Daily Nashville Patriot

Pacific Railroad (Mexico):

The Presidency of Comonfort is marked by a vigor and enterprise which promises to open a new era for Mexico. He has a good fund of true American energy, and a patriotic regard for the welfare of the nation, which shows itself on every occasion that offers for elevating and strengthening Mexican nationality. His course is in strong contrast with that of his predecessors, and as he is manifestly becoming very popular at home, we have reason to expect from his continuance in power, the beginning of a greater stability of government, and the promotion of a fuller development of the immense resources of that country.

As an evidence of the new life infused into business there, we notice a recent movement for the construction of a Railroad between the two principal Mexican ports on the Atlantic and the Pacific, Vera Cruz and Acapulco. A liberal grant for this purpose has been obtained from the President, by an individual named Don Antonio Escandon. As in the case of the grant of the Tehuantepec road, of which we have before given an account, the terms are such as to show the disposition of the government to encourage, by all the means in its power, all important public works within its jurisdiction. Whether in either case the practical results will meet the expectations of the projectors of those works, we have no sufficient means of judging. Both have a plausible appearance.

Escandon's grant includes the right to construct branch roads within a radius of twenty leagues, and also to select some other port than Acapulco, within certain limits, for its Pacific terminus, if found expedient. Such of the land required for the road, and for buildings for its accommodation, as belong to the government, are given to the grantee without compensation; all materials of construction, as well as cattle, &c., employed on the work are to be free from all tax or impost of any kind, for thirty years; and the road is to be free from all taxation for fifty years. All employees and laborers on the road are to be exempt from civil or military service. Mines, coal or salt beds, mineral waters, fossils, and other subterranean materials discovered in constructing the road or its branches, are to be the property of the grantee. In addition to this, President Comonfort pledges government aid, by creating a consolidated fund, with an annual interest of five per cent; the capital to be redeemed in fifty years by an annual redemption of two per cent; the bonds of this fund to be delivered to the owner of the grant. The road already built from Vera Cruz to San Juan is to be delivered to Escandon by the government, for which he is to pay. The grantee is bound under heavy penalties to commence the work at an early day.

The whole distance of this route by an air line is not far from four hundred miles. Much of the country through which it passes, however, is rough and the road cannot be constructed short of a much greater distance. It will be very expensive part of the way, but the nature of the grant is such as to promise an ample remuneration, if the difficulties can be surmounted. As a species of compromise between the Panama route and our projected Pacific Railway, it promises important advantages, if it can only be seasonably built. It is chiefly important, however, as showing the awakening of Mexican enterprise, and as tending to develop the resources of that country.-Cin. Gaz.