Panama
to Point Mala S. 15°. W. Dist. 95 Geo. Miles.
Point Mala
to Port Damas,
Quibo S. 89°. W. " 97
Port Damas
to Rialejo N. 48°. W. " 450
Rialejo to
Acapulco N. 62-1/2°. W. " 1180
Acapulco to
St. Blas N. 48°. W. " 420
St Blas to
Cape Lucas,
California N. 73°. W. " 274
From Panama to St. Blas and back could be
twenty-seven days, including four days for
stoppages.]
This connexion may be made either by Chagres and Panama, or by the
river St. Juan's, through the Lake Nicaragua, to Rialejo, on the
Pacific. The distances and courses by either are not materially
different: but there is the best reason to believe that the
communication by the route last mentioned is the best; and that, in
fact, it may, without a very great expense, be effected by water. To
carry on the communication across the Pacific, from and to the places
mentioned, by steam, would be unprofitable, unadvisable, and
unnecessary. To give two mails each month to the places specifically
mentioned, would require, even fixing a central point in the Pacific
as in the Atlantic, thirteen steamers, at a cost of 223,000_l._; while
no more than fifteen days could be gained, compared to the time that
the work could be performed by sailing packets. These results have
been obtained after calculations carefully made upon the same
principles as the calculations for a similar purpose have been made in
the preceding pages. The whole can be proved by considering the winds
which prevail in the quarters of the Pacific alluded to (elsewhere
particularly noticed), and by examining the bearings and distances
inserted in Appendix No. III. These matters being considered, it
follows, that not only no additional expense will be required on
account of the mails which are to cross the Isthmus to the Pacific,
until their arrival at Panama or Rialejo; but that resources from (p. 059)
the latter, such as parcels, packages, and passengers, will be drawn
from the Pacific department, to increase the returns in the Atlantic
department. With these observations, it is now proper to advert to the
courses and distances which must be taken, and the expenses which will
be required in this, which shall be denominated the Pacific
Department; the work to be performed by first-class sailing packets.
Owing to the winds which prevail in the Pacific, the passage outwards
to both Sydney and Canton would be easy and rapid; but in order to
make the return mails from these places meet at a central
point--thereby, as in the plan for crossing the Atlantic, to save
packets--which point should be so placed, as that taking it in would
not retard the progress of the mails, or that only in the slightest
degree possible--is now the point to consider. Beyond the parallel
where the variable winds commence, there is no island of importance in
any position that would be an eligible and safe point for the return
mails from Sydney and Canton to meet in their way to Rialejo or
Panama. To carry the outward mails from either of the latter places by
Otaheite, the Canton packet branching off there would be to bring it,
upon its return, a vast distance out of its way (to Otaheite it must
return in order to get the next outward mail for Canton); especially
when the return mail from Sydney must stand north through the trades
to get into the northern variables. It would be desirable that a good
point should be found, as much to the westward as possible, and
convenient to proceed to Canton; at the same time, sufficiently to the
eastward, or, as it may be called, to the windward, of New South
Wales. Owhyhee may be considered as taking the Sydney outward mails
considerably out of their course, although by making that the point,
the time in both lines westward from it would be pretty equally
divided. The difference, however, and the delay it would occasion,
would not be so much as at first sight may be imagined; while the
short distance that this island is within the northern trade winds,
would render it neither difficult nor tedious for the return packet
from Canton to run down upon it, and there meet the return packet from
Sydney. Christmas Isle, a little to the north of the equator, (p. 060)
might be made the central point at which the packets would separate,
and to which they would return; the Canton packets dropping at Owhyhee
the return mails, to be picked up by the packet returning from Sydney
to Rialejo. This would bring the Canton packet 1000 miles into the
trade winds to Christmas Isle. From thence, with the outward mails, it
could run rapidly westward to Canton, calling at Manilla in the
voyage. There are no other places in the North Pacific where packets
could touch, unite, and command, with the least inconvenience to the
service, the navigation to and from both places. Separate
establishments for each line from the west coast of America may be
considered too expensive, if, by concentration and combination, the
same work could be performed at less expense; and then, by that
combination, whatever letters, passengers, &c. there might be from
Sydney to Canton, or from Canton to Sydney, would meet at either of
the places mentioned, and be forwarded in the quickest manner to their
respective destinations. The question is, Which of the places and
plans mentioned is the best fitted for the objects had in view? To
determine this, it will be best to consider the communication, each of
the three ways in which it may be taken, thus:--
Making Owhyhee the central point of communication, the routes,
distances, and periods, and expenses, would be--
Geo. Miles. Days
Rialejo to Owhyhee 4,100 22
Owhyhee to Canton 5,200 28
Stop at Canton " 2
Canton to Owhyhee (circuitous) 5,900 39
Owhyhee to Rialejo do. 4,700 29
------ ---
Totals 19,900 120
------ ---
Eight boats would perform this work, giving two mails each month:
cost, 76,000_l._; yearly charges, 33,600_l._
_Owhyhee to Sydney._ (p. 061)
Geo. Miles. Days.
Owhyhee to Sydney, N. S. Wales 4,600 24
Stop at Sydney " 3
Sydney to Otaheite, say 3,900 25
Otaheite to Owhyhee 2,250 13
------ --
Totals 10,750 65
------ --
Six packets (one to spare) would perform this work between Owhyhee and
Sydney, giving two mails each month: cost, 57,000_l._; yearly charges,
25,200_l._ Admitting that the packets on the Owhyhee and Sydney line
take longer time than is here stated, they would still be in time to
reach Owhyhee by the time that the Canton mail came up; which in its
course with Owhyhee is calculated to be 91 days. In fact, there is
thus time sufficient to allow the Owhyhee and Sydney packet time to
communicate with Hobart Town, and to call at Otaheite in her outward
voyage; as she will do, and, in fact, from the course which she must
take, she may and can do, in her return voyage, without any
inconvenience or delay whatever.
The next plan is, to consider the communications alluded to as to be
carried on by making Christmas Island the central point of
arrangement; thus:--
_Rialejo to Christmas Isle._
Geo. Miles. Days.
Rialejo to Christmas Isle 4000 21
Christmas Isle to Sydney, N. S. Wales 3650 20
Stop at Sydney " 3
Sydney to Christmas Isle, by Otaheite 5100 35
Christmas Isle to Rialejo, by Owhyhee 5800 35
------ ---
Totals 15,500 114
------ ---
Eight packets would perform this work, giving two mails each month:
cost, 76,000_l._; yearly charges, 35,600_l._
_Christmas Isle to Canton._ (p. 062)
Geo. Miles. Days.
Christmas Isle to Canton 5250 26
Stop at Canton " 3
Canton to Christmas Isle, by Owhyhee
route 6900 46
------ --
Totals 12,150 75
Eight packets would perform this work, giving two mails each month:
cost 76,000_l._; yearly charges, 33,600_l._; which shows that it takes
one packet more by this arrangement than would be required by the
other.
Keeping the stations altogether separate, the following would be the
periods and number of packets required, premising that the packets
would return to the point of departure on the west coast of America,
nearly in the dotted lines which are laid down on the accompanying
Chart:--
_Rialejo to Canton._
Geo. Miles. Days.
Rialejo to Owhyhee 4100 22
Owhyhee to Canton 5200 27
Stop at Canton " 2
Canton to Rialejo (circuitous) 10,000 59
------ ---
Totals 19,300 110
Eight packets would perform this work, giving two mails each month;
first cost, 76,000_l._; yearly charges, 33,600_l._
_Rialejo to Sydney, New South Wales._
Geo. Miles. Days.
Rialejo to Otaheite 4100 22
Otaheite to Sydney 3400 19
Stop at Sydney " 3
Sydney to Rialejo, by N. Point, New
Zealand 8500 51
------ --
Totals 16,000 95
Examining attentively the three preceding routes of communication, (p. 063)
it is plain that, in point of expense, the last, namely, that which
gives two establishments, is not more than the most eligible of the
other two, while in point of time it is considerably the quickest. The
packets going out and returning twice each month, or every _fifteen_
days, it follows that, on every route, their voyages divide into
periods of that duration. In the more distant, such as the routes at
present under consideration, their voyages, in order to coincide and
to meet with the return mails at any given point, will run, say, 90
days, 105 days, 120 days, &c.; and within the latter-mentioned number
the mail from Canton must return to Jamaica, to secure, without extra
loss of time, a packet bound to England.
Seven packets would perform this work, giving two mails each month;
first cost, 66,500_l._; yearly charges, 29,200_l._; which is one
packet more than the Owhyhee plan requires; but that station would
require one spare packet, making _fifteen_ for the whole, which thus
makes both stations equal, but without the combination which the
Owhyhee station gives.
This arrangement for the Pacific would, in whichever way it may be
taken, save the whole proposed steam communication from Ceylon
eastward to Canton and New South Wales; which saving, either on the
Mediterranean or Cape of Good Hope lines, would be, eight steamers and
one sailing vessel--capital, 199,500_l._, and yearly charges about
130,000_l._; thus reducing very greatly indeed the cost of the
subsequent plan projected for the Eastern world. Even at the outset,
the mails, parcels, and passengers on the Pacific station, would, it
is believed, pay the expenses as here stated:--
Fixed Capital. Yearly Charges.
Pacific Departments £142,500 £63,000