by ship canal has been agitated
for the last century, and many schemes set
on foot to accomplish it; but none have
succeeded or in fact been really entered
upon, so far as to commence operations
But now, since the discovery Of gold in
California, a railroad has been projected
aud in two or three years after its actual
commencement, we find it completed, and
the two oceans brought within few hours
travel of each other; while fne steamships
on either side await the tide Of travel as il
surgcs to and fro, to bear it to the foul
quarters of the globe.
The influence Of the opening OF the
Panama Railroad upon commerce in the
Pacific, must be important, in the highest
degree. From that point, we see not why
lines will not be formed across the Pacific
in different directions,-tO China, Austria
lia, and into the Indian Ocean. Trade
and travel will increase with the facilities
for their accommodation, and the Pacific viii
rival the Atlantic in the activity Of its com
mercial enterprises. The changes in thi'
respect effected during the past five year
afford encouragement to the hope tha
progress will mark the future, as it has thu
past; and the broad field of the Pacii'
affords "ample scope and verge enough
, to satisfy the most restless ambition, whicl
, aspires to honorable pre-eminence in thl
, honest walks Of life.