Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-10


Why does II como TO pass
A CEsEaATIos AGO.
4 Projected Lane u Steamships sress
New York 70 Astoria.
Fran a lecture delivered by General
Dunbar before the Travellers Club, OF
New York, on the history Of the gold
discoveries in California, We take the
following:
"The idea Of q line of American mail
steamers from Panama mp the Pacific
5000. terminating ct Astoria. original.
Cd With y. n. Bhively, q plain sort OF
man Who at an early date had drifted
from Massachusetts, or Connecticut
scroes the continent and finally stopped
a Astoria, and there became postmas-
ter. 6hivefy returned 10 the Atlantic
states in 1915, and when in washington
he threw ont the idea Of this line OF
steameB. At this time the controversy
between Great Britain and the United
6tateo respecting the northwestern
boundary had become an exciting topic,
both q and ont Of Congress. Oar Gov
ernment was extremely anxious 70
throw immigration into Oregon, and It
q possible that 6hively's idea OF linz
OF steamers from Panama up the Pacific
coast may have been regarded favors-
bly, By the administration. whether
this b. true or mot, President Polk, ~
the latter part OF 1915, took declded
measures 70 establish . means Of CON
vsyanoe to Oregon that should Be avail
aba - immigrants.
II furthersnoe Of this project the
President requested J. w. Woodward
Of New York TO come b Warrington
and assist him with his information and
eounssIs. Woodward Was then engaged
IL the Baltic trade, and he had frequent
and large consiQnments Of Immigrants
from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and
Prussia. Woodward st once complied
with the Presidents requests; and It
viii appear ultimately That the OrRaui-
cation az the Pacific Mail line in 1866,
a. Il now exists, or rather its founda-
tion, II mainly due 70 the efisrts OF this
I eivs Woodward's own statement Of
the matter: "PoIk received mo with
great c0rdiality. and explained TO me
what the government desired TO accom-
pliah. At this interview the overland
route and the plan of sending emiRrants
around the Horn were discussed and
abandoned, and the Isthmus route was
suggested. This proposition struck Polk
fevorably, and be requested me to OK
anime and report. The lsthmus Of
Darien Was thon unknown one or two
small vessels used TO 90 once or twice q
year 10 ChAQre6, then an uninviting
plsce. Isecured al the books Of travel
/ could In relation to that region. ] had
the good fortune - meet ono Nelson, q
resident Of Panama, then acting Ameri-
can Consul. From all these SOURCES be-
came satisaed that the Isthmus route
was practicable, and ct length ] was
able 10 present to President
Polk q plan which ! deemed
feasible. II was TO prepare and send
ont number Of small boats sufficient
70 take 3 shipment Of emigrants and
THAR luggage on their arrival ct Chagree
and proceed mp tho Ohagres river -
far - Orucis, and then b. pack mules
across the 1athmus to Panama, thence
they wore 70 be taksn ~ vessel to Ore
Ron. The vessels 70 be employed, both
On Tho Atlantic and the Pacific, were TO
be either sailing or ateam vessels, a. the
eovernmsnt might determine. ! made
The estimates for the plan and submit
I'D report 70 the President. He seem-
"a highly pleased q the solution Of q
proclaim that promised the accomplish
msnt Il the object which the govern
ment bad ID view, and took steps TO OBJ
tain iulmediately from Congress, which
Wae than Il eessi0n, the ne0essary APP
peopfiation. The President placed Sen-
atos Miles and myself In charge Of the
6un1neo. The excitement relative TO