Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-08
PANAMA SHIP RAILROAD
WASHINGTON, July l. 1883


Editor of the Star:
The narrow strip of land uniting the two Amer
icas and dividing the Atlantic from the Pacific
ocean has long been an impossible barrier to the
commerce of the world which various nations in
the last half century have attempted to remove
by the construction of ship canal from ocean to
ocean. Numerous routes have been proposed
and surveys made of these routes which proved
EACH IN turn, TO be absolutely impracticable, or
attended with almost insurmountable obstacles,
ana demanding an outlay of means SO immense
that each project, in turn, was compelled to be
abandoned. The present French Nicaragua Shin
Canal schema has attracted general attention by
the magnitude OF It's proposals, and the political
and commercial advantages to be obtained by its
construction; but this project, like all the others
which have been proposed from time to time is
pronounced impTaCticable, or attended with diff
ticultes that will render its failure certain
But If a ship canal across Central America
proves to be really impossible, WHY NAV not a
snip railroad be constructed of sufficient width
ana soIldlty OF structure, and with engines hay-
Ing power great enough TO transport the largest
ships with safety across the Isthmus from sea TO
sea; This plan is not new, neither is it strange
having been prdctised on our canals with entire
success, although upon a small scale frail
coal boat carrying one hundred tons is fioated
upon car standing on firm railroad track and
oy means OF water power hauled up a steep in
clined plane and deposited in the canal level
above. Again, canal boats, in sections have been
transported on common railroad for years over
Ol fenuSVlVdnld, Tor a distance of
Iorty miles with entire success. If canal boat
carrying one hundred tons can be transported on
common railroad, with the usual sized engines
1t only requires all enlarged railroad and engines
corresponding to the decreased weight of The
bu!then TO be- carried, to transport the largest
vessels that sail the ocean with and safety
The proposed ship railroad should be built
along the line OF the present Panama railroad
II should be go feet in width and constructed of
the most solid and ind st uctible materials
L pom this wide road bed and having long heavy
fl4l n nn Eod al
with iron of two hundred pounds to the ward
should be laid three tracks of feet gauge and s
feet between the tracks, thus forming a tbrible
track railroad of 40 feet in width from outside tn
outside of the rails, and admitting of trucks with
SIX wheels abreast or upon the same axeltree
car supported by sufficient number of such
uucks would without doubt sustain 3. 900 ton
snip and cargo. The locomotives to transport
this Immense weight should be coal burners
win 10 connected drivers, and weighing 100
tons One OF these monsters would haul on so
loot grade ,OOO tons freight, exclusive of car
car, Of strength equal to the burhen to be arred
constructed With strong sides against which
should be attached powerful lever or screw
supporters adapted in form to the shape of
ships, and mounted OH a sufficient number Of sly
wheeled axeltrees to sustain its immense load
should he let down a slightly inclined plane on
track along the bottom of the sea and the shi %
noated into 1t and made fast The car and ship
should then be hauled up together until her
straS ut Keel rests its whole leng upon the ca
when the supporters should be applied with con-
siderable force to sustain the sides of the sbiD
against Lateral pressure Of cargo and TO keen
her nrmly In place upon the car. With stationary
engines assisted by locomotives, the car and its
immense burthen should then be hauled Nd the
plane to the level road above. Three engines,
one on each track, or four, two being on the
centre track, should now be hitched on, and th s
monster or the deep, hauled by monsters of the
land, across the Isthmus Of Panama and agai n
by stationary engines slid into the opposite sea I'm
safety; Various sized cars, according to the
| capacity OF ships, would be needed soIne m rpn
on TWO tracks and be hauled by two or more
locomotives, as their burthen might require.
| The advantages Of the Panama Ship Railroad
be numerous. Ii would cost about $ IS 900 OOO-
| the canal S75: 900 600. A ship could be trans
ported over this road in one day-the canal would
require ten days The charges the ship rail.
| iodo would be about one-fOurth the charles on
| the canal, and the injury done to vessels much
| less on the road than on the canal The road
| would always be in rum ng order whereas the
destructive torrents of rain so frequent i'm that
climate, would often render the canal imnassa.
| Die; These advantages would be sufficient IN
| make the ship railroad decided success" and
| the snip canal d complete failure
| liz tn ship railro I'd across the Isthmps NJ pa
mama proves successful ship railroads NAV he
constructed around the Falls Of Niagara oye1 the
isthnus OF euez, or across any other portion of
Tue eafth's surface, where ships are reouired 10
De transported over narrow strips of Land from
sea 10 sea ship canal through the Istbmus nj
Suez has been objected to account of the d rift
ing sands which would be liable 10 fiII n nm and
also the sinking OF its waters and great di
In obtaining sufficient water for feeders Neitber
OF cheese would be an objection TO a Suez shin
railroad -P
70 fully ascertain the practicability of the Pa
mama Sup Railroad let a mile Of ship railroad
t Wln plane stationary engines, car, and locomo-
| p,a as described, be constructed ut San Juan,
,o ~nda, or in any other place where ship raiI
| ton oulu be needed, and IL LOO or 5000
| nor,sd ION oe hauled from the sea and trans
ticsIIv Seun ME the plan will be fully and prac-
a'ed A. WATSON.
H'hNi FOR ORNAMENTAL TREEs.-The
Secretary Of the Interior b,. ;..,;,.,.,
curry through the agricultural division Of -.
Patent Once as to the expediency of estab.
fishing nursery in this city with \ v;.w
furnishing the public grounds with orn.rsf
trees. public square of some five ac,.. 80
Missouri avenue, between Four-and-a-half and
o'1tn streets, is proposed to be used for hi.
purpose and it is suggested that seeds of our
native forest trees be selected by officers. Indian
agents, and other functionaries of the govern.
meat In sopneation with tho sams enternri0a