The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-04


raj hundred To 1000 the latter being the maximum
number employed ut any one time. They consisted
of CarthagenaDs Jamaica negroes, Americans Irsh.
men and Canadians; the two first named COMPOSING.
the bulk Of those employed, and being physicallV
better adapted for the work, as also better able to
endure the heat OF the climate and the hardshps of
the undertaking. About 1000 Cinnamon were inn
ported for the company and turned out utterly un-
profitable, being unable to labor on the Isthnus and
melted away rapidly from disease and deserton. They
seemed to have no stamina. The laborers from the
United States Canada and Ireland were gradually
withdrawn, except in mechanical positions, and their
places supplied by Carthagenians and Jamaica.
negroes, who proved to be the best and cheapest.
The more northery the place the white labOrersl
climate, &C.. the preservation of their health and
strength mainly depending upon their temperance.
cleanliness and avoidance of undue exposure to the
dews at night and the rains by day.
The mortality which took place among the Ia
borers has been grossly exaggerated, not being even
much ~ several of the lines Of railroad in the
United States The Chinese suffered most next the,
mprudent lrishmen; while much of it was owing TO-
the physical characteristics of those the company
were obliged to import, having Tor the most part,
constitutions impaired through previous hardships
and imprudence. Probably of the whole force EN-
poyed not over 200 deaths occurred on the lsth-
mus independent of the China importation.
The amount 80 far expended on the road, including
labor, Materials improvements, engines, cars and
equipments, wharves, station houses freight depotss
&c, &C., Is about 81 500 600
The annual income of the road averages 81 800 600,
the operating expenses being about $3.50 000 say 26
per cent This proportion differs from that of other
oads, because the tariff Of rates is higher; that
with comparatively small traffic far the receipts
are yet considerable.
At present there are from TOO to 900 men employ
ed in all branches of the road, the aborers being
mostly natives, and the mechanics and officials all
Americans. The company pay the nstive laborera
81 day; the mechanics average from 50 to -, and
the officials from 81 600 and upwards year. In As.
pinwall the company has erected a number Of
wooden houses for the accommodation of the
ployes, as well "a maintaining excellent boarding
house for the convenience and comfort of such of thu
officers of the company as choose this mode of living.
reading and billiard room il also attached.
The amount of traffic on the Panama Railroad
during the past three years QS55 being for aportou
only was as follows
Number of passengers 200l7 1881 ol27T
Gold, value dollars ssl ble 4s24o4u 46s6446I
Silver. 4,e2e,ss4 s,4aee4s 7,4a2sSe
frsHt It: 2, coo lbs. 1854 olco soisa
The annual income from mails ia about 100000.
OF the freight, about 900 tons Goals for the
steamers on the Pacific side the freight charge Of
which is IS ton; coal selling at Aspinwall for $l5
ton. The remainder consists of all kinds OF goods
consumed here and on the Pacfc-provisious, -four,
beef pork, lard, &c. from the United States-Eng.
lsh French and German importa.ions, &c. Tho
merchants at Panama are importing considerable for
home consumption, and also for traffic along the
coast. This trade is rapidly increasing. owing to
the facilities afforded for shipment the sthmus.
On the Pacific side the expectations across tho
road are largely growing, and consist mostly of
bark, (quinsl cocoa, barilla indigo cochneal cof-
Dey, But especially the better preservation Of the
goods. gives this route advantages over the Cape
route that is leading To rapid expansion Of tho
South and Central American trade. Two small car
goes Of whale oil have pa sed over the road, and
with very good success Pearl shells from the Pearl
Islands have gone forward in quantities
The Railroad Company, in order TO give facili.
ties TO freighters, have established q line
Of sailing cllDper hrips NAMELY the Abhv TaylOr F.
Drummond. Caroline, Arabella and Costa Rca,
plying between New York and Aspinwsll, making
average voyages in from Is to "a days. Besides
these regular clipper ships, the company Ia fire.
quently obliged to charter other vessels having ako
chartered ship from Liverpool once q month.
Messrs. Holt Co. likewise despatch the steamer
other steamer to run regularly between Liverpool
and Aspinwall. The company have also ,he steamer
Columbus, carrying the United States mail and ply.
ing monthly between Panama and the. various Cen.
To give an idea of the extent and growing i'm.
portsnce OF the Central American trade, ] trans
rbe the Columbus last manifest, the cargo being
alued at over half million Of doays:-2 $50 ce-
oons Of indigo. l56 do. of cochnea 10 900 Ia. dye
wood SIS bags Of rice, &c bales deer skins &c These
goods arrived in Panama on the 9TH January, were
anded transported over the railroad, and embarked
n the English steamer which sailed on the 9Th and
they will be in England In 80 days from the pert Of
shipment on the Pacific.
There are two lines of English steamers, one run
n,ng on the Atlantic, and the other on this Pacific
side.
On the Atlantic side the royal West India mail
steamers from England, via ST. Thomas, Cartha-
gena. &c, arrive at Aspinwsll on about the sth
and Path of every month, and sail for England, via
Carthagena, st. Thomas, &c, on the same day. Tho
price OF passage from Aspinwsl TO the former place
n <25; 10 the latter, SEQ.
Adding to these the United States mail steamers,
we have the following communications from Aspin.
wall and Panama.
IsTHMus MAILS AND STEAMERS.
U. Mall steamers arrive at Aspn ~sil from New York
and New Orleans On or about the 18th and Goth Of
every moIth-J. " Bouru, sgept Aspin wall.
y. ". Co.'S steamers from California al Panama
90 r about tie Sd and 18th Of every monthAIlaH NC
T. Mai STEAMERS tor New York and New orleans, via
Havana, leave AspiD~sll about the sth and 18Th OF
4 Co steamers for California leave Panama or
about the 18th and 30th OF every month.
u 4 n. Coz steamers from Valparaiso, Calico, &C.,
arrive 1t apama the eth and 2lst Of every
month, and sail for Calao Valparaiso Ano intermediate
porte or tho 18th and Both of every month j. Icaza,
r. " l. Mail steamers from England via 81 rh.mas Oar
thsgsna, sc, arrive At Aspinwal about the sth
and 24,b Ct every month and sail tor Eugsod Oar
thsgera, 81. Thomas, &c, on the same date-Gm.
Perry, agent, Panama, HurtAdo Hermaoos, agents,
PR r Co.'S o. s Nail steamer leaves Panama on OF
about The nth OF every mouth, and arrives Panama
agent, =. RR deTo,
All goods forwarded by the Panama Railroad ves
sells or United States mail line can he shipped TO
any ports on the Pacific, and rice versa on through
bills OF lading, without commissions or extra
charges ON the lsthmus; thus giving 10 shippers adj
vsntages which must finally result in the
centraticn on this great highway of nations" of
the commerce Of both the Atlantic and Pacific
sides ard which, when the Australian line viii be-
established, will make this place the key of the
commerce If the world
The companys workshops, freight houses wharfs
and Offices are commodious, and substantially built.
In Aspinwall, the freight house Is 800 feet long,
ironfrsmed roof, covered with slate, iron window
shutters &c, having three tracks running through
IL. The wharfs run out from $50 feet To 400, and
Tor rermanency Of structure and convenience OF
loading and unloading vessels not 70 be excelled
in New York.
The entire length Of the road IL fortyseven and
half milcs-thirty seven the Atlantic and ten and