Ernest Dichman to Salvador Camacho Roldan, November 22, 1878

Mr. Dichman to Mr. Roldan.

Sir: A request having been made of me by the president of the Illinois Central Railroad Company to obtain for him certain information bearing on the possibility of establishing and maintaining successfully a line of steamers between the ports of the United States of Colombia and the port of New Orleans, in the United States of America, I beg that you will permit me to ask you for an expression of opinion on this subject.

It is my intention to answer the inquiry made of me, through the State Department at Washington, in order that the correspondence may remain on file there, and that, if not now, perhaps at some future time, the expression of your views may serve as a basis of calculation for a similar enterprise.

The advantages resulting to both the United States of Colombia and the United States of America, if a regular line of mail steamers should be established between the nearest ports of both nations, are self evident.

As you have for many years given to the subject of the increased means of intercourse between the two countries much thought and study, I trust that this inquiry will not cause you too much inconvenience.

With sentiments of the highest consideration,

I have, &c.,