RAILROAD ROUTES. 241 



civilize and Christianize mankind than any and all other projects taken together. It is 

 a gratification to see, by the Secretary of the Navy's report, that the two officers who 

 were sent out by the Government to survey the Atrato' River route do not agree in 

 their conclusion as to its practicability. I had been led to believe, from what I bad 

 read in the public prints, that the route had been condemned; but this statement of 

 the honorable Secretary leaves a gleam of hope that the great work may yet be 

 accomplished. This Atrato route the late Dr. Foote, when minister to Bogota, 

 brought, as he told me, to the attention of Mr. Webster, then Secretary of State under 

 Mr. Fillmore, and he felt sure, from the information lie had obtained upon the subject, 

 that it was well worthy of examination. 



This great work deserves the attention of every nation in the world, and, if it 

 cannot be accomplished in any other mode, should be effected by them in conjunction, 

 and thrown open to ships of every clime. A congress of nations for the purpose 

 should, it strikes me, if necessary, be called together, and some feasible plan adopted. 

 But I have carried this letter to an unconscionable length, and will, therefore, not tire 

 your patience any longer by its continuance. 



I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



J. H. Simpson, 

 Captain C<>r]>s T<q)<«ir<t)>li'n:<d Evt/inccrs. 



James H. Sanford, Esq., 



Buffalo, N. Y. 



