The Placer herald., 1857-01-31
The Tehuantepec Route.

Inc reports lrOl1l 1euudnlePcO, says 'No
N. o. Picayune, assure us that the time is
nearly at hand when the carriage road across
the Isthmus, by that route will be compile
ted and stocked for travel. The arrange
ments which have been announced for etfec-
ting these obests have been prosecuted with
diligence and energy; and there is reason to
expect that by the close of the year, this,
the shortest in distance and in time, the
cheapest and most commodious for travel-
ers, of all the proposed routes to the Pacl-
fic, will be ready for use.
We have great interest in this prepatory
road, and full faith that it will at once de-
monstrate the superiority of this route over
all competitors, that confidence will be estab-
lished completely in the railroad enterprise,
and the means to put it through at once be
easily obtained The facilities afforded by
the Mexican government in the preliminary
road and the great interest which has been
exhibited for it, by the leading Mexicans in
authority, and the people of the country, are
calculated to remove the least vestige of sus-
picion that the work will meet with obstruc-
tons from any i'll will among the natives,
and to confirm faith in their acknowledge
ment of the solid rights of the Company.
Indeed, there has ceased to be any question
on that subject, and the contractors are pro-
ceeding with an absolute cordiality with all
parties in Mexico.
The opening of the carriage road will un
doubtedly be followed speedily by transfer
to this route of a large part of the
travel to the Pacific coast of the United
States, The saving in time, of ten or twelve
days is of itself a decisive consideration, even
if the difference of cost were against the
route, and the comforts which it promises
less To reach San Francisco week soon
er than by any other line, is a great point
gained, for which travellers would pay largely
and undergo some degree of unusual hard
ship and fatigue. But in fact the saving of
cost, and increased rather than diminished
comforts. Thousands of miles Of the worst
part Of the sea travel, on two oceans will be
cut off The dscomforts and perils of the
travel through the sickly regions of Panama
thy country, in genial climate, and the ex-
pense will be materially reduced. These
are considerations which the carriage route,
imperfect as it must necessarily be, compar-
ed to the rapiditv and ease which are attain
able on railroads, must speedily turn the at
tenton and by necessity the favor of the
whole country to this route, and bring for
ward the capital necessary to complete the
original project on the most complete scale
as one emnently national in interest and val
| ue
The first pubic interest served will be
the mail service. The gaining of ten or
twelve days in the time of transportation is
worth millions to the commercial interests
of the country. The Government would
neglect its most obvious duty fit did not
improve the advantage offered, and send the
mail by this line. With regular steam com
municaton between the ternni and New
Orleans on this side, and San Francisco on
the other, letters may be interchanged with
San Francisco in little over three weeks
the mail need not occupy more thak eleven
or twelve days in either direction; and in
this the whole country has so direct an in
terest that the mails must inevitably 90 that
way.
What traffic may be carried on by this
road we are unable to conjecture; but it
undoubtedly equals the means of transporta-
ton supplied, especially in articles of small
bulk, Of which the secure and speedy trans
poralion is desirable. The prospects are
extremely encouraging in view of present
profit, but much more SO in the assurance of
future success which is no longer shrouded
with doubt, and has the promise of incacu-
liable good.
We have often pointed out before the
other peculiar national advantages, besides
the mail facilities Of this route; the proXimi-
tv of the eastern terminus to the mouth of
the Mississippi making it almost domes
tic port Of the United States, and position
within the Gulf Of Mexico, points which
give our government full control over it
against any European interference or foreign
hostility whatever; and the prodigious ad-
vantage it gives for the sending of troops,
supplies and munitions for the defence of the
Pacific frontiers in time of war. Until a
railroad across the continent shall be com
pleted. The Tehuantepec route will be I'M
| rivalleG as means of national defence.
PoLTIcAL JoKE.-The Union says cor
respondent writing lis from Marysvile Jan.
9th furnishes the following:
heard good joke concerning a pair of
office seekers from the section of the State
called the Great North, and one of the party
is a member of the Legislature.
! Al L,