Mariposa Democrat., 1857-04-15
IsTHMUs OF TEHUANTEPEC.

H. Dut very lew uays aBo, says Tic Ne"
Orleans Picayune of March 9TH, we had the
pleasure of announcing, on the authority o.
Mr.. Peasants, United States Consul at Min
atitlan, recently arrived in this city, the
completion of the Tehuantcpec road on the
oath ult, whereby the contract was saved We
have since had more extended conversation
with Mr.. p, in which We gather additional in.
teresting information, not only concerning this
new passage to the Pacific, but the topogra.
ply, soil, climate and products of the coun-
try.
The new interoceanic route, as our readers
are already aware, is by the river Coatzacoal.
cos to Suchil, something over one hundred
miles from the sea, all the windings included,
thence overland to Ventosa, one hundred and
thirty to one hundred and forty miles, making
in all about two hundred and forty miles from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, to be accomplished
in day and half from the sea. This dis
tance will be materially diminished-the time
still more so-on completion of projected
railroad from Minattlan to Suchil, already sur
veyed.
From the mouth of the river to Minattlan,
twenty miles, the channel is excellent, capa-
cious enough Cor the largest ocean steamships
The depth Of the water on the bar at low tide,
is fifteen to sixteen feet, major Bernard says
thirtcen) and only one obstruction, large
rock, has been discovered, and that easily
avoidable. From Minaitlan to Such the river
becomes more difficult and must be traversed
by teamboats-those contemplated are in size
and fashion, not dissimilar from the Cumber-
land river boats. The steamer Leonora, built
in New York, and placed on this portion Of the
river short time since, had proved Of too
much draught The current is about two
miles and half an hour. From Suchil to
Mnatitlan it takes thirty six hours These are
the termini of the projected railway by which
when completed, distance of forty-fve miles
will be saved
From Suchi to Ventosa on the Pacific, 1870
to 140 miles, the route is by the newly made
stage road over a rough, sometimes mountain
GUS country. The heaviest work has been on
this end of the road, where also the river Puer-
Ia, fordabe at times, but high and marshy in
the rainy season, is to be spanned by bridge
a mile and half in length. Some compensa-
ton is made on the other side of the mountain
however, by an old road, which has proved
available from Chivela Pass TO the Pacific
plain. The time contracted for on the stage
road is five miles per hour-26 to 2S hours !;
between Minatitlan and Suchil, the passage by
steamboat will be from six to eight hours; in
all about thrty-fve hours, or day and half
from ocean to ocean. The harbor of Ventosa
is good, but breakwater will be necessary
As TO the probable amount of travel and bust
ness on the Tehuantepec road, when in full
operation, we have no further information than
is already, in various speculations, before the
public. The shortest route from England, New
York and New Orleans to the ports of the Pa
ci6c, the most fattering expectations are Of
course entertained respecting it.
Of the country, soil, climate, products, &c.,
of the Ithsmus, Mr.. P. gives an equally fatter-
ing account On the Gulf Coast are prairies
of great fertility, producing grass for immense
herds of cattle. The numerous rivers and
water courses of the interior abound in valua-
Bile timber, mahogany, cedar and logwood, in
particular, of which inexhaustible quantities
are found, affording most profitable COM
merce On what is called the Island of Coat
zacoalcos and Uspanaha river, coffee and
chocolate grow in richest luxuriance; while in
all the region between the San Juan and Co.
atzacoalcos as well as north Of the latter river,
are produced, not only coffee and chocolate,
but cotton, rice, sugar, tobacco, indigo, Indian
corn, two crops a year, and other cereal grains.
In particular, Mr.. p. thinks this whole region
well adapted to the growing of cotton.
Above Suchil we come again to grazing
country, though of avery different character
from the prairies of the coast This is the re-
gion through which the stage route passes,
and is represented as surprisingly beautiful
and picturesque The climate here, as indeed,
throughout the whole territory, is delightful
no extremes or sudden change of temperature,
the mercury at Mnatitlan usually ranging in
the neighborhood Of eighty degrees. The
water Of the Coatzacoalcos, as well as of the
other streams, having their sources in noun
tain springs, is sweet and delicious, and in
great favor with the people.
The present population of the territory ol
Tehuantepec is estimated at fifty thousand
descendants, for the most part of the original
Aztecs They are gregarious in their habits,
living in communities numbering three thou
sand to four thousand each, and distant from
each other five to ten miles. They are indus.
trious, kind hearted and docile but very thrift
less The governments is, of course, that which
at any time our mobile Mexican neighbors
may chance to have. In general the rights
and privileges of the old Spanish colonial towns
are fully anioued Titles 10 landad ,nropart,