The New York herald., 1869-01-30
rbe Darae. Cnn.u ana OtheS Projected
ing e
Interoceauic Trausits.

Imtor0coantc Trausiess
The news reaches us that the mission Of
Mr. Gushing to Bogota has been success
that we have had conceded to us the
right to cut canal across the Isthmus
of Darien. We therefore take the op-
portunity to publish elsewhere an interest,"
ing risuuas Of the political history OF inter-
oceanic routes by DR.. G.. D. Abbott. The
moment has arrived when our statesmen should
consider in all its broad significance the geo
graphical position which we occupy. The i'm
portant fact that we stand squarely in the track
of the worlds commerce Is now recognized by
every great nation. The European Powers,
on one side and China, on the other, clasp
hands on the Western Continent and form their
true trade union.
The first nation to see the advantage OF di-
rect communication with the Indies by the mar
row strip of land connecting us with South
America was Spain; but this was in the days
of her conquests and commercial glory. Then
she exported the silver products Of Mexico
from Acapulco to China, and, landing. me return
cargoes at the same port, made tsane transit OF
Mexico to Vera Cruz, shipping the rich goods
from the latter point direct to Spain. 1t was
this which gave them q practical demonstration
Of the value Of an intsrocs,.,oiio route ana
caused tha s~-.-'- az
ssSs'N .ss4lng Of the decree Of 1914, to
rs r~s ssrs, sss, ss.;as Tshgaatepec Toned in
the paper to which We Va refer The enterprise
which set Europe t9 thinking Of the great po,;,
Iitical and c0mr,arcsoi w.of,o ~ tho j.S,,;,s ,,s
was that Of William Paterson, founder Of the
Bank of England, who established colony at
Caledonia Bay in 1903, and made Scotland and
England ring with the solid ideas which he
forced into notice relative to the Isthmus tram
sits and the advantages which the world
would derive by breaking down the barrier.
In this, however, as in everything
else great in any direction, It was necessary
to get the popular intellect to subscribe to the
idea. 1t has taken nearly three hundred years
to reach this result, and finally we are on
the point ofseeing something accomplished.
1t is Of vital interest how this something
shall be effected. IF we are narrow in our
policy we shall meet with stumbling blocks at
every step. If broad, and grasping in one
glance the interests of the whole world, the
wish almost will create the canal. To bring it
down to the idea of making itpay, it is unques-
tionable that it must be used on terms of the
most perfect equality by all nations which
may choose to send ship through it. We
cannot monopolize it and at the same moment
lead the world in civilization, as is our boast
and desire. Where, then, is the objection to
asking other nations to help us cut it?
Let us see what the practical benefit is to
ourselves alone. 1t is fair to take our COM
merce on its footing of 1861. AT that date we
had gained our highest figure in tonnage.
which was, foreign and local, 5,539,s ,s1S tons.
For practical calculations this was about
equally divided between domestic and foreign
vessels. Ofthe foreign tonnage we may safely
estimate that two million tons would use an
isthmus canal If 1t existed. In ships alone
this would represent value of one hundred
million dollars, gold. Let us suppose that tho
saving in time for passage to each vessel
was, roughly estimated, ninety days per
year in its accustomed voyages This
would represent a saving of interest, at
seven per cent, of 81 100, 900, gold, annually,
and here we do not include the valuable
cargoes. The Hon. Elijah Ward, in speech
on the Atrato canal qcestionin 1859, estimated,
from very reliable data, that the total yearly
S35, ,o95, $50. This included interest, iusur-
ance, wear and tear on ships, saving of freight
money by time and saving Of wages and pro-
visions for crews. The total saving to France
he estimated at 81, 1888, $50; to England,
SO, ,950,3is; to other countries, 81, 10000
Total saving to the world, $40, $50, ,2o5.
These were the same figures afterwards en-
dorsed by Admiral Davis in his report upon
the canal question 10 1866.
1t is here seen what immense advantages aro
to accrue Immediately In material view by
the piercing Of the isthmus. The results are
The modern world will gather
untold fruits from that great Chinese and Jap
anese garden titled by five hundred millions Of
intelligent and industrious people. CONNER
cial contact, simplided by nearer, easier and
cheaper transits, will make us acquainted with
each other, and 1t is not impossible that we
may find upon the eastern Asiatic shore some
hints about government which may mako
Europe and the United States littlo moro
stable politically.
PARAGUAY.-The news from the allied
army is very important. Lopez is fugitive
in the interior Of the country he has been 50
bravely defending, and Brazil is now master
of the position. All this, however, must be
taken with the usual amount Of allowance we
have had to give to the allied reports during
the war. If the news be confirmed we may
expect in the next year to see some extraor-
binary political combinations on the La Plata