Speech #510213979

In 184849 when communication between the Pacific and the Atlantic first became frequent and largely increased. there were four methods by which the transit was made. one. the longest bat sometimes the quickest. was by the Isthmus of Panama. another was by what wa. called the Tehuantepec route. another by the Central American or Nicaragua route. and there was a fourth. on foot across the plains. which a man might go if he chose. and most of our people preferred to go across the plains. The means of communication were of the rudest and simplest character. Thousands of emigrants. the mass of migration. was made on foot. with teams of mules or oxen to carry the baggage. the provisions. and the supplies. Since that time our lines of transportation have greatly increased. but the necessity then for a water communication betwcen the Atlantic and Pacific was ten times. twenty times greater than it is today. Our means of communication between the East and West are now much greater and much better.