Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1855-03-27
History OF the Panama Road.

The attention Of the world has long been
turned toward the Isthmus as a way of short.
ening the route 10 the Indies. Various pro-
jecls have been conceived with his end in
view. In january, 1885. agrant was made
10 Charles Baron do Thierry. sovereign
chief OF New Zealand, by The President and
Deputies Of The Republic Of New Grenada,
for the construction Of The canal between
the two oceans-to connect the Bay Of Pan.
anna and Lelnin Bay, BY The way Of The Rio
GranJe and Chagres river-ihe canal 10 be
adapted 10 vessels drawing ten feet water,
and 10 be called The Panama Canal. The
gran, 10 extend over period Of fifty years.
In 1886, Colonel Biddle, brother Of Mich.
olus Bidile, procured grant for railroad
or macadamzed road, subjecI TO The non
fufllmenl Of Thierry's grant. In 1887
Biddle died. In 1888, The New Grenadian
governmen, failed 10 carry out its contract
with Thierry, and made grant for SO years,
10 Salamon & Co., for railroad or canal
In 1910, Saba, Of Salamon &, Co., came
out 10 prosecute The contract. but a division
had taken place in the governments o. New
Grenada and the lshmus. The uncertain.
" OF the endurance Of the new goverpmen.
OF the Esiado del Ismo prevented any .ef.
fort TO procure a grant in the home quarter
OF The lslhmus. Alter The reunion OF The
Islhmus 10 The New Grenadian governmeD.
she earthquake al Poin. PeWo occurred and
the papers and evidences Of Salamon & Co.,
bearing upon the grant were LOST, This con.
tract fell through.
II was not unlil American capital and
American enterprise took hold Of The pro.
jecl. ,hut this great work was carried 10 q
successful concluslop--a work that had long
agilaied lhe, hopes and fears Of ,he CONNER
cial world. In June. l849, the Panama
Railroad Company was organized under Q
charter from The State OF New York. Ii
J, 1850 a contract was made between, the New
, Grenadian government and John L. Sic
J. phens, etanIing the privilege for for.y.nip
wears of constructing and working the rail
road. The government reserved The righ
: 70 resume possession at The end Of twenty
years, on puymen, Of five millions Of Col
! lars, or a. The expiration Of thirty years, OF
paying Two millions Of dollars. The com
pany pays 10 ihe government three per cen.
. Of The profls Of lhe enterprise. No. texe
are 10 be imposed on properly Ct the com
pany. Government stores 10 be carried Tree
In June. 1850, The FIRST ground was bro
I ken on The road. The frs, opening Of an
/; portion Of ihe road took place ip March
1859, when rains were frs. run 10 Galun
distance of miles. In the July follow
/, ing. the road was extended 10 Barbacons
distance OF 20 miles. In February
1894, il was opened 10 Obispo, 81 miles i
/. length. One itain a day, except Sungayt
= is run through each way the whole length c
: The road, now extending from oceanic ccear
!. a distance Of 48 miles. Thefissi % mile,
e which were. to a great extent, built tipo
g piles, are now filed in, and The rains Of III
= past season have not caused any nIattrij
}. settling Of The work on The eastern OF norll
!. ern sides. i& ~ N0aag4atagq y
d The equipment in power consists Of 81
u heavy and four light locomotives. aTh
i necessity machine shops, &C.. are now len
II porarly constructed Of wood, but Il is inter
ID ded TO substitute iron, as also for lie bridge
81 This is necessary in q climate where WOO
ID lasts bula shor. lime. Going from the A
oti lunlic, the highest grade is fIIy.lhree feet
O. The mi'e. From Tho Pacific, sixty feet III
", worst radius OF curve is sisi hundree Zee
is Al the highest point, The summit, tho rot
10 liestwo hundred and fii,y feet ab6yethe lev
ld Of the sen. The fare now cbafged Is S2
a. md ten cents per pound exifa ior baggug
y Freight israiediii tlhtes classes. ihe lowe
b. price being S90pet,on. and ihe highest S6
vi The company has now about 8 900 labo
!" eFs'engegedA.wages eighIy GEMS day a