Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-29
JUNCTION OF THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC

chances h
ing an immediate and vital intercourse might be
Now however, there quarter of the world to which at
tenon is actively directed than Central America
Statesmen merchants, navigato colonizes and the stu
dents of natural SCIENCE all alike awakened to the mpor
lance Of its future prospects, and consequence of the
demand thus created books and maps supplied by our
geographical publishers involving amount of minute detail
which enables US, may believe to form far more accu
rate knowledge Of each point of the territory than
by one in hundred of its present inhabtants.
Until now, notwithstanding the almost solemn charm that
has invariably been felt in its contemplation the idea Of
communication between the Atlantic and Pacific has never
thing more than an interesting engineering problem
That could be effected without any serious difficulty has
however, in the face Of appearances the contrary for many
been placed beyond all real doubt and the actual pont
in which projectors have failed has been simply in convincing
the capitalists that would pay Appealed the strength
Of sublime estimates of the influences of the enterprise on
the destnies of the world unaccompaned by any data on
which reliance could be placed with regard the per cenage
in the shape Of future receipts Of business could not be
warmed into enthusiasm In reply, therefore, they have al
ways professed fear Of its mpracticabiy and M this
stimulated the circumstance of each protector abusing
the routes proposed by his rivals it last became received
belief They saw all the glory of the project would be
willing to run all necessary risk for its consummaon but the
thing impossible With demonstrate dividend before
them, every shadow, in the shape or mechanical Difficulty
would have disappeared
But the discovery of California has now settled the cues
ton OF profitable result and in much shorter time than
most persons in England even vet to no
merely communications but choice Of communications, is
certain to be opened These will be respectively at Pana-
ma and Nicaragua the former by railway and steamboat in
the first instance, and ultimately by railway entirely the
latter chiefly by steamboat in the first instance and ultimately
by complete canal both for steamboats, sailing vessels
The Panama line is promoted by Rowland and AspinwaI
Of New York 1t to consist of railway from NAVY Bay
on the Atlantic to Panama on the Pacific, estimated cost
Of So, 000 900 FL 00O 600 sterling At the commence
ment however, portion of the road consisting of about
twenty-five miles on the Pacific sides from Panama to Cor
gona Will be constructed and pu! into operation and the
rest of the transit will be effected by steamers running foy-
hve miles on the Chagres river, which navgabe at all
periods OF the year for vessels of light daugh The work.
1t estimated may that far be completed for 2OO O0O and
the shareholders will be in the receipt of revenue while the
remainder is being constructed The full capital for this por-
ton has been subscribed at New York the entire line has
been surveyed and the grading of the distance from Panama
to Gogona already contracted for the price of $500 OOO
(9sO, O00;) which is within the original estimate The
grant to the company by the republic of New Grenada gives
them an exclusive privilege for foynine years. subject
right of redemption by the republic at the end Of twenty
years, by the payment Of S. OOO the end of thirty
years, payment Of $4,000 000 and at the end of forty
years, on payment of 100000. This privilege to date
from the completion Of the road, for which eight years are
allowed and it is accompanied by concession Of exclusive
harbor rights the ports each de and also the
~ land throughout the ne besides 3OO 900 acres in perpe
tuy for the purposes Of colonization. The company are
likewise to be allowed to import ron and whatever may be
necessary for the construction of the road free of duty in
GLIDING all articles of provision and clothing for the work
men, They may also call upon the Government to furnish
them the assistance Of three companies of sapper and the
only obligation imposed to the character Of the road is that
shall be capable OF transporting passengers and merchan
disc from to the other in the space twelve hours
The parties by whom the survey of the Panama route was
effected instead of encounterng the formidable difficulties
that had been anticipated, found that they could lay down
line which would not exceed fory-sx miles in length with
summit of less than 800 feet above the sea- and with curva
lures, having where radius Of less than $500 feet
Their explorations extended the whole of that par
OF the lshmus SO as to ensure the true point and there
can Re doubt that this has been selected. Another
difficulty which has always been represented no less for
midable than the natural mpedments of the route namely
the procuring proper supply of laboers able stand the
climate has also been proved to be delusve The parties
WHO have contracted for the grading Of the twenty-five miles
on the Pacific side it seems two American engineers
who have been employed for the last five years in the
State OF New Granada, in forming canal ninety miles long,
connect two branches Of the Magdaena river and which
they have completed entirely with native labor. They can
bring with them large number Of these wokmen whose
trainings although at first difficult ultimately quite sue
cessu and there also believe that
for foreign labor might be made the experience of the
corps employed In the survey of the railway, consisting of
forty engineers and assistants, not dscouragng with
respect TO climate.
The explorations for this survey have led the discovery
large groves of mahogany and rich mineral deposes
knowledge OF which,, is represented "wi be highly i'm
Porant to the company in locating lands under their grant "
ana with regard to the proposed terminus of the railway on
the Atlantic side, on the island Of Manzanla in Navy Bay
we have the following characteristic spcculstons which
Bn PeihaPs NC TAKEN as nothing than q rhapsody
were 1t not for our experience Of the way in which these
American visions are apt to produce their own realization
harbor is accessible all seasons and with any wind
perfectly secure and capable containing three hundred sail
W the island Mr. Norris the chief engineer of the Chaees
dvhon ys In ten years predict the whole will be covered
with houses and the inhabitants enjoying pefect health with
every luxury OF southern cline He adds Il do consider
the most eligible and perfect site for city Of any size have
seem" - -
The second line, which may now be considered definitely
arranged that OF ship canal connexon with the lakes
OF Nicaragua This work promises an early
and also rapid progress On the 9th Angus, last con-
tract was made between the State of Ncaraqa and the At
lantic and Pacific ship Canal Company of New York by
which all the exclusive privileges for the
were conferred According the contract the canal is to be
completed within twelve years. unless prevented by fortuous
occurrences; and failure of this stipulation such part
as may have been constructed be forfeited tn the State
he company agree to the State $4,000 for the raca
ton Of the contract 600 more annuav iii the compe
ton OF the work and to make donation of their stock to
the amount of 100000. When finished the State l. to re-
ceive one nth OF the nett profits for twenty wears and after.
wards one quarter There is also stipulation that il to
have ten per cent on the profits Of any minor line of
municaon between the two which the companv NAV
open up during the time they engaged on the grand canal
On the other hand the privileges bestowed are not only ex
elusive rights for constructing the canal but also the exc-
elusive right OF inland steam navigation grants likewise are
to be made OF eight sections Of land the banks of The canal
each section to- be SIX miles square, The concession as orr
gnay proposed, for eighty five years but !, has since
been extended in perpe~ity
The first payment Of 900 has already been made bv
the company to the Government of Nicaragua and the GEN.
era arrangement having been avorsby by the Cabinet
at Washington, there can be question that the privileges