128 
REVENUE AND INCOME. 
demand, and the other from the want of swpjply. The remedy 
of the evil consists simply in the security of some route that 
shall guarantee cheap and rapid transit. It is unnecessary, 
after all that has been advanced, to designate which is shortest, 
healthiest, and best. 
Another consideration, of perhaps more importance than any 
of the preceding, is the fact that the construction of the Tehuan- 
tepec Railroad, in view of what has been stated, will create a 
revolution in the carrying and passenger trade between the 
Asiatic and the European worlds. This will be hastened by 
forming a line of steamships to connect San Francisco with 
Macao or some other port in China. During the last session of 
Congress a project of this kind was favorably reported upon by 
the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom it was referred. On 
this subject the Committee say : 
" The acquisition of California presents facilities for trade and intercourse 
with China which ought not to be neglected. It is believed that steamers can 
regularly make the voyage from the Bay of San Francisco to China in twenty 
days ; and by the circuitous route over the Isthmus now necessarily used,* com- 
munication is maintained between the western coast and our Atlantic cities in 
little more than thirty days. Thus the establishment of a line of steamers on 
the Pacific would place New York within less than sixty days of Macao. The 
trade with China in sailing vessels, which go around the Cape, now labors un- 
der a great disadvantage in the length of time required for the voyage. It 
may be assumed that an average of ten months is required to make the re- 
turn ; and the voyage from Europe to China and back, may be considered as 
occupying an average of full twelve months. With the facilities now exist- 
ing, and with the addition of the Pacific line proposed by the memorialists, the 
communication between Liverpool and China would be reduced to sixty days, 
and the return of an adventure from London to China might be received by 
the way of the United States in less than five months, less than half the time 
now required. 
" The commerce of India has always enriched the nation enjoying it. The 
exports of China have so much value in proportion to their bulk, that they can 
well afford to bear the cost of steam transportation. With all the advantages 
which will be possessed by a line of six steamers of enormous capacity for 
freight, wearing the flag of the United States, commanded by officers of the 
Navy, making their trips with regularity, and much more speedily than on 
other routes, it is certain that the rich stream of Eastern commerce would flow 
* The Committee refer to Panama. 
