THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 105 



the world, from which they have so scrupulously, 

 and so much against their own interest, shut them- 

 selves out of the past. 



The Pacific whale fisheries form another branch 

 of commerce, which will come in for a share of the 

 benefits to be derived from this great work, in en- 

 abling the ships in this trade to discharge their car- 

 goes and receive their stores so near the fields in 

 which they cruise, and thus make quicker and more 

 profitable returns to their owners. The rapidly ex- 

 tending steam navigation of the Pacific will soon 

 create a demand for coal, which it will be almost 

 impossible to supply by the present means around 

 Cape Horn. This has, so far, been one of the great- 

 est obstacles and expenses attending the establish- 

 ment of steamship lines upon the coast ; but with 

 the arrangements already making for the transit of 

 this material across the Isthmus by the Panama 

 Railroad, this difficulty will be, in a great measure, 

 remedied, and the expense lightened. Look as we 

 may, upon every hand, and it is almost impossible 

 .to conceive of any great public interest that will not 

 be enhanced by the completion of this long contem- 

 plated desideratum in the commercial communica- 

 tion of the world. Nor is it alone what is under- 

 stood as " public interest," that is to be advanced, 

 though indeed this is nothing more than the aggre- 

 gation of private benefits ; but how many thousands, 

 altogether disconnected from any great public en- 

 terprise, are already looking forward to the time 

 when their individual advantage may be subserved 

 6 



