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


Oar Panama Correspondence.
PANAMA, N. g., March Is, 1858.
The Panama Railroad Condition Of the Road,
Bridges, &c.-Morfaltu amongst the Vari0us En-
pLoyts-Cost Of the Road-Ks Income and Err
penses- Traffic for 1855, SO and 57-Freights-
Imports and Erports-Sal and Steam Communi-
cation on the atlantic and Poetic Sides-Eng-
Hsh Ste1mers-Isthmus Ma,ls and Steamrs-Ship-
msnt Of Goods and Passengsrs-Causss Of the
Deficiency Of american Emigration-The Mean
Ltcels Of the Poetic and Atlantic Oceans, &c.
Accompanied by Mr.. Center, the superintendent,
to whom during my stay at Aspinwall, am indebt-
ed for many esteemed favors, proceeded over the
Panama Railroad which, in its condition and ad
justments for comfort and safety is not exceed by
any railroad in the United States. Winding its ser
pentine course through a diversified and traokless
country of hill and dale teeming with all the variety
and luxuriance of q tropical climate, each side
continuous succession Of mangrove, banana, papaya
plantan orange, cocoa and palm trees, with innu-
merable pendent vines, parasites and variegated
shrubs-al forming tangled, festooned and clotted
mass Of verdant foliage, grand, cloying and monoto
nous-the road presents at every mile the high
est tribute that words pay to the skill Of those
who constructed and the attention of those who
superiRtend IL.
Leaving Aspnwall at st o'clock, we pass Monkey
Hill the burial place OF Lieut. Strain and arrive in less
than 30 minutes at the first station, Gatun, "a miles
distant. Here the company have erected an excel
lent station house. two stories high, with out Offices
&c, afordDg accommodation TO their employees.
Proceeding thence, the VILLAGES and towns of Bahia
Quarry, Barbacoas switch, Mstachin, Gorgons, Sum-
init, and finally at ia o'clock the city Of Panama,
forty seven and half miles from Aspnwall is
reached. All along the route which resembles
pentine avenue, besides the ending succession
OF shrubs plants and trees, there is finish and
lidity abeut the work which is the more
pIising from the difficulties that had to be
overcome. For nine miles the road il ear
ned over q morass, being built ON pilNE Reh
embarked and baasted with beach sand. TtU1nih
are laid throughout mostly on lignumvit@ @beVD;
and the bridges Of the stronghest kind Of cast
iron, with masonry abutments and iron superstruc
lures.
Where the road crosses the Chagres river % miles
from Aspinwall, the company have constructed
splendid iron bridge. II IL $50 feet in length divd
ed into six spans of about 100 feet each with grade
OF "A feet above low water mark. Two abutments
and i've piers OF massive and substantial cut stone
masonry support it: their foundations on the river
being piles and concrete. The sbutments and three
of the piers have been standing three or four
years, and perfect, apparently, as on the
day Of their completion. The two remaining piers,
though more recently built, are the substantial
character This substitution Of an iron for wooden
structure, the decay Of which in this climate being
mot rapid shows how anxious the company In ~
have this road"not for day only, but for all time"
The large grders Of the spans are Of the best boiler
iron stened with vertical side pieces and with brad
top and bottom cords, strengthened with angle iron
the whole rivetted In the strongest manner. Two
engines of ~ tons each run backwards and for.
wsrd over each span at from IS 10 40 miles hour.
and the greatest DETECTION was found 10 be Tooth
q Of he
scarcely perceptible This will give an idea Of the
permanent character OF the Panama Railroad
Through the kndness Of Mr.. Center | obtained
the following information respecting the rise and
progress Of thi important line of communication
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the data
Of which present some interesting facts regarding
its local, historical and physiological aspects
In May, ls47, grant FOR the construction Of a
canal or railway across the lsthmus of Panama was
given by the government Of New Granada TO one
hHtco Klein, agent for the members Of a French
company; and ia connection with IL, survey for
canal was made during the following year by Mons.
Napoleon Guerilla, whose reports and maps have
been published. This line commenced at Linon
Navy boy, was traced up the valley Of the Cha
eres, thence ascending one of it, tributaries, II
passed through depression in the Cordlleras 70 the
north Of the present railway summit, and terminated
IN the Pacific, near the mouth II the Rio Grande.
This grant, however forfeited In 1s4S, for non
compliance with it's conditions.
In the ZANE year a contract was formed between
the government of New Granada and Messrs Aspin-
wall Chsuncey and Stephens. for the construction
oi railway. subsequently these original grantees
conveyed their nghts TO joint stock company, (the
present Panama Railroad Company retaining them
sel,es q large interest in IL. This company was
chartered hy the Legislature Of New York. and the
present charter formally signed at Bogota the
18Th April; ists. John L" Stephens. Esq, being
its chartered capital was s. 100000.
The first Plan was 10 commence the work at Cor
gona Zen the Chagres), and complete IL to Panama,
and the Gtlssiic But the difhculty and expense Of
transporting materials up the Chagres was found 70
be great that this plan abandoned and il was
determined TO commence at Aspinwall which was
selected az the Atlantic terminus.
George N. Totten, Eco. was nominated Chief En-.
gineer, and under his supervision the work was then
commenced, and has been continued ever since
Some time was occupied In preliminary arrange
ments, erection OF buildings, &c; but In November,
1850, the frst force exclusively employed on the
work arrived from Jamaica, and commenced their
labors near Aspnwsl Additions were from time
to time made ~ their number making the whole
force then employed about 900. In October, 1851,
the first locomotive proceeded far as atun <seven
miles).
In December, 1851, the passengers from the New
iofk steamers being compelled by stress Of weather
w. leave the rosdstead Of ChaRres landed at As
puwsll, and transported by rail TO Gatun. The sub
sequent completion Of the rad IL given in the fol-
dent
March !, Is52-Tbe first engine went as far as
bhorca lagata, twelve miles.
March ., ls52.-The FIRST regular train, with pas
senres per steamer Ohio was passed TO Ahorca,
where beats awaited them.
March l3-The road was opened 10 Bujo Sodado,
sixteen miles.
July 6, ls32-It was extended 10 Barbacoas, twen-
ty three miles.
The work on the remaining portion OF the road
vas then contracted for with parties residing In
New York, Who after much delay, finding themselves
unable 10 complete u, the company again took
charge This resulted in much lose Of time and
money. and II was not until January, 1854, the en-.
gine ran as far az 0bispo, 81 miles. In September