The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-06

Official Bulletin the Mestean Govsrnment
ME1gco. Wx1sssDAY, February 8, 1853.

His Excsilency tha President od inlsrlm Of the
Mexican Republic has been pleased to direct TO me
the following decree:
The President a6 laterim of the Mexican United
States to the Inhabitants of the Republic: Know
ye, that. considering that the opening Of the 18th
mus of Tehuantepec has now reached that stage
that 1t s not only commercial requirement of the
whole world, but political necessity, in order to
preserve the Integrity and sovereignty of our ter
ritory; that if this question be not solved in the
limited time which perhaps now remains to decide
II with full independence and dignity, it MIGHT
perhaps be involved and complicated with political
questions, and the Republic find itself eravelv
compromised, which will result in great injury 10
all the inhabitants; and considering finally that
the proposals. of the Mixed Company. to which
have been joined those of Oajaca and Garcia, and
the States of Oajaca, Tabasco. and Chiapas, hav-
ing been approved. not only will great material
benefit to the nation result. but the questions which
this negotiation has accustomed will be peaceabiv.
TRANQUILITY, and honorably settled, have thought
proper In the exercise OF the faculties with which
am invested, and in conformity with the law of
l4th May, 1852, and the decree calling for pro.
posals published in consequence thereof ON the
18th of July, to decree as follows:
SOLE Article. The proposals which have been
presented for the opening Of interoceanic commu-
submitted by the mixed national and foreign
company, under the name of A. G. Sloo. are an
proved. with the notifications and explanations
IN the instrument Of this date which will be pub.
lished
Therefore order that the same be printed. pub
ished, circulated, and carried into due fulfil
ment.
Palace of the General Government, Mexico, 9Th
February, 1853.
JUAN BAUTlsTA CEvALLos.
To Don J. MIGUEL ARRovo.
And communicate it to you for your informa-
ton and correspondent action.
God and liberty
]. MIG UEL ARROYO.
MEXICO. February 5, 1858.
CONTRACT
For the opening and communication of the Isthmus
Of Tehuantepec, made on the one part in the name
of the Supreme Government of the Mexican Re.
public. by his excellency jose Miguel Arroyo,
chief clerk, exercising the powers Of Minister oil
Home and Foreign Affairs, with the power of pub.
fishing DEGREES, and now charged with the duties
Of the came; and on the other part by Mr.. William
D. Lee, attorney for Messrs. A. G. Sloo and his
associates. and Messrs Ramon Olarte, Manuel
Payne, and Jose Joaquin Pesado, for the Mexican
associates and contractors concerned in the enter
prise of the Tehuantepec interoceanic communi-
cation, and representing the whole company,
which, under the name of Mixed Company. ia
charged with the said opening and communication
in concert with the companies named Oajaca and
Felipe Garcia and associates, and with the agents
of the States of Chiapas, Tabasco, and Oaiaca un-
der the following articles, which they have agreed
to, the Supreme Government making use of the
faculty given to it by the law of May II, 1852, and
the full powers conceded to it by the decree 1th
January last:
lst. The way of communication shall be by
water as far as the river Goatzacoalcos s naviga-
Bile, and where the navigation terminates the roads
mentioned in the second article shall commence
I'd. The contractors bind themselves TO com
mence plank road at the point at which the river
Goatzacoalcos ceases to be navigable, leading to
the Pacific, in the year that this contract has been
made, and to finish it in three years after having
commenced it. To begin the construction of a
railroad in one year, counted from this last date,
and to finish said railroad with all the necessary
cars and engines, within the four following years.
notifying the Supreme Government in both cases
OF having commenced the works and of their being
finished
Sd. The direction of the road shall be that which
may be designated by competent engineers az
being the most practicable, from the shortness Of
the distance and from the facility of construction;
the starting point being where previous surveys
shall have shown that the river Goatzacoalcos ia
no further navigable.
4th The company shall build at it's expense the
works and docks necessary for the use of the way
of communication in the new ports which the Gov.
eminent may open at the two extremities of the
road.
5th The Government grants to the company
the necessary land for the wheel road, and rail
road, moles, docks, warehouses, depots, stations
sheds for the stages and the other vehicles and
hnteis for naesengers but if the lands belonging
to the public domain should De surncient for al
the aforesaid purposes, those of individuals shall
be taken. on indemnifying the owners conforma
bly, to law.
9th. The company may take gratis from the
public lands whatever materials may be necessary
for the construction of the road of it's appurte.
nances, and for their preservation.
7th 1t may also take such materials from the
lands of private individuals, on indemnfying the
owners confornably to law.
9Th. So long this ntract ia in force the com.
pany shall enjoy the exclusive privileges of trans
portatiOn by the way of Communications it hayipp o
n lIoot toll trcv1 a
storage fees and other fees for freight merchan
Disc coat of passage, agreeably to the tariff to
be approved by the Government, which shall not
have the power to demand any tax or contribution
OF any kind, either upon the transit or merchan.
disc, or upon the passengers, or upon the capital
invested by the company; but the right is reserved
which is given to it in the 32d article of the decree
calling for proposals, which is veybat as follows
'The Government binds itself not to lay any con
tribution or tax upon the road, merchandise, or
passengers which may pass on the same, nor upon
the capital invested therein; but it may impose an
additional duty upon freight and passengers at a
rate which shall not exceed one real the amount
thereof being entirely applied to itself''
9Th The company may import, free of duty. the
materials and utensils necessary for the construc
ton and preservation of the road and its appurte
nances, after first obtaining the consent Of the
Government through the inspector of the said Gov
eminent, with a memorandum of the articles pro
poscd to be imported. may also import, upon
the same conditions, the articles which cannot he
obtained at the Isthmus, and which the la ,orers
and journeymen employed the works of the
road may require for their maintena nee and cloth
ing.
10Th. The liberty conceded to the company for
the transportation of merchandise shall be subject
TO the regulations which the Government may en-
act; it not being understood that liberty is also
thereby conceded to it to open issues for the sale
of merchandise in any point of the Isthmus.
llth The Supreme Government will open the
ports to foreign and coastng trade which may be
necessary for the better service of the way of com
munication; none other being for the present open
ed than that of Vera Cruz, in the Gulf of Mexico,
and that of Ventoru, the Pacific; this latter port
shall be solely for the reciprocal transit of passen
gers and merchandise.
18th. The privileges conceded by the Govern
during the whole time this contract is in force.
18th. The Government will protect with it's
whole power the prosecution. preservation, and sc
curity of the works.
l4th The ful6lment of this contract shall be
guaranteed, to the satisfaction of the Supreme
Government, in the cum Of s 300 ,0O0) three hun
dred thousand dollars in cash, which the represen
tatives of the company shall deposit in the treasury
in the manner the said Supreme Government shall
prescribe; anc alec s .OOO) fifty thousand dollars
per month, until the sum total of 5 COZ, OO0) six
hundred thousand dollars is completed. The Int
ter s 300, 0OO) three hundred thousand dollars
shall bear interest at six per cent per annum, but
the first three hundred thousand dollars shall be
Furnished without any interest guarantee for
the present contract. But both amounts, with the
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