Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-02-01
FROM THE IsTnmus OF PANAMA.
Progress of Pnnnmn Rail

Progress Of Pnnnmn Railroad.
The New York Herald has the following
letter:
GATUN STATION, Jan. g. 1851.
The Panama Railroad progresses very slow
", but it is said that it will be finished in
three years. There are but three stations
formed at present. There will be one more,
making four from Navy Bay to Gorgona, as
follows list, Navy Bay, the commencement
"a, Gainn, about miles from Navy Bay Sd,
Bohia Soldado, (soIdier's camp;) 9TH, Juan
Geande, (Great John.) The distance from
Navy Bay to Gorgona, by railroad, is 26 miles;
The Chagres river will be crossed by q bridqe'
q miles this side ofGorgona Nothing has been
done or commenced on the other side of Cor
gona, nor will there be until this is finished.
There will be some supcndous work between
Goreona and Panama. tunnel is TO be mado
of about 5000 feet. There are abont 1870 ner-
SONS at this station, one half of whom are m
able 10 work in consequence of sickness. I'm
fact there are but five months working time
in the whole year, the balance of the iime
being constantly rainy and sckly, The dry
| and healthy season has now commenced, and
weather is delightful, with fine breezes from
the mountains. On this road there are no
contract given ont, consequently there is no
room for speculation or imposition. The wa
ges given are good, and every man is treated
with attention and good feeling-no more
work imposed upon than is considered pro-
dent. The superintendents and engineers are
perfect gentlemen of education and much
travei-they are principally from New York.
/ The laborers are mostly from the West, Buff
/ talo, Erie Pennsylvania, and Americans. The
wages TO laborers are $40 per month, with
medical attendance aud board-no deduction
Ct time for sickness. The other employers
on the road have compensation varying from
&51 10 SlC0 per moaih. They talk Of finish
/ Jug this part Of the road Ito Gorgona) this sea.
son; but it seems impossible, for tho survey.
are not perfected and actually decided npons
/ | herewith iumish you with some iniorma-
ton which may be interesting 10 your read.
ers. The air line distance from Cha-5as to
] dtIdIIlo; - "o4 IlIiIS' no HI-iltts I-!I- o.
land on the line Of road between Guuoua and
and Panama is $50 fee, above the paciGic.-
The highes, between the Atlantic and Pacific,
on the Isthmus of Panama, is distant about
five miles from Cruces, and between that Pam
anna. The Pacific is II feet 6.10O heher
than the Atlantic. The greatest rise OF waite
known at Panama, % feet The least, 10
feet. The greatest rise Of water at Navy Bay,
81 inches. There are swamps between Navy
Bay and Catun - feet lower than the Allan
tic. The grade OF the road from Navy Bay
to Gorgona, 90 feet TO the mile Gorgoua to
Panama, by mule path, % miles; Cruces to
Panama do do, Il miles, Isthmus Of Tch-
uanicpcc, air line distances between Atlantic
and Pacific, 1872 miles: Nicaragua air line
distance between Atlantic and Pacific, 90
miles.
This is a very interesting country TO the
traveller seeking knowledge. The forests
inhabited with jaguar black ti-cr, ocelot
wild cat, panther, several species Of monkey,
sc. The anaconda is also found here a,.i-a-
tors tarautuIa, scorpions, lizards, AMI various
insects in abundance. The birds are mostly
parrots, macaws, Sc The geology Of the
country is principally composed 0, 4 species
of agate and black stone, of a soft nature.