102 THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 



remained for American enterprise to put in pro- 

 gress of execution this great work, which will add 

 another to the many monuments of her indubitable 

 energy and enterprise. 



A recent writer in speaking of the advantages to 

 England's commerce in this route, over all others, 

 says : " Even now the western route over the Isthmus, 

 spite of the harrassing and tedious passage across 

 it, is much the nearer way to the British possessions 

 in the South Pacific — the New Zealand, the Great 

 Britain of the southern hemisphere, and the Austral 

 continent." " There are three routes which it is 

 known can be accomplished by steam in the follow- 

 ing average times : The eastern route, or that by 

 Suez and Singapore — 



Outward Voyage, . . 80 days. 



Homeward do. ... 71 " 



151 



The western route, by Panama and New Zealand, 

 allowing twenty-three days from Southampton to 

 Panama : 



Outward Voyage, ' . . 64 days. 



Homeward do . . . 68 " 



127 



Pound the Cape of Good Hope : 



Outward Voyage, . . 72 days. 



Homeward do . . . 72 " 



Total, . . . 144 days." 



