Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-11
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


TRUE PRoGREss.-If, ss the philosopher
AYERS, % time is money" those who save time
to the public, greatly profit it and we really
know none more likely to succeed in that good
work, than the parties engaged in the enter
prise of constructing the progressing Florida
railroad from Fernandina to Cedar Keys, by
which the actual travelling time between New
New York and New Orleans will probably be
reduced to four days. We have kept our eye
on this important improvement for a. year past,
In the belief that when completed, it will not
only thus save some three days time in the
transportation of the great northern and south
ern mails of the United States, and of passengers
preferring The coast route, but will also carry
an immense amount Of the produce of the Mis-
sissippi valley seeking European or Atlantic
coast markets; for it is destined not only to
save the distance around the peninsula of Flor
Ida, but all the peculiar dangers of that so
universally dreaded navigation. Or, in other
wordS, to do away with nine-tenths Of the pres
emit dangers of the voyage between New Or
leans and either Europe or our own Atlantic
ports. Its precise location is across the PEN
nisula Of Florida at about is narrowest part;
while it lays almost exactly on direct (straight
air line drawn between New York and Vera
Cruz, as singular as it may seem. Combining
so many important advantages (among them
being the comparative low cost for which it is
being constructed as permanently as any other
railroad whatever in the South its completion
is destined 10 mark the era of great revolu-
ton IN the travel along our coasts and also in
the transportation of merchandise coastwise to
and from the Mississippi valley, Cuba, Mexico
and Central America, including much of the
freight passing over the Panama railroad.
We hear, incidentally, that Messrs. Riggs
Co, of this city, and their friends, have nego-
tated large amount of the Florida internal
improvement bonds connected with this road,
as well as of the Com bany's free land bonds,
considering it a very desirable and advanta.
geous investment; which information and the
general coincidence of the views of that ster
ling periodical, the Railroad Journal, lin its
last issue) with our own on the subject, re-
mind US Of it, We quote that number of the
Railroad Journal, as follows:
LoRIDA RAILROAD.-This road has made
excellent progress for several weeks pasta the
very period in which nearly every similar work
in the country has been FRUSTRATED Trains a 2
now running over seventy five miles of the road
Thirty 1--WE miles more are z AIDED and 70 adv fer
tracts, with force sufficient to complete il b;
october next. The iron for the whole road is
purchased, asd the greater part of it delivered;
so that the construction of the road is secured no
matter what may be the future condition of the
money market
-" This State has adopted an excellent system
Tor the construction of her railroads IL has an
immense fund, the proceeds of land granted for
Internal Improvements, and swamp lands TIE
aggregate Of these, in acres, equals more than
one-baf the entire Of the State yeyy con-
81 int of
finest lands of the State. They will be re ndered
valuable and accessible by the railroads now i'm
process or construction. The proceed, of these
lands have already reached a large sum- and
Will Tar exceed the entire amount of bonds for
which they are pledged. The Internal Improve
nent bonds Of the State are, conseouentIy of the
highest character, and deserve to rank among
our best State securities. The public are BEGIN
ming 10 ina out that il is much better to buy AN
unquesuoned seven per cent. bond at par than
zen per cent, at 60 per cent, which may lose
70 the purchaser both principal and interest
Ihey are heartily tired of the indefinite value
Whlch many OF the securities they have been
buying possess, and are now turning attention to
hfst class securities. Hence the rapid rise in all
the State stocks.
great attention througho all the Southern sea
board safes. IL will bring all their leading
towns on the great route to New Orleans, Havd-
ma, ana The isthInus crossings. They are max
Ing nDei al contributions toward its construction
me several companies owning the coast line of
, M are soon to hold a meeting at Richmond,
the subject Of the construction of the short link
between the line Of the Savannah and the Gulf
halroad, and Fernandina: The people of Sa-
Vannah are also moving in the matter This
competed, FeInandina will be in direct connec-
ton by railroad with all the seaboard States as
the great point, en- route, between them and New
Orleans, Havana, the 6 ulf of Mexico. and ali the
lsfhmus Crossings
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.-We noticed yest,r-
day the announcement that the sloop. of war
st. Louis had arrived at New York on the pre-.
vious evening. We now learn that she sailed
last from Porto Praya, having been absent
tWenty-seven months on the African s.ation.
The Cumberland, Yincennes, and Supply
were at Porto Praya. The latter would leave
In ten days for Rio
The st. Louis brings home the crew of the
whale-ship Pocahontas, wrecked October 81, on
the Isle of Bravo, with a number of other dis
tressed American seamen; also the inv Aids of
me SQUADRON The following is list of her
officers:
Commander, ]. W. Livingston; Lieutenants,
Geo. W. Doty, Egbert Thompson, Edward c.
oeout, hooert T. Duyal; Lieutenant and Act
ing Master, Bush B. Taylor; Purser, Charles
e Upham; Surgeon, Samuel Jackson; Assist.
ant Surgeon, John s. Kitchen; Second Lieu.
tenant of Marines, j. Z. Mirore; Boatswain,
Thomas Smith; Gunner, Moses A. Lane; Car
penter, John T. Rustic; Sailmaker, Samuel H.
Boutwell,; Purser's Clerk, Frederick F Bor-
rell
Passengers, Rev. Chester Newell, chaplain.
Francis Purcell, acting boatswain, late of the
United States ship Cumberland.
from the dispatches received at the Depart.
nent, by the late mail we learn that the pass
ago from Port Praya, Cape de Verdes, was
made In thirty-three days to New York the
ct Louis having left the former place on the
Ith ult' The U. s. frigate Cumberland and
me store-ship Supply were left at Port Prava
.ne latter having arrived there OF the so,b Of
December, and was dischsrging stores Tho
Inc I. :. ship Fincennes arrived at Por, pr,va
on the 18th December and sailed ,bsra. ."
the 10Th for cruise on the coast of Afriea
The st. Louis brings home. as passengsr.