A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam, Between Great Britain and the Eastern and Western Parts of the World
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James MacQueen >> A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam, Between Great Britain and the Eastern and Western Parts of the World
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Taking Lake Nicaragua as the point for the communication between the
two seas, the calculations which have been made as to periods and
distances connected with the conveyance of mails from Europe, in order
to cross the Pacific, will not be materially different from those
which would arise were Panama to be chosen as the point of
communication. Confining every thing to this route, it is necessary to
consider and to show what advantage trade and commerce would derive
from it; what extent of commerce would pass through this line of
communication;, and what revenue could reasonably, and with propriety,
be raised therefrom, in order to prove a remuneration for the (p. 101)
expense of the undertaking.
The official records of British trade and commerce, and also the
official records of the trade and commerce of the United States, will
enable us to estimate these points just alluded to, for the present
period, with considerable accuracy. From both records, the following
extent and amount of imports and exports, and tonnage, engaged in
transporting these, are selected; premising that, as regards both
countries, the value of each is, without either freight or charges:
and as regards the former, viz. Great Britain, the value taken is what
is denominated, in the Customs return, "_the declared value_," and
which, exclusive of freight and charges, is considerably below the
real amount. The commerce of both states mentioned, with all the
countries about to be enumerated, would most certainly pass through
the channel already alluded to, besides a considerable portion more
from other countries, but which is uncertain.
_Great Britain with_
Exports. Imports. Tonnage Tonnage
1834 1833 Inwards. Outwards.
China 842,852 3,528,635 29,308 8,887
New South Wales 716,014 } 12,400 29,567
Java 410,273 } 2,435 4,289
Philippine Islands 76,618 } 3,163,049 1,958 728
Siam 19,742 } " 337
E. Indies & Ceylon, 1/2 1,289,284 } 37,731 45,416
New Zealand 936 } 382 3,650
Chili 896,221 } 7,415 6,532
Peru 229,235 } 1,240,358 2,768 2,176
Mexico, 1/4 114,902 } 1,845 1,498
Whale Fisheries, 1/3 100,000 11,353 11,007
Guatemala, 1/3 10,122 10,122 136
---------- --------- -------- --------
L4,606,199 8,042,164 107,731 114,087
--------
Freight & charges, &c. 921,235 107,731
Foreign & Colonial 1/4 1,381,858 -------
---------- 6,303,093 Total tonnage 221,818
----------- -------
Total British trade L14,345,257
-----------
Exclusive of specie--the amount of which, from the western coasts (p. 102)
of America, cannot be less than 10,000,000 dollars yearly to Great
Britain, and perhaps half as much to the United States. The value of
British imports from Western America is not given in the official
tables in any tangible shape, and therefore the imports are taken to
be the same as the exports. The amount of imports from China is taken
correctly from the tables; and the value of all the rest, as near as
possible, from the same tables, in proportion; the whole being entered
to all countries east of the Cape, China excepted; but in this amount
also the amount for freight and charges should, it is thought, be
added. The proportion of foreign and colonial produce, &c. to British
manufactures exported, is, according to the official tables, as near
as may be, the proportion taken. The value of the whole British trade
to the places specified, may therefore be fairly taken at
17,500,000_l._ exports and imports, and exclusive of the profits
thereon.
Next comes the trade which the United States have with all these
places. In this there are more precise data, as the value both of
exports and imports is given in their tables; but it may be observed,
that the amount, both as regards imports and exports, is given
exclusive of freights and charges, which in almost all the articles
carried is greater in proportion, as regards the American trade, than
in British produce and manufactures. It may also be observed, that the
whole trade which the United States have with all countries to the
eastward of the Mauritius, would pass through, and return through, the
communication made in central America, as the nearest and the best
route for them. The following was the trade and tonnage of the United
States with the places specified in 1835:--
_United States with_ (p. 103)
Imports. Exports. Tonnage Tonnage
Inwards. Outwards.
British East Indies, dolls. 2,293,012 406,543 7,400 5,655
Dutch ditto 582,159 581,149 3,497 8,669
Spanish ditto 283,685 15,919 2,647 222
Asia generally 377,842 434,037 479 2,593
China 7,892,327 1,010,483 15,550 8,123
Mexico, 1/2 4,033,034 5,265,053 18,225 15,768
Chili 787,409 1,476,355 2,535 9,191
Peru 618,412 58,863 493 685
South Seas 27,348 97,169 39,506 280
N. W. Coast America " 118,813 45,886
---------- ---------- -------- -------
16,595,228 9,464,384 136,218 51,216
1/4 freights, &c. &c. 4,123,807 2,388,093 51,216 -------
---------- ---------- --------
20,719,035 11,852,477 187,434
11,852,477 ---------- --------
----------
Total United States 32,571,512
Ditto specie 5,000,000
-----------
Grand total, dollars 37,571,512--Sterling, L7,827,398 at 4_s._2_d._
-----------
_General Trade and Tonnage._
Value Trade. Extent Tonnage.
British L17,500,000 221,818
United States 7,827,398 187,434
----------- -------
Total L25,327,398 409,252 tons.
----------- -------
To the above should be added all the specie sent both by Great Britain
and the United States to the Eastern World, particularly to China, to
purchase cargoes, from the States alone about 7,000,000 dolls.; also
all the tonnage which goes, or would go, from one coast to another in
the three republics of Venezuela, Guatemala, and Mexico. To these
states, such a communication would prove of inestimable value, and
tend very greatly to add to the revenue to be obtained from the (p. 104)
traffic by it. There are other nations, also, besides Great Britain
and the United States, which traffic with the quarters of the world
already specifically alluded to, particularly France, Spain, and
Holland; but no accurate account of such trade has hitherto come in
the writer's way; though, taken collectively, it must be to a
considerable amount. Moreover, the whole trade between Holland and
Java, and between Spain and the Philippine Islands, would pass by the
channel under consideration, and the trade which both nations has with
these places is well known to be very considerable.
Such as it has been described is the trade at this moment; a sure
foundation upon which the magnificent undertaking under consideration
would, at the outset, have to build. The increased and increasing
communications through the grand thoroughfare goes beyond calculation,
and would most certainly exceed every thing that ever has been seen,
or that ever can be witnessed, in any other portion of this globe. The
trade of mighty empires would sink into insignificance, when compared,
in all their present magnitude, with what it would become one hundred
years hence. Admitting that it cost 1,000,000_l._ to complete the
navigable communication, (and there are good grounds to believe that
it could be done for one-half of the sum,) the question or point next
to be considered is, what would the revenue be, which could be derived
from it? To exact a per centage on the value of the commerce which
passes through it would be uncertain, and liable to evasion, and
consequently give much trouble, and occasion much vexation; and
therefore it would be best to exact so much per ton, the exact extent
of which the register of each ship or vessel so passing through the
canal would at once and readily determine. The question is, What
should the sum so levied, or the toll, actually come to be? Ten
shillings per ton would certainly be a moderate sum; and taking it so
it will be shown how it will pay at the outset.
_Cost and Revenue._ (p. 105)
Revenue 410,000 tons yearly, at 10_s._ L205,000
--------
Capital 1,000,000_l._ interest 5 per cent L50,000
Dividend in Stock 10 per cent 100,000
Expenses, management, and repairs 20,000
Surplus fund 35,000
------- L205,000
--------
Thus affording from the outset a fair and profitable return, and which
may reasonably be expected to be doubled in a very few years
afterwards.
_Conveyance Mails and Passengers._
Hitherto the matter has been considered entirely as relates to the
practicability and probable expenditure to be incurred in carrying the
Plan into effect, and the remuneration to be obtained from the Plan
when completed. It yet remains to show the advantages which will be
obtained in the courses and distances by this route, as compared with
other routes, and also with the route by the North Pole--even were
this latter practicable throughout the year, but which it almost
certainly is not. It has elsewhere been shown how a communication
across any part of this Isthmus, even by an ordinary road, can be made
to extend, and to accelerate the mail communications between Great
Britain and all the western coasts of America, and more especially
with the most eastern parts of the eastern world, and her own rising
empire in New Holland. Nothing calls forth the enterprize and the
energies of mankind, equal to the rapidity and regularity of
correspondence: and without this, no country can either improve or
advance in cultivation or civilization.
The comparative distances by the several lines of communication will
stand as follow:--
Geo. Miles.
Falmouth, direct to Rialejo 4650
Rialejo to Colombia River 3000
---- 7650
----
London to Icy Cape, over the North Pole 3870 (p. 106)
Icy Cape to Colombia River, by Oonoolashka 2745
---- 6615
----
London to Icy Cape, over the Pole 3870
Icy Cape to Canton 4200
---- 8070
----
Falmouth direct to Gulf Papagayo 4650
Papagayo to Canton, by Owhyhee 9350
---- 14,000
------
London to Icy Cape, over the Pole 3870
Icy Cape to Sydney, New South Wales 6600
---- 10,470
------
Falmouth to Rialejo, by Jamaica 5530
Rialejo direct to Sydney, New South Wales 7400
---- 12,930
------
Falmouth to Colombia River, by L. Nicaragua 8345
Ditto ditto Cape Horn 13,100
------ 4755 diff.
------
Falmouth to Sydney direct, westward 12,400
Ditto to ditto, by Cape of Good Hope 6,205
Cape to Sydney direct 6,470
----- 12,670
------
Falmouth to Cape Good Hope 6205
Cape Good Hope to Trincomalee 4720
Trincomalee to Batavia 1750
Batavia to Sydney, by Hobart Town 4085
---- 16,760
------
Falmouth to Rialejo, by Fayal, &c. 5530
Rialejo to Canton, by Owhyhee 9300
---- 14,830
------
Rialejo to Sydney, New South Wales, by
Otaheite 7500
Panama to Sydney 7900
---- 15,400
------
Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope 6205 (p. 107)
Cape of Good Hope to Trincomalee 4640
Trincomalee to Canton, by Batavia 3580
---- 14,425
------
Falmouth to Rialejo 5530
Rialejo to Pekin 8000
---- 14,130
------
Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope 6205
Cape of Good Hope to Pekin, by Canton, &c. 9660
---- 15,865
------
Falmouth to Port Culebra, by Barbadoes, &c. 5530
Port Culebra to Jeddo, Japan 7250
---- 12,780
------
Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope, by Madeira 6205
Cape of Good Hope by Batavia, &c. to Jeddo 8300
---- 14,505
------
Falmouth to Rialejo by Barbadoes, &c. 5530
Rialejo to Manilla 8860
---- 14,390
------
Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope, by Madeira 6205
Cape of Good Hope to Manilla, by Batavia 6720
---- 12,925
------
Falmouth to Rialejo, by Barbadoes, &c. 5530
Rialejo to Kamschatka 6000
---- 11,530
------
Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope, by Madeira 6205
Cape of Good Hope to Batavia 5200
Batavia to Kamschatka by Canton 4530
---- 15,935
------
London to Icy Cape, over the Pole 3870
Icy Cape to Kamschatka 1280
---- 5,150
------
Thus it is evident, that were the passage over the North Pole open (p. 108)
and practicable at all seasons, but which it is not, the route by
it would be so much shorter for every part from Europe to the ports in
Asia and in America, situated on the Northern Pacific, as to be vastly
preferable; but when it is recollected that this passage can only be
open for a very few months in the course of the year--and also
considering the winds and the weather which, during that brief space
of time, would certainly be met with in the northern route, and the
utter impossibility that there would be of procuring any assistance in
that route, should accidents occur,--it is clear, that vessels would
almost as speedily, and certainly much more safely, run over the
distances by the western route, even to the places more near; while,
as regards those which are more distant, there can and need be no
comparison drawn.
It will also from these references be observed, that the distances to
all the eastern parts of Asia, and the north-west coast of America,
are, with a very few exceptions (in these, too, the distances are
nearly equal), nearer than the distances would be, either taken by the
Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, the only routes always open; while,
considering the winds and the seas which are met with in either of
these routes, it is plain that ships would run over the distance by
the western route through central America, even to the most distant
parts in eastern Asia that have been adverted to, sooner and much
easier than they could do by either of the former. The saving of
insurance alone in the route by the mild tropical climates, and also
of wear and tear in ships by the same channel, compared to what all
these would amount to in the navigation by the other routes, to say
nothing of the saving of time in voyages, would be objects of great
importance to commercial and nautical men.
APPENDIX--No I (p. 109)
Places Lat. Long.
Falmouth 50 deg. 8' N. 5 deg. 1' W.
Terceira, Azores 38 deg. 38' 23" -- 27 deg. 12' 48" --
Halifax, Nova Scotia 44 deg. 39' -- 63 deg. 33' --
New York 40 deg. 42' -- 74 deg. 2' --
Bermuda, Town 32 deg. 22' -- 64 deg. 33' --
Madeira, Funchall 32 deg. 47' 42" -- 16 deg. 55' 30" --
Teneriffe, St Cruz 28 deg. 28' 00" -- 16 deg. 15' --
Lisbon 38 deg. 24' -- 9 deg. 13' --
Cadiz 36 deg. 31' -- 6 deg. 18' --
Gibraltar 36 deg. 6' 20' -- 5 deg. 20' 53" --
Nassau, New Providence 25 deg. 5' -- 77 deg. 18' --
Turk's Islands 21 deg. 6' 71 deg. 15'
20 deg. 13' 69 deg. 28'
Crooked Island 22 deg. 44' -- 73 deg. 54' --
Havannah 23 deg. 9' 26" -- 82 deg. 20' --
St. Jago, Cuba 19 deg. 57' 39" -- 76 deg. 2' 45" --
Cape Nichola Mole 19 deg. 49' 20" -- 73 deg. 27' 30" --
St. John's, Porto Rico 18 deg. 29' 10" -- 65 deg. 39' --
St. Thomas 18 deg. 21' 5" -- 64 deg. 57' 50" --
Kingston, Jamaica 17 deg. 57' 57" -- 76 deg. 46' 10" --
Vera Cruz 19 deg. 12' 15" -- 96 deg. 7' 12" --
Tampico 22 deg. 15' 56" -- 97 deg. 52' --
Honduras, Belize 17 deg. 29' 29" -- 88 deg. 11' 15" --
Chagre 9 deg. 18' 40" -- 79 deg. 55' --
Panama 8 deg. 57' 30" -- 79 deg. 29' 20" --
Carthagena 10 deg. 26' -- 75 deg. 37' 5" --
Laguayra 10 deg. 37' -- 67 deg. 1' 35" --
Demerara, George Town 6 deg. 49' -- 58 deg. 11' --
Barbadoes, Bridgetown 13 deg. 5' 30" -- 59 deg. 43' 15" --
Antigua, E. H. 17 deg. 3' -- 61 deg. 50' --
Trinidad, Port of Spain 10 deg. 38' 42" -- 61 deg. 59' 30" --
Cape St Roque 5 deg. 28' S. 35 deg. 17' --
Maranham 2 deg. 28' -- 44 deg. 16' --
Pernambuco 8 deg. 41' -- 34 deg. 51' --
Bahia 12 deg. 55' -- 38 deg. 30' -- (p. 110)
Rio de Janeiro 22 deg. 54' 15" -- 43 deg. 15' 50" --
Monte Video 34 deg. 53' 30" -- 56 deg. 16' --
Buenos Ayres 34 deg. 16' -- 58 deg. 24' --
Salt Key, middle, Turk's Island 21 deg. 20' -- 71 deg. 4' --
Crooked Island, Castle Island 22 deg. 7' 30" -- 74 deg. 18' 45" --
Trinidad de Cuba 21 deg. 43' -- 80 deg. --
Cape Antonio 21 deg. 54' -- 84 deg. 57' --
Montego Bay, Jamaica 18 deg. 32' -- 78 deg. 2' --
St. John's, Newfoundland 47 deg. 34' -- 52 deg. 38' --
St. John's, New Brunswick 45 deg. 15' -- 66 deg. 2' 19" --
Quebec 46 deg. 47' 30" -- 71 deg. 10' --
Montreal 45 deg. 46' -- 70 deg. 35' --
_Distances and Bearings of Places_.
Places Geo. Miles.
Falmouth to Lisbon S. 14 deg. W. 730
Ditto Gibraltar S. 4 deg. W. 820
Ditto Teneriffe S. 22 deg. W. 1410
Ditto Madeira S. 27 deg. W. 1170
Ditto Terceira S. 54 deg. W. 1180
Ditto New York S. 79-1/2 deg. W. 3000
Madeira to Barbadoes S. 63 deg. W. 2600
Terceira to Barbadoes S. 49 deg. W. 2340
Ditto Antigua S. 54 deg. W. 2200
Ditto St. Thomas S. 59 deg. W. 2350
Madeira to St. Thomas S. 72 deg. W. 2800
Ditto Cape Nichola Mole S. 75 deg. W. 3000
Terceira to Cape Nichola Mole S. 65 deg. W. 2700
Falmouth to Barbadoes S. 50 deg. W. 3500
Ditto St. Thomas S. 57 deg. W. 3500
Ditto Cape Nichola Mole S. 61 deg. W. 3800
Ditto Fayal S. 55 deg. W. 1230
Fayal to Barbadoes S. 47-1/2 deg. W. 2255
Ditto Cape Nichola Mole S. 64-1/2 deg. W. 2600
Ditto St. John's, Newfoundland N. 63 deg. W. 1180
Ditto Port Praya, Cape Verde S. 11 deg. E. 1545
Cape Verde to Pernambuco S. 26 deg. W. 1530
Ditto Rio de Janeiro S. 27 deg. W. 2550
Fayal to New York N. 86-1/2 deg. W. 2020 (p. 111)
Terceira to Rio de Janeiro, by Bahia, &c. S. 13 deg. W. 3900
Ditto Halifax N. 77 deg. W. 1730
Halifax to New York S. 83 deg. W. 520
New York to Nassau, N. P. S. 10 deg. W. 950
Nassau to Cape Nichola Mole S. 56 deg. E. 380
Havannah to Vera Cruz S. 73 deg. W. 800
New York to Havannah S. 22 deg. W. 1140
Jamaica to Chagre, direct S. 21 deg. W. 550
Chagre to Panama S. 50 deg. E. 33
Kingston to River St. Juan S. 46 deg. W. 585
River St. Juan to Rialejo N. 66 deg. W. 235
Leon to Rialejo N. 66 deg. W. 21
Madeira to Rio de Janeiro S. 24 deg. W. 3700
Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Ayres S. 47 deg. W. 1060
St. Thomas, to Cape Nichola Mole N. 80 deg. W. 470
Ditto to Crooked Island Castle N. 67 deg. W. 580
Ditto Turk's Island N. 62 deg. W. 380
Turk's Island to Jamaica, direct S. 58 deg. W. 380
Ditto Havannah N. 80 deg. W. 630
Ditto Jamaica, by St. Jago de Cuba 820
Crooked Island to Cape Nichola S. 19 deg. W. 146
Ditto Jamaica S. 29 deg. W. 285
Ditto Havannah N. 82 deg. W. 445
Barbadoes to 40 miles E. of Alto Vela N. 68 deg. W. 700
Forty miles E. of Alto Vela to
Jamaica, direct N. 85 deg. W. 330
Add by calling at Jacmel 50
Jamaica to Santa Martha S. 20 deg. E. 425
Santa Martha to Carthagena 90
Carthagena to Chagre 290
Montego Bay, Jamaica, to Trinidad de Cuba N. 40-1/2 deg. W. 172
Trinidad de Cuba to Honduras S. 61 deg. W. 520
Kingston, Jamaica, to Cape Antonio N. 63 deg. W. 520
Cape Antonio to Havannah N. 63 deg. E. 164
Falmouth to St. John's, Newfoundland S. 86-1/2 deg. W. 2040
St John's, Newfoundland, to Halifax S. 73 deg. W. 605
Falmouth to Halifax S. 82-1/2 deg. W. 2550
Fayal to Halifax N. 77 deg. W. 1640
Halifax to St. John's, New Brunswick N. 71 deg. W. 111
St. John's, New Brunswick, to Quebec N. 66 deg. W. 230
Quebec to Montreal S. 58 deg. W. 116
New York to Quebec, direct N. 19 deg. E. 390
Ditto Montreal, direct N. 4 deg. E. 305
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