The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-16
Railroad across the Isthmus OF Panama.

dnO5t lne period OF 1913, WHen the cnlFdlTOus
but unfortunate Nunez de Balboa discovered the South
sea- the project OF intermarne communications
gested by its obvious importance and apparent FEAST
bilitybetween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has
cupied the attention OF the commercial world but
for the first time, under the magic touch of American
enterprise and genius, has assumed definite and
gble form.
AS early the year 1925, the Spanish government
commenced series OF explorations in reference to a ship
canal between the two oceans over several routes the
principal of which were by the shmus of Tehuantepec,
of Panama, and of Nicaragua; and these examinations
have been continued at different times, down TO the pres
ent, by several governments and individuals; amongst
the latter, Baron Humboldt who desgnaes nine routes
as being susceptible of canal navigation and charters
have been granted for canals and railroads those
three lines by the various governments exercising uris
dicton them. 1t is not, however our intention
to discuss the relative merits OF those routes OF com
munication, of the numerous projects which have
been proposed to effect the important and noble object of
connexion between those two great Our aen
ton, from peculiar circumstances, is restricted for the
present to the isthmus of Panama. the best known
and as promising, on the whole, of communca
ton the easiest and most certain of accomplishment
In 1888 the government of New Grenada conferred
charter on the "Franco Grenadine Company empow-
ering them to open communication from Chagres to
Panama; but further action had on the subject
until the year ls43 when NJ. Guizot the French minis
ter directed Napoleon Garela, chief engineer of the
royal corps of Mines the necessary surveys
in reference to a ship canal The voumnous report of
that officer with map OF the country and plans for the
execution of the work, has been published, and abounds
Al.
greet that the limits which we have proposed to our
selves will not permit careful analy sis of its contents
From this report learn that the shortest line from the
mouth Of the river Chagres Panama is 65 40 metres
A English miles nearly from the mouth OF the Camito
some 10 miles west of Panama, to Chagres, is s. 900
metres, about SO English miles; but the shortest
line between the oceans appears by the maps to
be little further east, between the bay of San Bias
and the Pacific coast, the Rio Chepo, where
it is not than thirty miles long. The location
of the canal recommended by the engineer begins on
imon bay, and, using the bed of the Rio Chagrcs as
far it is available terminates at the bay of Vaca de
Monte, the Pacific, and is about fifty miles long
The great and docking to the enormous expense) almost
insuperabe objection to the proposed canal consists in
the want of sufciency OF water TO supply the immense
demands for lockage filtration, and evaporation the
summit level; which can be obtained only in limited
quantities. except by the construction OF extensive
vos hold the surplus water of the rainy to sup
ply the deficiencies of the dry. The work is estimated to
cost about $25 oOO including the Improvement OF the
habors of Lmon bay and of Vaca de Monte These
veys have, however, demonstrated one important fact,
viz the perfect praccability and feasibility of railroad
across the sthmus exceeding SO miles in length and
overcoming an elevation of not more than $40 feet.
Soon after the present administration into power,
the Secretary OF State, Mr. Buchanan with his enlarged
statesman like views, directed his attention to commu-
ncaton over the isthmus of Panama and, with the
currence of the President instructed MIR. Bidack our
charge iaares to New Grenada. to secure, possible,
to our citizens the advantages which might result from
any road roads then existing thereafter to be made
the two oceans In that effort Mr. Buchanan
was successful; and in treaty with the government OF
Bosota ratified 10th June 1913, our government guaran
ties the neutrality of the ishmus. This act perfectly
secures the capital and property of citizens which
may be invested in the road, or be connected with it.
IT is well known to readers that under the au-
thory of act of Congress of the Sd March, ls47, the
United States, certain conditions entered into contracts
for the transportation of the mails by to certain places
amongst others, to California and Oregon This latter
tract (rom the city OF Panama) assigned to William
H. Aspnwall of New York, intelligent, enterprisng
and wealthy merchant, who, with his accustomed energy
soon afterwards laid the keel of the first ocean
steamer destined for that service Regarding the matter
with expanded and patriotic views, Mr.. Aspnwall i'm
nediaely turned his attention TO the construction of rail-
way from the mouth OF the Chages river, the Atlantic,
to the harbo of Panama, the Pacific coast and com
nenced with General Herran, formerly President of the
republic of New Grenada, and now its representa-
tive the United States negotiations for the right of
way the isthmus; but learned that an exclusive
privilege had been granted TO French company, which
would, however, soon expire by its own limitation, I'M
Mr.. Asplnwall, thinking that the French company was
not likely to comply with its engagements and that the
subject was of more interest to Americans and their
government than to any other people, suggested Gen.
erran in of their failure, to obtain from his gov.
eminent the power negotiate it here with American
which authority has been procured, and the
right of way duly transferred to Mr.. Aspnwa and his
associates
simultaneously with the efforts of Mr. Aspinwall one
of the association, Mr. John L. Stephens, the distin-
guished traveller of whom countrymen are justly
proud proceeded to the isthmus of Panama with two
competent engineers and considerable expense of la
Dor and money procured definite information, which had
before been very vague, of the entire feasibility, at
reasonable expenditure of money, of their magnificent
project.