The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-12-20
THE PANAMA RAIL RoAD-No II.


In my first number threw some suggestions lead
ng to the enquiry whether work important to the
interests Of mankind ought to be the monopoly Of a
pany, for any term OF time, and especially for nney
mae years, tie term allowed in the charter granted by
the government OF New Granada, 10 the company in
New York.
Without questioning The respectabity, the liberal
views of the leading minds concerned in tie enterprise
ii is sufficient 10 say, tnat ii they possess requisite
magnanimity, none tell who or what may be their
successors. The stock may be owned In New York or
in London; and the coucerH may be managed in Wall
street or al any Of the great money OF Europe
Perhaps, for the reasons already suggested Congress
should be slow to grant the patronage of govern
ment to such company At least we hope it will not
do hastily what, If done, cannot be revoked
But does The work contemplated by the New York
memoHaliss need the twenty years "ard and coopera-
tom of the government OF the United States, in order
to warrant the undertaking OF iii This is question by
itself, and may be looked al without aking INTO consd
alton whether our government can discreelly counte
nance the ninety years monopoly, granted BY the
government of New Granada
If that charter is to the New York memoalsts safe
guaranty OF corporate privileges land its safety is not
questioned then would ask whether The world has ever
witnessed great monopoly by Insignificant com
pany, and so small space OF earth? Is ii not one
which monarchs might covet with more greedness than
that off the tolls of the Eiueur or the Dardanees about
which the most potent sovereigns have quarreed and
which have been slowly wrested from the grasp of deS
potsm? Ahd what for the last century, has been the
numerical value of both those famous straits ompared
with what will be the value OF lhorough iare at our
tinenta sthmuS, for ninety nine years to come In
last half OF the century after its completion wealth
and more people will pass aud fo the lslhmuS
OF Panama. than have aversed those straits for the last
'ndred years Does, then such a monopoly require
the "ad and CO operation of he government of the
United States, in order contemplated i'm.
deraking7
But, besides the income that must accrue from the
business OF such monopoly for ninety nine years. is
there not another consideration that affects the question
of patronage now solicited from Congressl The governs
men New Granada has grained to the New York com.
pany bonus OF 100000 acre; of land which they may
select along the line Of their chartered route And who
can estimate lis value at the completion Of their enter,
prize, orete the rapid increase of lis value even for
quarter of century alter the work shall be done p
Two cities must spring up at the ermini Of the route
each central to Continent, ard each an entrepot and
point OF transit 10 the OF two vast oceans
The speedy value of 800 600 acres selected along the
intervening line OF only fifty miles, can be estimated il
at all only by comp rehensive forecast and consldera,
ton OF the business and intercourse which the advance
ing condition of the world and particularly Ofthe Amer
lean continent, will ensure. II such bonus and such
monopoly as are granted to The New York company by
the government of New Granada, are NOT ample encour-
agement, without the "ad and cooperation" asked for.
from the government Of the United States have very
bndy mlsread the future and wait to be corrected by
the wisdom OF the more discerning. short avenue that
is certain to shift large part the now divergent CONS
merce of America, Europe, and ASA into such focus
and equally ceran 10 increase that commerce imlnea-
suraby, holds out no contemplate promise of income
to centennial corporation. One would think that such
company should be modest in its further application
for "ald and co operation" by twenty years monopo.
ly Of government patronage. Even without taking into
account its 100000 acres the question of need has its
point; but with that liberal grant 1t is douby pointed
isto be hoped that Congress will ans er it wisely and
satisfactorily The confidence of the memorial is NOT
small Perhaps the dfidence Congress should not be
less CnsMopo,,rr