The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-05

our prosperity was questioned by none The il
9uiry as to the validity ofthe grant to Mr.. Hargou
has resulted to our entire satisfaction. II rests o
the following grounds
/ On five successive DEGREES of the Mexca
government in favor of Mr. Jose Garay, issued OF
the LIST March, 1872; 9th February, 1913; 18th DC
tober, 1913; 18th December, 1885, and 9th Novem
Der, 1916. These DEGREES are all couched in mos
formal and explicit terms. They were issued from
the Office OF the Minister for Foreign Affairs
They are signed by thee successive executives OF
the Mexican republic. viz; President Santa Anna,
President Nicolas Bravo, and Gen. Jose Mariana
de Sslas.
2 On judicial proceedings had on the Isthmus,
under order from the Mexican executive, by virtue
OF which proceedings judgment was rendered, and
Mr.. Garay put In actual possession of the lands
granted 10 him by the concession. These Judicial
proceedings took place after regular and careful
'urvey of the lsthmus had been made by Mr.. Ga
lay, with acompetent corps OF engineers, according
TO the requiston of his grant
3. On the formal official recognition madeby the
Mexican government to the Minister of the United
States when the negotiations were pending which
resulted in the treaty Of peace with Mexico, on
the 9th September, 1917. The Mexican Commits
soners for negotiating the treaty, replied TO our ap
plicaton for the right of way, made by the Anne
rican envoy, in the following words
eve have already Informed you verbally that some
msnt to private Individual who, with the authority
Of the same government, had conveyed IL to English
subjects, OF whose rights Mexico cannot dispose"
4. On the renewal, in the most solemn manner,
by the Mexican government, of the same recogn-
ton, on the very recent occasion of the treaty with
Mr.. Letcher By one of the articles of that
treaty, it was provided that the present holders of
the right OF way across the lsthmus should signify
their assent TO its terms before its ratification by
the respective governments, and IN the official cor
resp0ndence Of the Secretary Of State, Mr.. Web
ster, with Mr.. Hargous, will be found the amplest
recognition of the latter gentlema ans rights the
holder OF the grant. Ii was to him that our ge-
vernmen addressed itself as the present holder Of
the grant, for his assent to the treaty prior to its
submission to the Senate for ratification. Copies
OF this correspondence are also in the office Of the
committee. Although this correspondence resulted
in refusal by Mr. Hargous, acting for all con-
cerned, to assent to the treaty, for reasons clearly
expressed in the correspondence, the fact is not the
less clear and conclusive that in important nego-
tiatioE which resulted in the formation of treaty
between the Mexican government and the Minister
OF the United States, that government declared
that there existed valid concession made by il of
the right OF passage across the lsthmus. As no
other concession has ever been heard of or sus-
pected than that to Mr.. Garay, your committee
consider that tt matter is now beyond question;
that the title to the grant as obtained by them is
beyond dispute; and that the only contingency on
which we can be deprived Of it, is our failure to
organize a company.
No nation, however faithless or treacherous,
could question the acts of its own government thus
repeatedly recognized by its executive organs for
long series of years. There is not the slightest
reason for suspecting that the Mexican government
could entertain such idea; and il is not doubted
that il our justiiable reliance on the honor and
good faith of that government should unfortu.
nately prove misplaced, the rights acquired by us
when acting with such reliance-righs in which
the entire nation is interested-would be upheld
and maintained by the strong arm of our own go
vernment. NOAmerican can doubt what would be
the course adopted by this country in such con-
tngency, and the committee feels justified in
placing before you as well established fact, that
the rights which they have secured for your use
and benefit are placed on valid and secure basis
The committee are the more confident in so
reporting, because they are in possession of I'M
doubted information that the same view OF your
rights is entertained by the Department of State at
Washington, and by our entire congressional dele
CATION in both branches. In repeated interviews
cation, and the Secretary of State, the views now
advanced by your committee, in relation to the
security with which the work might be prosecuted,
and the certainty OF protection by eur govern
gagged in the prosecution OF this enterprise, were
asserted by all, particularly by the great states
man now having in charge our foreign relations,
and was considered by all as not even an open or
debatable point.
Independently of their action in relation to the
grant, the committee felt il necessary TO gather
from every available source, all the information
that could be obtained in relation to the practica.
bty of the enterprises the probable difficulties to
be encountered in its execution, the shelter TO he
obtained on either coast for vessels trading to the
terminus of the road. The only information ac-
cessbe to the public at the period when our meet
ing was called, was the pamphlet and accompany
ing maps, by Gaetano Moro, the engineer under
whose direction the survey Of the isthmus was
made for Mr. Garay, the original grantee. This
rurvey. although very satisfactory many points.
especially as regards the natural features of the
country, its amazing fertility, its freedom from epi-
demc, the mild and doce character Of its inhabi-
tants, and the moderate elevation OF the summit
level TO be crossed by the road, could not be re-
lied on as regarded the two coasts. That gentle
man himself declares, in his report, that he did not
sound the bar OF the CoatZacoalcos, nor was he
able to give thorough examination TO the Pacific
shore. Repeated soundings had. however, been
made at different periods, al the mouth OF the Coat
Zscoalcos, and less doubt was felt ON that subject
than was entertiined To the existence of n suit
able harbor on the Pacific coast. The committee
were, however, informed that highly talented
engineer OF our own city, had. at a former period,
made an examination Of the sthmus, and was pos
sessed OF much information on the subject. This
gentleman, Mr. Trastour, at the request Of the
committee attended one of its meetings, bringing
with him maps end plans executed by himself on
the isthmus, showing, not only the features OF the
country, but its geological formation, and the
depth OF waller IN the Coatzacoacos, from its
mouth to its confluence with the Sarabia far above
the point where il is navigable for large vessels,
and he also expressed his conviction that the con-
sruction Of u railroad was not only practicable, but
bar OF the Coatzacoalcos, nor could he give the
CURED Information from personal observation Of the
Pacific coast
Under these circumsta noes, your committee
deemed IL their duty TO take measures for more
liable Information on doubtful points. Application
was made TO Major Barnard, of the engineer
corps, whose abilityand reputation are well known
to our community, and who consented to under
take the necessary survey for locating the road,
esiablis hing the proper termini, and determining
the question OF a safe harbor the Pacific, pro-
vided leave Of Absence could be obtained frera his
superiors. Our request to that effect was favor
ably received at Washington, but the rainy sea
son rendered necessary the defcning Of the expe-
dItiou till about the LIST OF November, when IL will
leave for the lsthmus. In the meantime, however,
Mr.. Trastour was despatched to the Tsthmus, for
the special purpose Of devoting his efforts TO an
animation Of the Pacific shore, "a well as to give
us information, u possible, in relation to the mouth
Of the Coatzscoalcos
The latter purpose has been accomplished, and
the committee have received from Mr.. Trsstour a
map Of the mouth Of the Coatzacoalcoe, the chan
ncls across the bar, the landmarks and bearings,
and careful soundngs Of the bar from end to end.
II is now asccrtaned that the western passage In
fourteen and half feet deep AT low water, for a
width of fiftv feet and that the water Gradual v