PANAMA TRANSIT. One of the most interesting and important enquiries now in progregg, 'concerning the formation of a high way Of is the choice of *a route across the I§thitufg Of Panama fibre. the Atlantic to the Pacific. Thig iithmtis eenheets North With South Aiiierica. the acquisition of portion§ of Oregon and California by the United Stites, it hag itecothe a matter of high importance to Obtain easy access to those far distant regions., The Only ship route is round Cape I-Iorn ; and this carries the traveller so far southward, that the distance is far more than double what it would be if a Passage across the isthmuS could be Made. Washing ton and San FranciSed are about hi the same latitude ; but in the ship-route from one to the other, the Mariner has to go 95 degrees of latitude southward along the Atlantic, and then 95 degrees northward along the Pacific ; whereas if the isthmus could be cut across near Panama, the southing and northing would each be less than 30 degrees. Whether • from England, froin New York, or from New Orleans, the saving of distance by the Panama route to Oregon and California would be enormous.
But it is not simply in relation to thoSe two regions that the Panama route would become important. The wide spreading Pacific, with its islands and coasts, would bsi bronght within easier reach of the Anglo-Sixen race. The Sandwich Islands, New Zealand, Borneo, Australia, China—all are becoming every year more commercially important; all would be nearer to the United States by the Panama route than any other ; and some would be nearer to England than by the existing routes. The same West India Mail which now renders so much service would be available for the ocean mail of the Pacific.
The desirability of a Panama Passage being conceded, it became a matter of importance to decide on the best mode of effecting it. In the long string of land which connects Ninth with South America, there are three or font' places where the land from ocean to ocean is less in distance than at any other paints. The
narrowest part is from Chagres to Panama, near South America ; a little farther north is a spot where the Lake of Nicaragua occupies the middle of theisthning, with a river flowing from it into the Atlantic, ; while still farther north, at Tehuantepec, a river which flows into the Atlantic springs from a point very near another river which flows into the Pacific. All these three have been proposed as sites for canal or railway communication. The Panama route is to have a railway ; it was commenced in 1849, and is now in process of formation. The Tehuantopeo route is also to have a railway ; or rather, the Mexican go yerninent to endeaveuthigte: fester a company having title object in view; but there are many reason§ for doubting Whether this will be carried out. Meanwhile the Nicaragua ratite is that, in whIch ,niest energy is being displayed. _ At the Month of the • river St. Juan de Nicaragua is Greytoivri, held by the British as a sort of giiardianship over the bra& King of Mosquito ; from this `steamers ascend to a certain point up the St. Juan ; after which a short land passage briiiis the traveller to the Lake, whence two routes are Marked. Out to the Pacific. Whether the engineering comnierclial diffictilties will ever permit a ship canal to be Constructed, through,which it laden vessel front England Or the State§ might pass across ihe isthmus, time alone can shew. Probabilities seem to be against such a supposition. If the Panama Railway be finished,with a tolerable harbour at each extremity, two sets of steam ers, an Atlantic line and a Pacific line, would be formed, and there would be two shiftings of mails and luggage (a debarkation and an embarkation) at, the isthmds. This great enterprise would be intended, in the first instance for mails and passengers : merchant Cargoes will long continue to use the old ocean-routes.