168 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [APR. 22, 
the western coast of the United States and has been transported 
in ships by a long, dangerous voyage around Cape Horn,—the 
‘* Cape of Storms,” as it has been called. 
To say that a people have little commerce is to say that they 
are devoid of many of the decencies and comforts—and of some 
of the greatest blessings—of modern civilization. Well may 
statesmen endeavor to promote the best interests of a people by 
duly caring for their commercial development. 
The Government of the United States has spent, in one form 
and another, a large amount of money in surveys for a suitable 
place for a passage across the American isthmus. A practicable 
route for an interoceanic canal, with locks, at Panama was sur- 
veyed by officers of our Government during the administration 
of President Grant. Had De Lesseps adopted that route, there 
would have been a canal to-day at Panama. It has been found 
by surveys that an interoceanic canal could be built at Nicaragua. 
Gen. Grant refused an offer, made to him by De Lesseps, of 
fifty or sixty thousand dollars a year to act as President of the 
Panama Canal Company; but he would gladly,—indeed, it was 
a noble ambition of his to do so,—have become the President 
of an interoceanic canal at Nicaragua. The building of such a 
canal at Nicaragua has much in some respects to commend it to 
American citizens; but grave doubts were entertained by Cap- 
tain Eads,—one of the highest of authorities on such a subject,— 
whether it would be practicable to make a suitable harbor at the 
eastern terminus of the canal. In his opinion, a ship-railway 
at Tehuantepec would be far better for the people of the United 
States,—owing to important political as well as commercial 
reasons,—than would be even an American interoceanic canal at 
Nicaragua. 
As the American isthmus is about 1,500 miles in length, it must 
make an important difference to the people of North America,— 
and indeed to no inconsiderable degree to England,—whether 
a gateway for ships across the isthmus is opened at its northern 
or at its southern part. A vessel going from New York to San 
Francisco would save about 1,173 miles by going by way of 
Tehuantepec instead of by way of Panama. On every round 
trip it would save 2,346 miles. 
A large number of the vessels of the United States are pro- 
pelled by sails. A sailing-vessel going from any American port, 
and using the ship-railway at Tehuantepec, would enjoy the great 
advantage of being borne onwards on its journey by friendly 
trade-winds. ‘Toa less extent it would also have this advantage 
if it went by way of the splendid Lake of Nicaragua. But there 
is a region of calms in the Caribbean Sea and on the Pacific 
Ocean off the coast of Panama. Vessels crossing the isthmus 
