The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-24
Location, Advantages and Fea-
lures Of the Work.
The La Sere Grant Of 1869 and the His
tory Of Its Negotiation.
Union of the Atlantic and Pa
cific Oceans.
Industrial Revolution and West.
ward the Star Of Empire"


Fourteen years since and most important treaty
VIII CHI had just been negotiated between the gov.
elnnent OF Mexico and the republic Of the United
States Of America looking to the connecting OF the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans by means Of railroad
to be built across the Islhmus Of Tehuantepec, waA
amended and exchanged between the represents
tives OF the two Powers in Washington city. The
instrument was dated in the city Of Mexico on the
Goth day OF December, in the year 1858, and per-
fected In the national capital OF thus country the
3Jh day OF june in the year 1854. 1t Il recorded in
the national archives, having been attested on the
part OF our people by General Gadsden, OF South
Carolina VINO, will be recollected, on his return
homeward from Mexico, when passing the border
fringe between the two countries near TO the
site OF the proposed work, had his scanty
baggage Overhauled by Mexican Custom
House 0fflcer, to whom he made the memorable
remark. ~ have nothing in my trunk but my
treaty." In these nine short words General Gadsden
expressed the modern embodiment Of grand, liv-
and ndestructible idea, aged as the time Of CO.
lumbus who In his sweeping forecast Of future pro-
gress convinced that the true route for transit
and connection between the Old Word-as Spain
was then TO hm-and the Indies was to be found in
this direction, and that the most ready passage 70
the East from Europe was to DE made by travelling
westward. Based on geographical truth and the
solid assurances Of tie law OF nature the assertion
OF Columbus became eternal Shrouded in the &C.
cumulating mist OF centuries, extinguished almost
at different periods in blood. driven from one land
to another by the dissensoas OF faction and the re-
peated shocks Of civil war, temporarily speculated
In by insincere and heartless nnanciers, and IRE
quently traded around as capital by unpatriotic
politicians IN other countries besides our
own, the principle proclaimed by Columbus
did not die. 1t lived on In the minds Of true and
noble men, and stands forth to-day IN the nine
teenth century, after sweeping explorations Of the
Mexican Gulf for ruition at the hands Of the Amer
lean people and by American enterprise, kindred
claimant Tor public support, as another channel for
the universal communion of man, with the great
works Of the age-the Pacific Railroad and telegraph,
the American syi Of canals from the Erie Canal
downwards, our vast aud extending network Of
railways and land telegraphs the Brunei tunnel the
Menai suspension bridge, the Mont Gents tunnel
and railway, the suez Canal and the Atlantic and
other deep sea telegraph cables.
Convinced Of the vast importance OF the Tehuante.
pee Railroad In the direction indicated, we present
1t to readers to-day, illustrated by the map which
is published In columns setting forth its con-
nections by steamships and sailing vessels with the
most prominent porrs Of the world. ana accom-
panied by q pen-and-ink sketch Of its origin and
progress towards maturity.
THE IsrHMUs OF TEHuANTEPEc,
which the railroad is to pass, Is the narrowest
portion Of the land which separates the Gulf Of
Mexico from the Pacific ocean. 1t measures about
14O miles across, and situated in the States Of
Oaxaca, Vera Cruz and Tabasco. Its uplands abound
in excellent pastures, and Its soil produces at DIFF
ferent points mahogany, logwood, IUstlc, cotton,
drugs OF different kinds indigo salt gum and grain.
The Gulf Of Tehuantepec is classed as bay OF the
Pacific In Central America. It Is bounded by the
state OF Oaxaca the northwest ana on the north
by the territory OF the republic of Guatemala
and is situated In latitude le deg. north and Iongi.
tude "a deg. to 95 deg. west receiving the river
Tehuantepec ten miles south OF the town. From
the mouth Of the Coatzacoalco, which discharges
20 north latitude. and - deg 80 min. so sec.
longitude west from Greenwlch to the hara
is deg IL MIN a Sec north latitude and ss deg. Is
min Az sec west Longitude, the distance In q direct
line is 1887 miles. The coast lines either side
have general direction nearly east and west. In
considering the sthmus with reference to its gene
raj Typographical features, may properly be said
to comprise three main divisions, more or less dis
tnct In their general characteristics; the FIRST
bracng that portion extending from the Gulf TO the
base OF the Cordlleras and which may be called the
Atlantic paIns the second, comprising the more
elevated or mountainous districts In the central
parts; ard the third including the level country bor
derlng the ocean on the SOUTH ana known as the Pa
cl1c plains.
attention by concession extending for term OF
seventy years and embracing large tracts OF land,
9Th Of October, in the year 1857, to Don Emelio La
Sere authorizing the formation OF company for the
q, Of
OF telegraph. It was covenanted that the
property should remain free from all taxation or
government imposts, with the exception Of she pay
ment Of eight per cent from the net profits OF the
Undertaking, whenever dividend was declared,
Dp,.c cents
passenger brought through on the llne The Mexican
Congress debated and modified the terms OF the
deed, and confirmed 1t by vote on December 2S 1868;
the President Of Mexico approved 1t on January 2,
1862, and 1t was officially notified to the world as
on January IN the same year. Under this grant
La Sere formed the Tehuantepec Railway Company.
IL was made up wholly OF citizens OF the United
states This company obtained an act Of incorpo-
ration from the General Assembly Of the State OF
Vermont In the year 1855 Inc original deed OF con-
nZed according TO the laws OF one Of the states OF
the American Union, and the Legislature OF Vermont
being the only one IN session at the moment the
sanction Of Its members was consequently sought
CAPITAL, SHARES AND TITLE.
Eighteen millions OF dollars, divided into 500
company received from La Sere the assignment
Of his grant In the year 1852 on the "a Of March,
the company gave Its bond covering 100000 10 the
executive authorities Of the Mexican republic.
Juan N. Navarro, Consul General OF Mexico in the
United states on the nth Of April 1852 the Consul
General taxing sncn ACTION unucF ufcCJ
from the home government in Mexico city. The
directors OF the company were appointed on the
18th of March by the President OF Mexico acting IN
conformity with the thirteth article or the original
grant. In prosecution OF the undertaking Colonel
julius w. Adams constructing engineer OF the COM
pany prepared general plan for the construction
OF the three works enumerated above during the
month OF August, 1865. In this ne set forth
| the line OF the Tehuantepec Hallway tho
| his papers TO the Mexican government for It's
| ey animation. These documents were duly scru-
| ,s,,fua at and nvaln nm n
Counsel prepared the form OF the mortgage as well
| as or the bonds, which the company had been au-
thorized issue fof purposes OF construction, re-
| pair and maintenance OF the works, aud the forms
were adopted. These documents were submitted for