The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-11
STEAM NAVIGATION IN THE STRAITS OF


In 1854 a correspondent of the Journal of Com
nerce, who had Just passed through the Straits OF
Magellan in steamer suggested the feasibility OF
establishing steam tugs through this renowned
highway to the Pacific. There would be saved to
sailing vessels by such transit from ocean to
ocean, four eight weeks, according to the season
of the year. Cape Horn is the traditionary dread
OF mariners, and as the greater part of navigation
to the Pacific will be for years to come in vessels
propelled by sails any plan which will shorten the
route, or avoid the stormy Cape, is to be looked
upon with favor.
The attention of that paper is again called to
this subject by seeing it stated that project is
foot in England to establish steam tugs in the
Straits. How much credence is to be placed in the
immediate carrying out of this plan, we know not;
but that it would be very feasible we have not the
least doubt.
For nearly one hundred years these straits, dis
covered in 1920 by the Portuguese Magellan, were
the only known route to the Pacific; when in 1S1G,
Shouten, (whO was born at Hoorn, in Holland, J
sailed around the cape which now bears the name
Of his native place, the Straits of Magellan fell
into comparative disuse. The prevalence of cur
rents and of sudden and violent tcmpests, which
rush through from the West, made navigators pre-
Ter the longer but more open route around the
Horn. But in 1919, the spirit of activity infused
into the Pacific trade by the gold discovered in
California, brought again into notice the Straits of
Magellan. All steamers passed through this high
way to the Pacific, and not few of the venture
some sailing vessels, belonging to joint companies
of passengers, who wished to see the aurifcrOus
regions in the shortest possible time, stcered
through the picturesque and Jagged scenery of the
Straits. In 1851, bitumen coal of the very best
quality was discovered near the Chilanean penal
colOny,-that is, about midway on the straits, from
ocean to ocean. The Central and Western por-
tions of the land both in Patagonia and TERRA del
Fuego, are well wooded, except where the rugged
mountains rise in naked grandeur. The climate is
like that of the North of Scotland, and the wild
fuschia which also grows in the Hebrdes, here
hourishes with luxuriancc unsurpassed in themost
favored conservatory.
The length of the Straits, from Cape dc las Vir-
giRas, on the Atlantic, to Cape de los Piares on
the Pacific, is about 300 miles, while the breadth
varies from ~ to 40 miles. The steamship Y ankee
Blade, in 1854, made the passage in 80 hours; but
sailing vessels have been detained by adverse winds
from one week to a month. The navigation of the
Straits is not near so dangerous as that of Long
Island Sound or the Irish Channel. The water
is exceedingly deep. In some parts no bottom
has been found with upwards of 1,5OO feet of line
Strong steam tugs, such the largest New York
tugs could be easily sent tho Straits, and could
with great facility, tow through a large Cali
foruian or East Indiaman in from three to foul
days, under ordinary circumstances of wind ant
weather.
A company which should thus provide tugs fol
the Pacific bound vessels, might, in order to rem
der their undertaking more profitable, have fleet
of small sail vessels to transport coal to Bueno.
Ayres, Montevdeo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia
(cities containing from 10000 to 300, 900 inhabt
ants, which are at present supplied from Liver
pool or the United States. There are no less thar
eight lines of steamers from these cities to Europe
besides numerous lines of coast and river steam
boats, all of which, together with some considera
bic factories and machine-shOps, dependent
upon distant England for their fuel. The coal dis
covered in Southern Brazil, though passable fol
ordinary heating purposes, has not yet been found
of such quality as is necessary for steamships.
Such are the advantages of winds and currents
for vessels sailing from England to the Pacific,
Cape Horn, or the Magellan route, that if good
set of tugs were once placed in the Straits, the in
ducements to go in that direction would be more
than doubled; and in a short time the large guanc
vessels, all the California, China and East India
ships, to say nothing of a goodly percentage OF
whale ships and Austrian clippers, would be ire
sstibly led to the Oldest highway leading from the
Atlantic to the Pacific.
The first steamers which passed through these
Straits were the "Peru," Captain George Peacock,
(now Superintendent of the South Hampton Docks
and the "Chili," belonging to the "Pacifc Steam
Navigation Company" This company was organ
lied by VIM. Wheelwright, Esq, of Newburyport
Mass.