Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-01-25
TIE LYNCEBURG VIRGINIAN.
BLACKBOARD. TOWNLEY & rILLARD
pROPEIETORs.
LrNCHEURG. JANUARY a5. 1919.
The PANAMA RAIL ROAD.

nothing has been done in that body in relation to the
sruc;iun Of Rail Road fr,n Chagres to Panama In
the meantime public opinion has been rapidly rpenng
Upln the subject, and is noW, think pretty unanimous
to the necessity Of an improved communication
he Isihmns and as to the cy Of our Government
tending to The enteprze prompt and liberal assistance
The practical good sense which distinguishes the mass
IF people has led them u that ii order make
California and Oregon really constituents Of the Unon
instead Of distant and inaccessible colonies Of reach
ing them be devised far better than BY
cross the great desert u voyage Of seventeen thousand
miles round Cape Horn. Without dl>carding he idea
Of direct Rail Road from the Mi sssippi or some of its
buaries,to the Pacfc-an idea destined be realized,
we believe, within less than generaon-the people
il favor Of a scheme, which, from all the preliminarie
having been already arranged be carried into execu
ton once, and the benefits Of which may be enjoyed
within three years, by ourselves, and not deferred
fir the trditlyn IF pslery. The scheme is that of
Rail Road as proposed BY Me>Srs. Aspinwall s Co.
These gentlemen the alert ard the moment the
late treaty, guarantyng the integrity of The territory of
New Granada ratified by our Senate, they procured
grant from the Government Of that Republic Of the ex
elusive privilege Of constructing Rail Road the
lsthmus. Some Of our Senator'S in the debate alluded
to, seemed entertain the idea that by the treaty. New
Granada had coded to the United States tile exclusive
privilege Of making this road, and 10 resent the
grant TO Messrs A>pinwa & Co..as breach of faith on
the part of that Republic, and piece Of impairment in
ermeIIng The part Of the grantees. The most cur
sory inspection Of the article Of the Treaty Will serve 10
show the absurdy NJ such idea. All tile benefit Sc
cured to the United States, by the treaty. guarantee
that citizens s. not be charged higher Of fare
and freight than ha citizens Of New Grenada upon any
improvement which might, At ally time, Be made by
New Granada herself, Or by company to which She
might cede the right. Whether we have not paid
dearly for the privilege by the stpulaons into which
We have entered they do,a departure from
the uniform policy Of the Government, from the days Of
Washington Downs question we have no disposition
to moot. We should prefer to our Government lose
net moment in securing whatever advantages may
accrue from enerFri-4 which its origin entirely
to the treaty.
| For let it be observed-tha the delay in making an
improvement across the Isthmus has not been in conse
quence of physical obstacles. The presents none
which, in this country, would have occaSoned the least
hesitation in constructing Rail Road The difficulties
much greater than those to be encountered by the
Lynch5urg s Tennessee R. Company and are far less
than those overcome the portion Of the New ork and
Erie Rail Road, now III successful operation. we have
paid some attention to the surveys and estimates Of the
engineers, Of different nations, who have examined the
route, and we repeat that with motives magnify
the difficulties, these gentlemen have not been able to
present Report (which would appal he faintes hearted
board Of directors, do than give fup to the
faculties OF q respectable engineer in his country
Why then, it may be asked, has the work been %
long delayed we alb rer-the obstacles were two
f,ld |. The improvement, when finished must work
revolution in the of the world. and can but
operate against Euupe-and particularly England-and
in favor Of the United States 1 slight inspection Of
map globe will show tile relative advantages enjoy
ed present by England 80 FAR as the trade Of the
East is concerned, and the least reflection viii serve to
indicate that The execution Of this enterprise will more
than reverse these advantages and place in position
to command the trade Of the East indies China and all
the Western Coast of South America. Under these cir
cumsiances, IS not to be wondered that capitalists of
England shoald be reluctapt promote scheme, the
inevitable effect Of hch would Be 10 transfer from that
country this the command Of the growing trade Of the
East. In what Other way we accountfor the fact
that in the highest access Of her monetary plethora
the time when she investing millions upon millions
in loans he infant Republics If South America--or in
the widest gold mining specuations in Mexico Peru
and Chil,-or later slland moIe germane the matter
under consideration, when she frantic 10 spend her
redundant capital in Rail Roads that never for NO
ment, the scheme hruacLed connect Panama and
Chagros By Canal or Rail Road We ha We long be-
leved that the work be an American achievement
simply because more interested in its execution
than any other nation We thus thought, before the
cession of California had rendered it indispensable as
means Of ntercommunication between the Eastern and
Western fronts Of the Republic. But, H. There were
difficulties which may be said to be Of political charac
ter The history Of most Of the South American Repub
les stree the achievement of their independence has
not been such as TO inspire confidence in their stability
New Granada has had her share Of these connections
though on the whole advancing. The province Of the
lsthmus however, is what may be called OUTLYING and
partakes from is reoleness and isolation more Of the
character Of colonial dependence than that OF an integral
portion IF the RepubcIt is-what the coupty of Brnnk4
is Of our sate-the pan handle Of New Granada. The
parallel stops here-Brooke loyal as the central coun
ties of Albemare Augusta. Unfortunately. there has
long been dlsaection hi the Ishmus and on more than
one occasion, the inhabitants have made demohstfato
favor Of independence nd once sent an agent 10 secure
the countenance Of the United States Now capital is
mmosalke sensltiveness and does not seek an invest
ment where the elements Of social and political orler are
liable 10 frequent, not periodical, disturbance By he
late treaty capitalists relieved from appehensions
Of this nature. The integrity of the New Granadlan
errory being guaranteed by Government. money
invested in The improvement is safe as if the route