New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-24

management The exports from and tho
imports into the South imeT1can re
publics Of the Pacific can never add much TO tne
commerce OF the word, because their soil - 10
largo extent mountainous and comparatively uhpto-
ductve They almost stationary. and without q
future. The principal commerce. OF our racine
States will soon be carried Oh with China, Japan,
and the islands of the Pacific, because it is to th0se
countries that the Pacific States must look Tor q
market for the surplus Of their farms and work
shops Mr. NiDmO. the chief of the Bureau OF Statis-
tics OF the Treasury. the heet authority attalhape
Ito whom the writer is indebted for many OF Tue
facts and figures here presented says it is probable
that not more than per cent OF the commerce ol
the globe upon the ocean would pass through
this canal If constructed. -,
II may I've of interest TO those 80 enthusiastic over the
idea of constructing highway for the commerce OF
the nations" 10 know that even the immense com
merce between Asia, Australia and Europe VIA tpe
SueZ Canal during the last year amounted I'd Only
323G,9 41 tons. which carried in ~ steamers
ana three sailing vessels Facts qua ns sbsy have
presented an impossible barrier to the success Vi
visionary projects.
THE NICARAGUA ROUTE.
A canal by the way Of Lake Nicaragua would have
the advantage of not costing more than half as
much as the Panama route. but even with this adj
vantage it would be worthless as business invest
ment. Did a sufficient amount Of commerce exist
that does not find more favorable transportation
the proposed Nicaragua Canal would be Insufficient
to pass it. There to be fifteen or twenty Jocks,
TOOmy enough 10 pass the largest steamers. IL WIN
require at least two hours to pass vessel through
lock, that only twelve vessels could in TWEEN
ty-four hoursl There was o time when q canal
might have commanded the commerce Of the Pachc'
but that time has passed. The completion of five
great railways across the continent, now ut hand,
will furnish favorable routes The North
Pacific Railroad will soon reach Puget sound over
which the commerce between China and Japan ana
our interior and sesboard States must pass. .
The distance from New-York via the North Pacific
Railroad to Yokohama IS 1000 miles; via the pro
jected Panama Canal, 9,776 mIles-a difference IN
favor of the North Pacific route of 2,776 mlNs. Inc
distance from New-YOrk to Hong Kong via the
North Pacific Railroad is $500 miles; VIA Panama,
11.23S miles-a difference in favor of the North
Pacific of . 43S miles If it be said that the Panama
route possesses the advantage of being water
route and for that merchandise can be trans
ported at much lower rates than by rail- the answer
is at hand: The difference, If any, in tie cost or
transportation by the different methods would DO
more than made up in favor Of the North PacihG
route taking INTO consideration the toll to be leyed
and the time consumed. A tea merchant IN New
York ordering a cargo from Hong Kong via the
North Pacific route would receive and sell II before
his neighbours cargo could reach Panama, If ordered
by that route. Time is of great moment i'll this
pushing, go-ahead age JOHN u. DEFREEs'
Washington. d. c. Jan. Is, 1881.