The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-20

The Honduras Ins~r-Oceanic Railway.
LETTER From DR. sCHERzEs, or THE IMPERIAL AGA
DENY or VIENNA, To sR. poN VIC ron HERMAN, ON
HONDURAS AND TIE PROPOSED HoSDuRAs RAIL
WAY.
VIENNA (Austra,) Aug II, 1856.
To DON yIcToR Herman, MINISTER PLENpornsuARy
RIpuBuc op HONDURAS THE CouRr OF 81. JANE:
SaYou have done the honor, In your letter OF the
sth inst, TO ask from some observations the
pubic Of Honduras q which made very thorough sx-
animation in the course Of my recent travels Cnsrsa
America, the ausp o. the Imperial AoAdemy
Vienna, and hasten 70 comply With your REQUEST
The principal question wh On you have popounded H.
"Ihe possibihy oconstuCtng railway across sae 18th
mus Of Central America, within the territories Of Hondu-
RS, from Puerto Cabsos the Atlantic 70 the Fay OF
Fonreca ON The Pa iaC ana II the con6guraaoa Of tho
country oilers any obstacles to the exc
cution Of such . work sn
In reply to this question, Tam happy to have In my
power to say that haze visited and examined with caro-
The greater OF the country which tae proposed rail-
way will traverse ana tnay vincod that there 10
Ina urnountsble obstacle execution Of Tho work.
In act the difficulties be are much ess than
md the noantain sysiem Of the country. Whoever
fsyeb there srrvc at the conclusion that tho
rcam falling into the Atlantic and Inc second towing
INTO the Pacncot every facility for the execution az
The work proposed. Collectively these valleys have 9
Dsth Of 100 Epgnh mi es and the greatest elevation Of
each ohsr 10 bu Acc feet The thorough reports wnCh
sSr oppspy Msssr q sSs United sssss osn
raj America and gich are doubtless kno wn 70 you
supported they by the high authority OF Captain
N,zr,y, NJ Ia his com uunieatAn 70 Lord csaresGcn
on this subject rnaer necessary Tor me ~ cotor into
details ana accosoisy cor nns myself 70 sayias tsat
ties OF verifying these reports, and Can TESTIFY 70 their
accuracy
which, from It's geographical position, 30 favorable for
the construction railway between the seas - tha5
afforded by the lstbmus Of Hopduras; and whether
look to the transport passengers or Of merchandise,
the rapid Tans mission of the mails and Of treasure be-
tween the Atlantic States Of the United States and CAor
MIA or between Eu cpe aud Australia and China-n an
there respects i1 aaSauiases are most obvious. The
ports which form the OF departure on both seas,
combine the conditions mot favorable Tor the reaiiza
tuD nj this enterprise bus especially that
the Pacific The Bay Of FonAe perhaps be consider
ed the safest and commodious port on the eatr
western coast Of Amerc.. All the naves Of the world
might meet 10 ,ha, grand BASIN to exchange tor the be-
heht Of humanity The delicious products Of the trogOs
against the manufactures Of European civilzssion.
The many material Of Honduras will greatly
contribute to facilitate the construct Of tho proposed
timber AMI the Aave Ia the rainy season for
consioerAb distances viii easily permit OF the transpor.
tAior Of materials and OF suppies - we'll ~ Of ths pro-
But what gives Importance to the plateau Of Hon
duras, apart rom It's fertility ana s temperature OF per-
peua sprng is the saluorry Of its climate, which allows
coonts from northern regions to cultivate the soil and
pursue their &vocations without danger 70 their health.
have visited the greater OF North America from Co.
nacs and Like Superior Lousisna the Gulf OF Mexi-
CO, but have nowhere found territory which oierO
the came advantages 10 agriculture with the pssesus Of
Central America Commenc ns ut elevation of 1000
feet above IT, sea, European agrcuturists will ind.
throughout, climate peri Guy ssubrioos the meteo-
roiegics observations with made In different parts
oithc country, extending period OF two years. and
which fpiopose very toon TO punsh, show that at the
elevation Of GOO feet the thermo meter very rarely falls
below GO degrees and seldom rises above 81 degrees or
Fair. The mean temperature " the summer, or hot
season from 90 degrees 20 10 degrees Of FAnr The soil
OF honduras, with few excep ops b Of suLh fertility
require no msnnrDg In order to yield two three crops
AGAR, The procucS Of the torrid zone-sugsr cane,
colee, cAcao, cotton, rice tobacco, maize, bananas,
side with the WHEAT barley oats, rye, and the other
ctresl n AIMS and useful plants Of Europe delicious,
elm per tire grant 70 labor ana follow his
cations for the entire year. With lss effort he o6sainr
times the products which be could in Europe.
In many parts Of the State found mines Of silver,
gold LEAD, copper and iron yet undeveoped, and only
awaiting the Introduction Of capital aad Of intelligent
workmen
The plateau or Honduras, a. we'll - the table lands Of
Central America In general, justify the belief thai tho
world may eDy the different products OF tbc tropics, 20
esseruai 10 saion, such cotton cose and sugas,
without the necessity o. having recourse 70 tue abom-
Fable nstuton Of sAvery and that all these products
European colonies, Which may be established here vSh
out the least danger 10 btalh or risk 10 nre
should uespsss perhs - both on your time and ps-
ucrce were TO cuumera the many advantages which,
capital whether gsged In emigration industry or oom-
meree, p ht secure in The admirable countries Of the
Il railway there free for all nations. By openag i've
lgn plains, picturesque sno fertile beyosd psrson
ration Honaufas could OF ail 70 atIsct speedily he
accumulated cartsl, sku ami pteli gence OF EUROPE
and ahe superior position amongst the spanish Ane
can republics.
AS you have exrrcssed your wish TO give those linee
10 the public. (Which sou deem them sufficient in.
tertst you are welcome - Sc regret thru unable,
AZ this moment 10 present Go you aeQcuee tabcsu Of
this country, conosrnins which might add thousand
Interesting details But you wl nnd most Of these in
my work on rbe States Of Nicaragua, Hondurcv San
salvador" which has ust been issued from the Eruns.
vick Germany press.
In one word: do pos bcfcve there h. In the entire
new continent country which presents great sdvan
lager for Euicpean oolooinsoo nda try and commerce
- CeDtral America Situated between the two great
oceans Of Tho globe II offers IL eastern same
facilities for comnerce With the United staten and Eu
rope thai aiords on ts western for Of Ca-
rA AUSTRALIA and The East Indies the construction Of
railway 70 cross the Isthmus Of HoadusAs, passing
through country heaihfui aad rite, would In my
opinion, be TIE signal for the esrg Of feet OF shpo
from European shores laden with coonists going 70 e.
tAbsh inemselves on the table lands Of Central America.
VII be grand spectacle to witness The de- velopcment
o. this happy country for those who may contribute By
her position their intelligence their capital opcu
iss INN ense soludcs N populsuon and 70 industry. not
apart rom the scsyics which they will render 70 huma-
Eiy believe that all who contribute 10 these good re-
suiis viii also Iecsive just and poniabIe return for
Their efforts and expenditures. With hiTh respect am,
&c. &c, CARL sCaERzER.