New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-01
BANANA RAILROAD.

PANAMA RAILROAD.
Whether we are ever 10 have Canal across the
Isthnus of Darien may be undecided problem, but
flat we are very soon to have Railroad from ocean
TO ocean admits of DO doubt. We have before usa
communication of the Directors of the Panama Rail
road Company accompanied by report from the Chief
Engineer ofthc work. from which we derive number
of interesting facts and from which learn that the
hope is entertained of completing the entire road by
tie month of August next The completion of this
work is GIL event to be looked forward to with great
interest by all maritime nations and viii mark an i'm
portant era in the intercourse OF the world When the
terrors of the Bird passage of the lsthus are wholly
removed We may expect large increase of intercom-
municaton between the Atlantic and Pacific. No man
or woman crosses the Isthmus days, has from
the beg ming except under the spur Of motive that
would prompt him or her to penetrate an East Indian
Jungle as well To hazard the passage is TO incur the
rsk of endless depths OF mud and mrc to breathe mug
gy and poisonous exhaations, 10 struggle with all the
nameess instructions of an uninhabted country and an
unhealthy climate, amid hot and soaking rains that
drench the unhappy traveller and turn him out at the
end of bis Isthmus pilgrimage, an easy victim to dis
ease and death. Indeed il would seem that to be
landed on the Isthmus for the purpose of crossing,
either at Panama or Nicaragua, is, substantially,
equivalent to being sprreeked one coast with
prospect of relief on the other after untold pers in
getting across the country.
All this is to be radically changed the day the Pana-
ma Railroad is completed Then the traveller can pro-
ceed in health and measurable comfort from end TO
the other Of his voyage He will be transferred from
steamer TO car and from car to steamer, with AMI
rapidly, and two hours will suffice TO wait him from
ocean to ocean His rapid transit will enable him to
defy the malarous airs of that deathdealing region,
and to escape the clutches of the invisible enemy OF
those presidential coasts which has beached the bones
of thousands who have travelled that way, and sOwed
the seeds of fatal disease in the breasts oas many
But the safety and facility of travel is not to be the
only great result of the completion of this enterprise
1t must open the door to immense transportation OF
articles of commerce. and greatly reduce the present
agant Of carriage across the lsthmus Now,
nothing but the mails and articles of small bulk and
light weight can be transported. Bat whole shlpoads
OF commodities may be thrown across in day, when
this Railroad is once under way. We therefore hail
the prospect of early completion of the work with
uDieiened satisfaction
We learn from the report Of the Engineer that the
entire length of this road from Aspinwa the Atlantic
terminus. TO Panama on the Pacific, is 40 miles. OF
this distance % miles are in operation, aud IN
January next the cars will 81 mies-leaying
section of IL miles to be constructed This section Is
On the back bore of the Continent, or the summit
ridge of which the maximum grade on the Atlantic
slope is 81 feet to the mile AMI the Pacific slope
70 feet to the mile The highest elevation of the road
is $50 feet above the high tide of the Pacific.
IL. loto r.al
in six months. Tie force now at work consists Of
1900 men. in round numbers OF these about ADO are
wIite men, and the remainder natives, Coolies. an
Jamaica men. Arrangements are made to bring 300
native workmen from Carthagsna and the adjacent
country in January, and the Board Of Directors have
ordered the shipment of 1900 Coolies from China,
and eco hands from ireland.
But the cost and risks aud uncertainty in procuring
the aborers needed for the work very great The
country itsef invites no emigration. and the laborer
has therefore to be procured abroad and the expense
Of hi, trnn ortation has to be borne by his employer
II IL very unhealthy, and the ordinary white su
fers much from sickness. The Irish for this
ron not a reliable force. The Coolies at first feeble
bnd Inefficient but after while make USEFUL workmen
Tie main reliance isupon the native population Of New
Gfenndn, who are accustomed to the pick shovel and
witelbanow nnd ire an elastic aud hardy race II is
another though lesser hndfAnce to the prosecution Of
Tie N0L, that al The materials needed for the
siruction Il The rohd have 10 be imported Even the
timber fof tho cfoss'tes Ia carried there from this
country ~ bfoughtfion distant parts Of New Grenada
Willie W. arc constrained 10 condemn ihe thought
lees snd e,isps opabia oupdiiJ Of tho managers Of
Ills yoiL ~ canning unaecmaied labofofa lhlihrf.
,essiing 40 u hoe dDne Ia suaniable Ices 81 ifs.
,et snd., oil De circumstances 81 The case tho eoa
fiil.raH ri he Panama Had is a Wi fsnenaa
f,tli 4i1dii spen na eniairiss a"d e"s'et ~ ne
I LsId.4 1Lts dese,fe ~ ~ 'te"'"rs"0sd ny eDsi
a,iaeIas ,.ii.L 40 i,ssi ites "iii .sssi,s WhiDh
go, Has t,osa L.,eaii.. ~ tt 'le @'"'a sssi4 -
1ahA,ia and tliAa sc.Dss iiis eD."sAl LAl .'.-il
dasls esp 1sst tsi ie e,e4i tLD.sssLa.l ~ Al-t.-a
mt airsgs ~ w ite .st ~ t4a"'4sI "lls' iis-
tsgy llagy !. . a..est ias Lst.ses U.f- oi,-- ~