The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-13

Trip from Panama Bay tn New York City.
TIE JOURNEY ACROSS THE IsTHhUs-rHE PANAMA.
RAILwAY-NAvY BAY-AsPIN COLLABORATING
FOR HoNE-THK GEORGE LAW AND HER ARRANGE
MENrs- ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK, ETC.
landed in ffigats's boat, on the Panama beach
near the Pacific terminus Of the Panama Railroad
on the morning Of the 4th instant. My luggage
was borne to the baggage car and checked free,
though being rather abundant in its show, through
the courtesy of the conductors, to Aspnwal A free
passage was also rendered me. The steam whis-
tie was soon blown, and few moments after we
were on our way from the Pacific to the Atlantic,
and, with bounding heart i was tracing my course
across the Isthmus for home.
We were the first train of the morning from
Panama. Ny object was to anticipate the arrival Of
the California passengers, momently expected at
Panama, by twentyfour hours that might secure
my state room on board the George Law, lying at
Aspinwall, and make all other arrangements neces
sary for a comfortable passage from Aspinwall to
New York.
The Panama Railroad is one of the themes of the
age Its orgnators and the prosecutors of the enter
prise to its successful completion deserve the COM
mendation of the world. It will not seem to the
transient passenger, however, great wonder, if
be is familiar with many stupendous specimens Of
engineering found in our own country, and the OBJ
stacles in many places on our railways
which have been overcome. The difficulties
here were to be found in the climate, soil, the
supply of iaborers, and the distance of the ma
teria required in the different departments OF con
struction in successfully executing the work. The
first spadeful of earth on this noble work of the
Isthmus was turned in 1850. The opening of the
whole line of communication took place on the 2Sth
january, 1855.
From the Pacific side the grade ascends at no
point over sixty feet in mile, and the summit level
of the road is reached between eleven and Twelve
miles from Panama. The height of this level is
only two hundred and fifty feet, while the ridge
rising above the summit gap, which was discovered
ny Colonel Hughes in his explorations of lS49, is
two hundred and eighty-seven feet in elevation.
The road has some sharp curves, owing to many
projecting spurs of hills with deep intervening ra
vines which characterzes the scenery of the coun-
try through which the line passes. One, however, is
surprised to find no greater elevations of mountains
than meet his eye as he crosses this ocean barrier
of the Isthmus.
From the summit to Aspinwall is thirtyseven
miles. No grade on the Atlantic slope exceeds
ffty-nine feet to the mile. The whole road has
twenty.three miles of level track and twenty-eght
miles of the line is straight. The whole
line cuts its way along unbroken fields Of
green and tropical foliage. No cultivation
on either side OF the track is seen, save
now and then, when the line energies out on
some plain of the bends of the Chagres and the
Obispo rivers. On point Of the Atlantic side over
looking the Chsgres nver, and which ROUNDS up its
height in beautiful oval mound of some sixty feet,
the foundation stone Of a monument to the original
projectors of the road has been laid. The names of
Stephens, Aspinwall and Chancey will be chiselled
upon the cenotaph which will raise its shaft to the
gaze of the thousands who shall hereafter traverse
this passage way between the oceans which they
have gwen TO the world. The bridge which crosses
the Chagres river has span of two hundred feet
and four spans OF one hundred feet each. Its abut
menfs and piers are of stone laid in cement, and
it stands fifty feet above the low water of the river
Its woodwork is Of yellow pine, and the bridge pre-
sents DURABLE and fine appearance.
We fingered awhile at the half way station for q
train to come up. While we delayed / stepped
down to the edge Of the Chagres river and
dipped my hands INTO the rapidly flowing current
canoe containing two OF the natives of the country,
was darting like an arrow downward with the
stream; while another canoe close in upon the oppo-
site shore was making It's slow and tedious way up
the current. How many scenes, 1 thought, have
TRANSFERRED on this ever one way flowing current.
Here on this srreamlet, many murders have been
enacted; some have been recorded, many have been
unnoted. Up and down this stream many sadly
heaving hearts have gone; here health has been
sacrificed, hopes forever drowned and enter prises
and trade have found channel for their outlets and
inlets failures and success. But now II Is solitary
streamlet, only once and ever the Indians canoe
is seen 70 move along its shores at the dip Of his
paddle oar, or like the heetness OF his own arrow
shoots downward on the stream with the rapid cur
rent and soon is lost In some Of the winding bends
of the river the foliage, In its uxurant growth,
soon envelopes him in its denseness and its shades
The train ere long was again in motion. We soon
passed the Of the tragic accident, where few
months ago fifty and more passengers lost their
lives in consequence OF break In one OF the sluice
ways, by which OF the cars was severed in half
anc six seven other cars piled one upon another,
hanging and killing their occupants person on
board train, who was present at the horrible oc.
currepoe, gave me n graphic narrative OF the scene
he pointed ont the locality and in moment after
designated the long range OF graves on the side OF
the road, near the edge of hill SIDE, where their
BODIES were inferred.
Our cars run rapidly down the inclined planes over
which the train was moving at the time OF the acct
dent: and alter an hour and more we found our
selves elteripg the lower grounds neigbboring on
Aspinwal. The Atlantic Ocean lay far out before
us, and Navy Bay, making In from the sea, on
our LETT. We skirted for moment the edge Of this
fine bay. crossed sluice Of water which forms the
island Manzanilla, on which Is the Atlantic termi-
nus OF the Isthmus railroad. A fe ~ moments more
brought 10 stand the level Of this low island
very beautifully situated for the purposes TO which
IL "a now devoted the Atlantic end OF the railway,
with the fixtures, dwelling houses, sorehouses and
workshops Of this magnificent corporation, the Pa
mama Railroad Company.
letter TO A. J. Center, Esq, late Vice President
and now Superintendent Of the Panama Railroad,
made me acquainted with this courteous gentlem an,
who caused my luggage for moment TO be deposit
ted at the compsnys Office. Mr.. NJ, one OF the
agents Of the line, had sent him friendly message
from Panama in connection with myself, Ito both OF
which gentlemen desire TO make an acknowledge
ment and to tender my thanks) and after an inter
view with Mr. Bowen, the agent Of the Mail Seam
ship Company, my luggage was taken on board the
steamer George Law.
At right angles TO the railroad, which runs along
the edge of the island washed by Navy Bay, juts
out q noble covered dock for the steamers. The
form of the dock Is that Of the letter T. At the end
Of this dock lay at rest the noble steamer In which
was coon TO embark, with hundreds Of others, for
New York. The dock is in state Of perfect neatness.
A palinr and catewa face the railroad, from which,