The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-18

PANAMA RAILRoAD.-The Journal of Com
merce has been furnished with the subjoined ex-
tracts from recent letter from John L. Ste
phens, esq, president of the Panama railroad
company. The work seems to be proceeding
with animation. As soon as it is completed TO
Gorgona, passengers will be able to cross the
Isthmus in one day. This is expected to be nc
complshcd by the first Of July. The depot
spoken of in this letter is in Manzanilla island,
in Navy Bay, which is connected with the main
land by n causeway constructed for the purpose
NAVY Bay, April, 9, 1851.
Ny DEAR SIR-On the score of health. the
hospital at this place is laughing at the doctors,
walked through it this afternoon, and found
but one man in it, and he a sailor from one Of
the vessels in the harbor with broken leg. At
Gatun there are only some five or six at Bavio
Soldado there are some 90 Of Bakers men, and
at Mier's station not man. Since the last
clearing out, there has been no accumulation,
and the line is almost exempt.
You are no doubt curious to have a great
many particulars, but ] have been already full Of
consultations and business, particularly in the
great matter of getting together large native
force, and have done 80 much in various ways
that it is a burden to write more than is absO-
lutely necessary. | will therefore merely say,
that after surveying, as we approached it, with
much satisfaction, though with bunged up eyes,
the changed condition of the desolate spot |
had left in July, had the great satisfaction of
stepping from the deck Of the Gorgona upon
fine pier $50 feet long, and which, with mn J..
now making, will soon reach 20 feet water, and
the cost will not be half ms much ns that of the
launches we refused to send have since found
that the whole business Of the island is well
systematized and ar, anged. Order inside Of the.
I'D nofo -, ls al II
general harmony, contentment, and attention TO.
duties, and as good organization and system az
if the work had been three yenrs, instead Of
three month"; under way. Defective pile drivers
and other causes have retarded somewhat the
actual road, but the elements Of rapid progress
are all here, to lie brought out by lighter touch
than could ever have moved them before. And
say now, with stronger faith than have even
yet felt, that if We will only bend TO our oars
for three months more, we shall have no more
oars padding in troubled waters We have
now on the ground force of 900 men.
Mr.. lotion says if it can be kept up effec-
lively, to that number we will get through by
the first of July to Gorgona, and think II We
do not keep the number good, it will be because
the world is scant Of people. Gen. Camp will
keep up his recruiting station, rejecting every
man not positively healthy, even if he sends
but 20 or 80 trip, and taking care always TO
have one man on board a sort Of foreman.
with list of. the men, nm 10 watch that they
do not run away. Contract for six months.
Never mind the rainy season; there ID no res
son to stop work We shall send Truesdale or
some other proper person to New Orleans
The men, | have no donbt, are now better
provided than on any railroad in the United
States and this must be kept up.
Truly yours, JoBN l.. STEPHENS.
+. Sites esq. ra
Send ont some one 90 soon NJ possible TO 6ll
Mr. Putnams place. To f;ll il a he did. win
not be nm easy matter, poor fellow. J.. S.
How much iron has been purchased in al for
this side Of the Isthmus, T,oo thousand seprn
hundred TONS win be wanted at Gorpona. Let
me know by return steamer.
We are able TO state that the whole Assount
of the iron required has been purchased.