THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 103 



So that the western route to Austral Asia, as at 

 present existing, is shorter by thirty -four days than 

 the eastern route, and by seventeen clays than that 

 by the Cape. Now when we add to this the differ- 

 ence in time occupied in crossing the Isthmus by the 

 best means hitherto, and by railroad, which cannot 

 be less than four or five days from the Atlantic to 

 the Pacific, we find it will give this route a prece- 

 dence of at least twenty-one days ; a very important 

 item in the commerce of Great Britain with the 

 countries in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, to which 

 her exports amount to about thirty millions of pounds 

 sterling ; and an advantage which she will not fail 

 to avail herself of when the door is fairly open. 



. But it is to the advantages likely to accrue to our 

 own commerce, in uniting more intimately the At- 

 lantic and Pacific states, that we look for the great- 

 est results that will follow the completion of this 

 long contemplated enterprise. 



Within the last three years there have probably 

 150,000 persons crossed the Isthmus of Panama, at 

 an average expense of not less than $30 each, which 

 is at least $20 more than it will cost by the railroad, 

 which will be a saving in the future for that number 

 of the travelling public, of $3,000,000, independent 

 of the more important items still, of time, and in- 

 describable sufferings, which so many are familiar 

 with, who have hitherto crossed the Isthmus by 

 boats and mules. 



But these are but few of the many items of im- 

 portance to be considered in this relation. Whence 

 come the supplies, the provisions, clothing imple- 



