Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-28
,-.h whnrc tho ,u1o. orc strongest. Returning,

north, where the tmdes nrc strongest. Returning,
they take the great circle route-the shortest dls-
tarcc-and keep well up 10 the north, Tor now tic
ssbrave west winds" Of those cxtra-tropical regions.
which would have hccn adverse for the outward voy-
age, are fresh and fair for the hcmeward rnu, 50 you
perceive that Il vessel trading under CANVASS between
our Pacific States and China describes on every
round VOYAGE al ellipsc. Coming ont Of the Straits
of Fucn or the Columbia river. for instance. her
course is iigs; to tile southwark, IL though she were
bound round Ca e Horn, and until she gets into the
northeast trade winds. Her course j. then west until
She enters lie waters Of the China seas. she then
liaulS up 10 the northwRrd and westward for her port.
On the return voyage her course, on coming out ol
her Asiatic port, Is To the northward and eastward
until she gets fairly within the brave west Winds
With these - steers to the eastward, following the
grca; circle roui". gradually shaping her course 10 the
south ni ,n>t. until she rcrchcs our own shore" nsain.
Ii she be bound 10 san Francisco her route, until
size gains The ois.ng of the traits of tuca, would DC
the suule IL though she We're bound into Puget s
sound or the Columbia river.
Thus you perceive that. on the eastward voyage,
San Francisco j. on 'hc waysidc from Pi"ct's Sound
und Columbia river to China. whereas Pugct's Sound
and astoria Az OF the way.iie OF the route IIph'
China AMI Japan 70 California.
To sec how one road only would work, let ~ first
suppose it NJ he Noth-running from -. Paul 10
PIi.te;'S Sound. Let lis now follow u package of IEcr
chandi-c-say al sin>eng-that is sent over this road
from Mv:rphi> !" he bartcrcd in China Tor tea. The
ginseng would first 20 north up the Mississippi to gel
10 the road. Thence It would cross to the Pacific; as
riy;nr Il, iurrt'> Sound, il would t::clI he shipped 10
China. Now i; mist come hacl 70 n. ."UH agaih n
g.. III ~ Ne trlis irinG' regioR. Thus you observe
i wonld have to 20 more than Il Thousand miles NJ
The Mississippi ont Of the way: and when it reached
the Pacific il would have 20 return again rs far {" the
south and farther t!:an IL WAS when IL started. De-
iny exchanged for tea in China. il would he nearest
for The tea 10 stop y; l'ugct'> Sound. take The Moth
crn railway and come suu.h on the Mississippi. in
stead Of coming souiii 10y sea a.on: the Pacific coast.
Now Let Us. in Imagination, place the road 1T thy
South instead % Il, the North. and take II bale Of i'irS
10 illustrate the route Of trade. aid travc! from the
upper band. The fur. We will suppose, Is sent from
81. Paul. /, CONES down the Mississippi 10 ge; 81
the road: that would not he ont nj the way io: The
fgy. Tor il i, bound South for the Northeast trade
winds al, any rate: and it would he. in 4 national
point Of vicw. perhaps more desirable TO have II 20
South by the Mississippi: than by sea on the Pacific.
But when the silk Tor which it ha, been exchanged
in China on 81. Paul account, arrives on lis return
off The entrance at the Straits oi Fuca. u las to turn
out Of lis way. Instead oi finding railway ;ran>por-
ta;ion TO take j, through from Pugct'S Sound across
70 Minnesota. it has to run away 10 the Soatii. Fer
laps Il week after il. might have been III 81. I'arl by
IA Northern road. i; arrives by sea i'll California. and
is carried by rails 70 Memphis. Now it has to aC1,
III. vDon R@.lfto 90 Worth, and rt-tross ,gtIy pOdH|
! ef ia.luL that it crosSti att.r turning out q is ~ay
from Juan d, fucu. This doubling will require two
or three weeks OF time. besides much additional! 1Hk
and expense.
With icp roads there VIII DC no G"abs!h!' helcc
two roads will bring China and Japan ana Russia
ycrv much nearer 10 the Mississippi valley than "e
c.i do. The distance saved will bc in iurlongs nc;r-
" twice The length Of the Mississippi river. and n
time some two or three weeks. Whether the Got
crnncnt. therefore. aids in the builling OF ,hcsc roat>
or not. these circumstances will Of themselves ga. ir
the construction OF -, least two roads 10 the Pacific
one q, the North. the other at the South. Northern
capital and southern capital will assist in both.
] have thus cildcavorcd In make clear the paradox
with which | SC, ont. and ! hope have succeeded IN
showing. 10 Your satisfaction, that nj lcas, .wo rail
WAYS. one ut the North, the other n the South, are
required TO the Pacific. They are commercial neccs-
sites.
There are 40 .,ll-houseS on the lakes. and none on
the Calf Of Mesien. The commercial voice OF these
two waters. could il be heard. would be raised each
,.,inpc;-tonsucd ia favor NJ these two roads.
The nearest way lrom Brazil and the Amazon, as
well As from the West ladies. 10 China. would .!icn
be by the South Pacific railway.
did not intend 10 write You 50 long y Letter. hu;
the interest feel in the subject OF it has carried me
away.
Intended 10 pass with you the compliment, oil
the season. and wish you and Your, n happ. new
year. and ask you 20 believe ne yours truly.
D.. 4. RouIxrsoS. Esq. VI. F. MAURY.
-. Paul, Minnesota.
Geographical mile. Of 60 10 a degree Of latitude.