The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-12

PrcsSdent-Its Enects on Engiand's Eastern
From the London Post, Dec. 25.l
Almost rom the time Of the discovery Of Americaal
from that day when Nunez de Blboa first caught
glimpse of the great South Sea-various projects have
formed for the purpose of eccng easy Of
communicate between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
the foreign lord Of the SOIL with the stlessness of his
paid little attention To any measure which would
ha developed the material prosperity of the fertile
transatlantic empire of Spain had passed from
reignty of the Most Catholic King when its place had
been supplied by the weak and inefficient dominion Of
various independent republics the mixed Spanish
and Creole population had neither the means
the inclination TO provide thoee facilities for commerce
y TO their national power The enterprise and energy Of
Me Anglo Saxon have however brought 10 bear
upon that great and important ethmus which occupied
by the republican States Of Central America The Panama
Railroad has for united the two oceans
and farther 70 the north wealthy % com
railway between Porto Cabellos and the Bay Of Fonseca
The importance OF these communications in reference TO
the trade Of California, Australia, and the islands OF tho
Pacific impossible TO estimate too highly; and heR
the disputes phich have arisen bet,oeen England and the
United States the subject of Central America shau haue
received lust and honorable settlement we have conf
dent belief that European and North American capital
and enterprise will be largely applied 70 promote the in
terna Improvement OF every portion OF these most nte
resting and valuable regions.
The message recently communicated to Congress- by the
President Of the United States recommends the construc
ton railroad the Continent for the purposes Of
military defence. The line suggested by M Buchanan
terrftOr1eS
Of The United States 70 the seaboard Of the Pacific Mr.
Buchanan adds that the difficulties connected with
dertakng Of this description have been greatly exagge
rated and that by wise expenditure of public money,
assisted by private enterprise and free grants Of land this
line, OF much importance military we'll as COM
mercal grounds, might distant day be completed.
Here we may mention that some years ago American
citizen proposed the construction OF another line stretch
ing from lake Michigan, between which lake and New
York there Is already steam cJmmun cation, and pro-
ceedng thence through the far West 10 California The
protector Of this scheme asked for grant OF public
on either side Of the propos road should be conceded TO
the company enable them 10 accomplish this gigantic
work. Mr. whitneys scheme, although \ received tho
category Of useful projects which from their magnitude
and expensive character avoraby considered whilst
they are rarely ever, carried into execution We do
intend institute any comparison between the two
routes which have been suggested by Mr. Buchanan
sSs s 0y most supesSca But s .h tho
opening OF any nerooeaac line through tho territory Of
the Uned sAes 'oould eest as gsat rcn'a,o. 81 us
discovery of s Cape Of Good Hop rose ksid and 70 the
other countries Of the East The trade Of China, Japan,
and Of regions comparatively unknown, would be i'm
PEELED to the Pacific terminus Of the railroad, whence
would be carried 10 the great Atlantic ports 10 be after
wards O ses ,s erica ana %
would be brought by steam within few days distance
Of the great American emporium which would spring up
the coast Of the Pacinc facility OF this KIND ex.
sted, tie mos important and i.cratip trade IN pe
&oria ico,ld fan tnte Ae hdads If the people
round the Cape or round tho Horn would rarely be un.
dertakon for any purpose OF commercial gain Whilst tho
citizens and the of The United states are per.
fecty alive 10 the advantages which their country would
derive from the possession OF this great "hghway or
tons !" the merchant and rich captnlsts or Eng
land appear almost 10 have forgotten that British North
America there ea' vast regions admirably adaNed for
the construction OF railway, by means Of which England
could, a. al present defy the competition o. the world
The position OF British North America " peculiarly favor
able both regards physical geography and means
Of water communication. The dk tance between tho
north point of lake Superior and the Straits OF
ura on n
eighteen hundred milesJust double the length OF the
great Trunk Railway Of Canada From the recent nves-
legations Of Professor Pallser appears that large por
tons of the territory through which the line would
consist 81 level arie lands and that the most formidable
difficulty which the projectors 81 such an undertaking
would have would be the discovery OF
pas gorge Ia the Rocky Mountains permitting the con-
sruetsn % ral-ay Bu. no one can bold sacn
the scicnoo Of Stephenson has spanned BY bridge Of
two miles IN length, the waters q the mighty ~ Law
In 1851 the scheme II which We have given an
outline submitted 10 the Legislature Of Canada,
by gentleman OF the name cf Allen Nacdonaid. The
scheme was rejected by committee, the technical
around that the occ,o had MOI obtained the necessary
capital bot the report distinctly stated that the construc
ton ofsuch railroad only desirable, but practice
BILE and that ought NJ future time 70 be sndcr
taken II the Grand Trunk Railway were continued To
Halifax the route 40 10 the lakes would be completed from
r tsh port accessible throughout the year The con-
suuction OF railway running TO the northwest OF lake
Superior and EDWARDS 10 the Pacific would terminate the
line. The expenses OF TINS underukng have been esn
compared with the profits OF that stream tf wealth
which would flow from the east through British terri
tory to Britain herself The abolition Of the Hudsons
Raw monopoly and the constitution Of Nancouvers Island
az a British colony will attract hardy and enerprising
settlers 10 the hitherto neglected regions bordering upon
the North Pacific aud whether or not the formation OF
this great communication be speedily under
tahen Liverpool will spring up in that part OF the
world afordng centre for British trade aud British IN
dustry With ron coal and timber the spot, the rail
way then would become matter Of comparatively Little
difficulty. Commencing at both ends and advancing with
the progress OF the population, would eventually meet
and thus that iron grde would be placed around the
continent subjecting territories which are now lying
was,e and unproduotve 10 the benehcent dominion OF
civilization and commerce, and maintaining IN British
hands that superiority which would 10 be the her
tao nj tha Ana Sax rara.