The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-03-10


tie Anne, the drunkard's daughter, had
proved true. The home OF the reformed
man, her father, was indeed happy one.
Plenty crowned his board, and health
and Joy beamed from the face of his wife
and children where once sqrallid mis-
cry alone could be traced. The pledge
had raised him from his degradation, and
restored him once more to peace and
happiness.
NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL RoAD A.
CROSS THE IsTHMUs.-A late official let
ter from Bvt. Maj Fitzgerald, written at
Panama, says:
The road from Cruises to Panama cross
es, besides the dividing ridge between
the two oceans, for diogonalIy, nuns
Der of spurs jutting out therefrom on
each side. These spurs are of rock, and
very precipitous'
The road; es you pass up between two
of these spurs presents the appearance
of the bottom of ravne filled with large
loose stones and the debris of the ada
cent hills, and where it crosses the spur,
with hole in each step about three in
ches deep, wcrn by the feet of the ami
mails passing over, into which your horse
or mule inserts his foot, and you cannot
make him place it anywhere else.
The road from Gorgona (six miles
nearer Chagress than Cruces) to Panama
runs a, the base OF these spurs, crossing
the ridge at COR paratively low point;
but it is impossible in the wet season on
account OF the quantity and tenacity of
the mud; in the drv season it is infinitely
preferable 10 that from Cruces
The dry season usually commences
about the middle ofDece,nber, and con-
tinurs until the middle of March.
No impediment exists in the consruc-
ton OF railroad across the isthmus, ex-
cept the unhealthiness of the climate.
No grade OF forty feet to the mile need
be made, as the valleys Will allow any
distauc e 10 be gained to ameliorate the
decIiriy.
Puerto Bello is an excellent harbor on
the Atlantic side, and IN old times all the
trade Il have ascertained this from par
ticular inquiry passed from thence to
this city by paved road, now rovered
with the luxurient Vegetation of the eli
mate. 1t was abandoned because the
river OF Chagres afforded for two thirds
Of the way an easier mode of transporta-
ton for the little traffic across the 18th
mus.
70 a trade like Ours what may call the
ehti,e want Of haroor a, Chagres is infinite
~ the greatest obstruction.
In making railroad from Puerto 3ello
(beauliiuI poD TO this CITY, the labor must
be perfo med by blacks. who cuapose two
third, of the population of the isihmus. and
who are faithful always, and industrious
when inspired by good remuneration. The
| directors and overseeS for he first winter
must be American. or EnslisIlmen. during
which .hev cal instruct natives oil the Span
ISL blood sufficiently 10 be able 10 superin.
tend during the unhealthy season, until the
wok is sufficiently advanced 10 be compile
ted by The engineer, with the precise and
scientific nceleS Of constructions, in the
second healthy season. at the end ofwhioh
the work can be completed, if under coils
| tract all al HE same lime.
was civil engineer on the line Of on
templaed railroad from The Susquetarra
river to Lake Erie. AID each day after We
reached The Allegheny mountains We met
with more natural obstruction (omilIing The
unhe.l illness Of he climate) than exists in
crossing the istimus of Darien 10 Panama
fr"m Pufr o BeiIo, and ye; The route was
reported practicable without a satisfactory
enquiry.
Another letter written by gentleman
who passed from Chagres to Panama, gives
| the preference also 10 the harbor of Puerto
Belio and the Route from thence to Panama
,69 or 70 miles,) and says:
"The cost of plank road would proba.
bly, be from Cruces TO Panama, tw nty tive
miles, al fonr thousand dollars per mile,
eighly-eiaht thousand dollars, add connn
genceS $22 900, in al! 100000. Ifthe
lumber was sent out from some Son,hern
port, of yellow pitch pine, it might be done
by the negro and Indian natives. but do
no, think white men can stand the climate
a railroad over The whole % miles, with
heavy iron--coulA not be built, IN my opin
| ion, for less than 10000 per mile estimating
every thing So it would be much better
TO spend 100000 On a plank road, and
build the rail in the event of ills ever becom
ing oece>sa'y, which is very doubtful. There
is no timber growing on the line the
roan, seen by me ut for the construction OF
either plank or railway"
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