New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23

profitable than either of the canals The total cost
of the road Is estimated at $40, 100000. 1t may here
be stated however that different estimates as to the
cost of the railroad and canals vary by q hundred
millions or more. according to the favorable OF u9-
favorable attitude of ihe caIc Iator toward the WORK
III question.
RELATIONS OF TIE ROUTES TO COMMERCE.
The relation the Isthmiau routes will sustain to
the highways of the worlds commerce is indicated
on the two smaller maps given above. The map OF
the world on Mercator's projection shows that as a
means of communication between the Atlantic ports
OF the United States and its Pacific coast, the west
ern coast of South America, CHINA, Japan, Australia
and the islapds of the Pacific, either of the three
rontes across the lsthmus would possess great AL
vantagcs in point of distance over the tedious aud
often perllous journey around Cape Horn, which IS
now the only means of communication that docs not
necessitate tho unloading and reloadng of cargoes
This fact will be the moro evident when Ii is
stated that the distance from New-1ork TO san
Francisco. via Cape Horn, is 1862 miles, aud via
Panama 6,O57 miles. saving OF 0, 9,6l5 miles by the
latter route. proportionately great distance is
also saved between Ncw-York and Yokohama or
Hong Kong The advantage in point of distance of
the Isthinan over the Cape Horn route to European
commerce is immense, ,efecting saving of more than
seven thousand miles each way in the journey be-
tween san Francisco and Liverpool, while the gain
between Europe aud the Pacific coast of South
America Is equally striking
Upon the third map shown the advantages
and disadvantages Of the several trans-lsthmian
routes with respect to each other. in relation to
American commerce. 1t is evident that the further
north a route may be located, the shorter will be
the distance by it between the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts of the United States.
This circumstance is of course intensified by the
spherical form of the earth, causing the distance be-
tween any two mcrdians to increase as they ap-
proach tue equator. Accordingly. all other things
being equal, the Tehuantepec route would be the
most and the Panama route the least desirable.
Other circumstances, however may counterbalance
this advantage. 49,
The Caribbean termini of the Panama and Mica
ragua routes about equidlstant from any OF the
Atlantic ports of the United States. On the Paclhc
coast there is difference of six hundred miles
in favor of tire latter far greater difference ex-
lists between the Panama and Tehuantepec routes,as
will be seen by inspection OF the map. and froIu
the following summary OF distances: from New
Orleans 10 San Francisco the distance VIA Iehnsl-
tenec is 9 576 miles; via Panama, 8, Az; difference
10 favor Of former ,o36 or 1872 miles III the round
trip The difference In favor OF Iehuantepec over
banana from New-Orleans TO Yokohama or hong
Konr ia | 500 miles; to Sydney, Australia, 1,l53
miles; and to Mazatlan. Mexico, 1924 miles,
From New-Y0rk to San Francisco the advantage
of Tehuantepec over Panama is l,l52 miles, and II
the proposed Florida ship-cana were constructed
fmrtLer saving Of about two hundred niles would be
nade The gain of the Tehuantepec route over
panama between New-York and Hong kongis 800
miles: between San Francisco and Llyerpool, Eng
inud S37 miles: and between San Francisco and
Havana, Cuba ,43O miles,