The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-03-04
NEE oPENlNa oF rHE pANAMA RAn.RoAn

THE OPENING or THE PANAMA RAILROAD.
highly important event the opening Of the PAaam,
railroad took place on the 10th ultrao and was celebrate,
in worthy Of the occasion along the line q ro
the arrangements ior giving brillianey being On
liberal and extensive scale large delegation from Ma.
York was present who together with great number a.
the residents Of Aspinwa participated Ia The celebration
The following condensed account Of the incidents AID ~
monies attending the inauguration Of this great v
appears in the New York RKptesss
The steamer George Law, conveying the New York A.
egation aud large number Of passenger rous a. 90
forna arrived in the harbor Of Aspinwal the moua
the 18th Of February, gay decked with flags that q u
Granada floating from the fore, and the and ,
from the mi1aenmast. She received with the 6ras
cannon, and the population appeared 10 have turned ca
welcome the guests. On landing they wcr, -
BY Col Toten the chief engineer, Mr.. Center the sup
tendent and several other gentlemen, comprising the Gown
Of Col Totten and conducted the residence that s
man, where they Hospitality entertained and mos, o
fortabIy qaartered.
Before discussing the opening Il may be wel 70 sy
few words the history Of the road The idea Of y,
sning the voyage TO India by crossing the thma q PA
ana conceived many years age and in the year lss
Baron de Thierry obtained grant construct canal h
the oceans adapted to vessels drawing ,,
water. The government Of New Granada however hg.a
to carry with rhierry and salamon "a
having subsequently obtained grant for road or can,
their agent out in ls4o 10 prosecute the contract Thai
however, also fell through. Nothing further done n a.
matter until lSI9 when the Panama Railroad Company v
organized in this city, and in 1850 the government Of New
Granada granted the privilege 10 John L. stephens ssQ
construct and work railroad the isthmus the con
being for forty years. the rescrvh,
the right To possession at the end Of twenty years
payment OF five millions OF dollars at the expiration
thirty years paying two millions o dollars. In June
he first
opened in March, 1884, TO Gatun assistance Of miles
July following IL extended TO Barbscous In Febrasy
1884, to 0bispo and it extended from ocean
a distance of as miles. One train day Is from each end
Of the road except Sundays The fare charged sg
and cents per pound extra for baggage. Freishh
ted in three classes the lowest price being $40 per ton and
the highest ST0
The 0pensag Of aae Road
cat O'clock m OF the 10th ult the company entered
the pass for the rst time the extent the road
The train consisted Of nine cars, drawn by twenty a.
CINE The passengers by the George Law the au,
train The locomotive decorated with flags, wS an
the express of Hinckly Co., which followed with u.
baggage. The train departed amid salutes OF from
the ships and shore, and the cheers of large
persons who had assembled the stations the scene vas w
and celebrating in the extreme Gatun reached
here the railway strikes the Chagres river, the natives had
OF their suggestion constructed arch which spns
the road and covered it with palm leaves II bore d.
motto
The problem u solyed-success ever attends an enter
prising people.
The arrival Of the train greeted with salute Ia.
ing dge Of hundred feet that spans the @.
tun river and passed the Tiger Hill stone quarry, Apo
Lagata reached this terminates tho swampy region and
about twelve miles from Aspinwsll the distance
complshed in fortyfve minutes. At Barbacoa the
point the road the Chagres river bridge
hundred and forty feet long. Here beautiful opening
the Forest known the Rancho Of San Pablo the property
venerable old padre whose horses and cattle grouped
here and there in the shade To this place the river nan
gable for small steamboats, in the wet Darbaeca
twenty three miles from Aspinwa Gorgona 10 four mHa
Distant passengers for California, before tho oonss
ton Of the railroad exchanged the navigation Of TIE
Chagres for mule transportation in the dry Passing
that, Metachin thirty miles from Aspnwali and eghsa
from Panama. reached. Here the scenery assumes
mantle appearance; the road winds around hills, rising
detached either side covered with verdure ani
few palm scattered about Tho train stopped here s
short time, and the stone Of monument was taken
summit Of of the hills it Is to be erected TO
the achievement Of connecting the two oceans BY
iron band.
q. Ceremony Of Laying the CONVERSIONS.
g The consisted of base followed to contain In
box OF documents Theoretically sealed and cap by which
the box secured. Mr.. Whitcwright OF the diss
tors having placed the tin boz upon the stone ts contents
were not made known,) Introduced TO the company biz
excelency Judge Bowlin, United States minister to New
Granada, who made appropriate remarks, giving .
historical sketch Of the shmus and then referring 20 tho
present enterprise aid that the completion OF this road
might be regarded the virtual termination Of struggle Of
than three centuries for passage through tho West TO
india From the earliest period, the trade Of the indians
had been the great subject Of contest between rival nations
and Cities and IL failed to enrich those Who for
tins controlled it, After enumerating the various projects
which have been proposed to improve the facilities the 18th
mus to the shores OF either
he to cxo the work just completed and TO Illustrate
its advantages promotye Of and civilization
The highway OF India has been found the prob
lem Of Columbus, he said solved and the Of con
rolling from The memory Of Steven
Aspnwa and Chauncey the original protectors would
be preserved that monument, to remind ths pssing
stranger of their deeds but they and their associates
nectcd they through this work. with the commerc
interests Of the countrywould live In its history and
mensurate with its boundless expsnse.
The Journey Re41med
"The company having reentered the cars, the journey
was resumed and proceeding along the bank Of the 0b
Of the branches Of the Chagres river reached what
termed the Summit highest point Of land the road
being rs feet above the Cuctra situated the
lage being only Of whitewashed sheds covered with
palm leaves.
s'At hafpast o'clock, the suburbs OF Panama were
reached and the first gmpse obtained Of the Pacific The
distance between Aspinws and Panama made IN "
hours including several delays.
The passengers for California summoned TO embark
Immediately and boats waiting 70 take them TO The
steamship Sonora anchored five miles out from land IN tho
deep the bay Tho operation Of reaching the boat
very amusing, heavy surf IL continually rolling
from the ocean, and ducking is by unusual
The guests escorted to the Aspinws House. one
hotel but apparently not with business NO meas
served there, and the sleeping recommendation Ns
nothing boast Of There bedstead with sses'
laid the sackng and upper sheet covered win