THE GREAT AMERICAN HIGHWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 194, 18 August 1870, Page 4

THE GREAT AMERICAN HIGHWAY.

A contributor to a Sau Francisco paper writes as follows : — "Knowing the interest that is felt in the colonies in regard to the new homeward route, and the desire which exists for full and reliable information in reference to it, we have given under the above caption, ns lengthy a description of tho voyage up the Pacific end of the -journey across this continent as our space would permit. Volumes might be written descriptive of the many sights that may be witnessed whilst making a pleasure trip along the great American highway. The valuable experiences that may be acquired cannot fail to be of much value to a colonising people. If the slightest doubt 1 exists iv the colonists' minds as to the perfect comfort aud regularity with which the Pacific Railway is beiug run, they may at once give it to the wind. Nothing can be more admirable than the precision with ' which the (rains adhere to the advertised time. A train arrives in San Francisco from New York as punctually to the moment as does one in Sydney from Paramatta or in Melbourne from Ballarat. During the winter lately ended there has beeu uo delay or stoppage whatever. The comfort and elegance of tbe Pullman dining and sleeping railway carriages must be experienced to be believed. The writer, who has had experience of railway travelling in Europe and Australia, knows of no invention in any country which so excites his admiration as the truly wonderful " hotel on wheels " constructed by Mr. Pullman. The vibration is reduced to such a minimum and the comfort of being able to promenade, to dine, or to sleep at pleasure, is so great, ihat the time occupied by the trip to New York is looked upon as a period of rest rather than fatigue. How little is thought of undertaking the journey canuot be better exemplified than by the fact that the teachers of San Fraccisco. to the number of 300, the majority of whom are ladies, are at preseut enjoying their usual holidays by a trip to their old homes in the East, they left on Monday week last, and arrived at New York at mid-day, on the following Saturday. At preseut rates the through trip frora Melbourne to Liverpool, first class all the way, can be accomplished for £76 10s., and the third class, £40. Ifc will not he long before these fares are considerably reduced if the Australasian passenger traffic assumes anything like the proportions which it promises to do. With an improved line of steamers, sufficiently subsidised, the through trip will be unquestionably performed in forty days. Taking into account the pleasures and valuable experience of this route, together with its cheapness, the short time occupied on the jouroey, and all its other advantages, eau any one doubt that it will become the popular course of travel for those who are outward or homeward bound ? Certainly it will not fiud a very formidable competitor in the proposed route via the Cape of Good Hope. Such a lengthy steam line, if not well nigh impracticable, will at least be ruinously expensive. If the object of its establishment be the introduction of immigrants into the colonies, then in that respect it will be a total failure, as without doubt, for such a purpose, where cheapness and not time is the essential element, sailing vessels will undoubtedly beat steam. If, on the other hand, it be desired to open that route for mail purposes, it is cerlain that no such time can be made as will render it a success. No nearer course from Australia to England can be devised than that by way of San Francisco. Then there is the advantage that over three thousand miles of the distance is travelled at the rate of thirty miles per hour. The more the matter is considered the more advantageous does the Pacific route appear.

My hair is eighteen years older than my whiskers," said a lawyer, and I cannot understand why my whiskers should turn grey first," " Because you havo worked more with your jaws than your brains.'' A Lady complaining that her husband was dead to fashionable amusemehts, he replied. " But then, my dear, you make rae alive to the expense."