The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-02


ration ceremonies the occasion of the opening OF the
Panama RailSs sad. This important event partici
pated in by delegation from this city,
ra of whom arrived in the Empire City The remainder
of the party viii probably arrive in the Star Of the West,
due from Aapinwall.
HISTORY OF THE PANAMA ROAD.
The attention Of the world has long been turned to-
the Isthmus way of shortening the route to
the indies Various projects have been conceived with
this end in vie In January, 1885, grant was made
10 Charles Baron de Therry, sovereign chief Of New
Zealand by the President and Deputies of the Republic
of New Granada for the construction Of the canal be
tween the two oceans-to connect the Bay of Panama
and Lirin Bay by way OF the Rio Grande and Chagres
rver--the canal to be adapted to vessels drawing ten
tcet water and to be called the Panama Canal. The
grant to extend over period Of fifty years.
In 1885, Colonel Biddle, brother OF Nicholas Biddle
Srocured grant for a railroad macadamized road
subject to the non fudlnent of Thierrys grant. In
1887, Biedle died. In 1885, the New GrAnadan govern
nent failed carry out its contract with TheIry and
made grant for 90 years, to salamoa Co. for rial
road canal In 1910, Saba, of salamon & Co,
prosecute the contract but division had taken
place in the of Rev Granada and the 18TH
mus The uncertainty OF the endurance OF ths new go
verument of the Esdd0 del Ismo prevented effort to
~ san ~ to . 81 ~ N W.. cnaa;
government the earthquake a. Pout Petro and
the papers and evidence of Salsmon Co bearing upon
the grant were lost. This contract fell through.
II not until American capital and American enter
prise toek hod OF the project That this great work
carried to successful concuson--a work that had
song agtated the hopes and fears Of the commercial
world in Jnne, lS49, the Panama Railroad Company
was organizfd under charter from the State of New
YorG. In 1850 contract made between the New
arenaoisn government and John L. Stephens granting
the privilege for forty nine OF constructing and
working the railroad The government reserved the
right possession at the OF twenty years
payment of FIVE millions Of dollars the expiration
of thirty years. paying two millions dollars. The
company to the three per cent of the
profits Of The enterprise No to be imposed
ried Tree.
In june 1850 the first ground was broken the road.
Tie first tpeong Of any portion Of the road took place
in March, 1872 when trains first run to Gatun,
distance OF seven miles la the July following the road
was extended 10 Barbacons, distance Of 20 miles ln
February 1874, 1t was opened to Obspo, u miles Ia
length. One train day except Sundays, through
each way the whole length Of the road extending
from to ocean, distance OF 4S miles. The first
3 mics, which to great extent built upon piles
are hlec. and The J2ns ri the past tseason nave
hoe cansed ao material sng OF the work on the east
northern sides.
III. equipment in power consi,s Of six heavy aud four
light locomotives. he necessary machine Shops &c,
20 rarily :tei OF wood but il Ia in
tended to substitute iron also for the bridges This
is necessary in climate where wood lasts but short
time. Going from the Atlantic the highest grade is
fifty three feet TO the mile. From the Pacific sixty
feet The radius Of curve Il six hundred feet AT
the highest point the summit the road lies two hun
drcd and fifty feet above the level OF the The fare
charged is s25, and ten cents per pound ezra for
baggage. Freight rated thee classeB tue lowest
price being $40 per ton, and the highest $50.
The company has about 3 900 laborers engaged
wages eighty cents day and found. A police force
Of forty has heretofore been maintained by the
compsny the line Of the road for protection against
robbers The greater part Of these have been exterm
mated bsnished, and tie force reduced to
twelve men. Tney are under the command OF the in
,loniiiable Rom Runnels.
At Aspinv all the company owns harbor quite acces
sble and well protected, except iron norherly winds.
A few weeks ago violent Dorthsr dsmasted vessel
and tore away portion Of the wharf aud the
hun tna snfi
water my probably be bull. 70 improve this feature.
The charter now obtained requires the Pacific term-
nus to be at Panama. New conditions viii have TO be
made before il can he carried farther.
At the Panama end OF the road the facilities for freight
ing be estimated from the description OF the transit
d the excursion party from the abroad to the town and
thence to the propeller Columbus in the bay. FIRST,
three ourths mile OF carriage to small boats, then
and half miles IN small boats 10 the receiving
sci All this handling OF merchsndise must be vastly
expensive.
Hence the necessity is quite apparent for changing
NDe terminus OF the road by the charter located at
Panama The company have purch sed three small islands
at distance Of and bali miles from the
land south et Panama (the road entering the city
ON the north where ,ucent water and protection
affords good barbor. To these islaads the road will
probably to carried This is che only expedent short OF
the bay ard tidal lockage, not ble,
perhaps. where the tide rise, and falls daily twenty
feet The consumed capital IL millions. seven
Dnions said to be wanted Doubtless millions
will be required before the narbor at Aspnwsl il pro.
tec'ed ana the iron and stone buildings and wharves
provided Before the roadway made solid secure
and before the Panama carried to the islands
"A
freightng business, probably ten millions will be re.
-Yuired, possibly twelve.
Il is possible that with 30 short a road even after
the competiou OF all these facilities and consequent
increase OF freghtng business the work may be done
a single track and turnouts.
The expenses of working the road likely 20 be
iess than DO per cent propaby will be more) the frs.
.~o years though the item Of fuel is not expensive
btng furnished the road at three dosrs the cord.
Water is now brought seven miles 10 Aspin~ vail. but
tanks are being built, which will contain large COLES
tons Of rain water The process will be necessary
n Y a M in Ray hey
ing no fresh water, az am informed An outlay Of
OF the receipts will during the next two years,
probably rspiacs the decaying ties with lignumvitae.
along the route Of the road much current
be anticipated for keeping the track and the deep
secure against the washngs or the heavy
rains Of the rainy Everything that is pershabe
RAPIDLY deconposes in this climate and iron an stone
must take this place Of wood.
On railroads the profitable feature not the
through but the way carriage IL the Isthmus capable
OF an agricultural and mechanical OF manufacturing de.
velopenent that will make way business Certainly
not the latter and those who the country not
likely TO form favorable opinions OF s early agricultural
settemcnt and cultivation. This road must depend
its through business The gross receipts Of this
business not likely TO be less the rst year Of the
snount- probably will II much OF the travel shouli in
ossequenos OF the facility afforded by this rosd,
a.ssl' 'ne searasns route for this The beauty and
and san Francisco the admiration Of all who have
a.s 20 70 tsem This snures 70 the advantage Of this
Ho~ long The treacherous, oo,y soil, where the road
is now sussained BY plies hled n viii permit the
nsest built and whether the swamp. will .,.y set,IsS
ssquestou OF time, perhaps. II now present. ane
substantial Appearance.
The hundred acres composing the island Of Men
zan,a. % which Aspinwa is built lie but Just raised
above the In part covered with swamps and md
ing water, As2inval lo-ss on familiar acqusint .nce
the agreeable aspect II entering the harbor
These were tpe pscular features Of New Orleans vet
have not pevented its growth great city The rsil
road track is not the Mississippi river, no veyer.
Nv h the Panama Railroad has done, more il will do
bu' true door OF the seas the facility demanded by
A
ship fnai shall unite the The practical unon
susht 10 the fut with those vast and peculiar advan
tages comme rec - TO derive from the union OF the East
and the West lies in the ship canal The expenditure
Of time and labor in the process OF pnsnt must
be bar 70 the employ OF this route for the
transit Of these large and valuable carzoes of products
-.