The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-18
THE TEHUANTEPEC RAILROAD.

Interestins Chapter from the See.Saw
Game for the GraMt-Mem entOes OF
Comonfort, Macmillan and Juarez-A
Suit for $4,000 Personal Services and
How 1t Came About.
In 1857 various capitalists of New Orleans OBJ.
tanned from President COmonfort, OF the Mexican
Republic, IN consideration Of their constructing a
ship canal or railroad across the Isthmus of lie.
huantepec, valuable grant of lands, together
with the exclusive use for a term Of years Of the
canal or railroad, whichever they might elect to
construct. To carry out the scheme a company,
known as the Tehuantepec Company was organ
1zed with $40, 900, 900 capital The time during
which, under the terms Of the grant, the work was
to have been accomplished passed without thing
having been done. President Juarez, on application,
extended the time however, to 1857, and con.
Armed the original grant. proposition was sub
sequently made TO sell the grant to Northern
capitalists; but this proposed arrangement was in.
teriered with by change in the governments the
rens Of which meanwhile having passed INTO the
hands OF Macmillan, and Juarez being O fugitive
and seeking secure hiding place among the
Businesses OF the mountains. In 1854 Mr.. Marshall
u. Roberts agreed, 1t is said, provided he could
get legal assignment OF the grant vslidly con.
1rmed, to take 1t, organize new company with
900 capital construct the railroad-the
OF the scheme and out Of the stock
Of the new company thus organize d-and
As it was then thought, however, that MACMILLAN
had established on firm basis the new Empire, his
sary Meanwhile S Nj. John a0 p osu haSss
had already obtained from the Mexican
government su the grant na for steamship com
duced Mr.. O'Sullivan to Mr.. Roberts as the proper
person to obtain the necessary confirmation Of the
that Mr.. O'Sullivan agreed 90 to Mexico and In
terview Macmillan on the matter, Mr.. Roberts, on
cesslu to pay him for MS services or stock
OF the new company to this amount.
AS the story runs on Mr.. O'Sullivan started on
his mission, but Oft the coast OF North Carolina
was shipwrecked Not in the least disheartened
by this seeming Intervention of the fates he re-
safely reaching the City OF Mexico. At the Mexi-
can capital he found others In pursuit OF the
chllds the spragues, the Lindsays, and Others of
the Pacific road. Despite this opposition his mis-
sion, as he a, AYERS, was crowned ed, with success
graph and seal to the grant when the whirli-
gig. Of revolution compelled him to vacate,
in the capital. Among the first onlcial
acts OF the latter was signing a similar grant to
and execution OF Macmillan destroyed all vitality
OF the grant to MIR. Roberts, and that executed by
President Juarez remained in full force.
On arriving in this city Mr.. O'Sullivan claimed
that he had fully executed his mission and de-
manded from Mr.. Roberts the $50 900 he was to
ceive Tor his services. MIR. Roberts refused to pay
the sum thus demanded, insisting that when he
paid Mr. OSuilivan's expenses to Mexico, amount
OF his PERSONAL liability and that the $50, 900
agreed upon was only to be paid out of the stock
OF the company when organized, and as the COM
pany was not organized, but, on the contrary, as
the entire project fell through, he was under no
obligation to pay this sum- suit was accordingly
brought for the amount, and the same having been
for some time on the calendar OF the Superior
Court, finally came to trial yesterday before Judge
Curtis. the above alleged facts were set forth in
leading counsel for MIR. O'Suvan. The opposing
counsel are exjudge PierrepOnt and Mr.. A. j. Van
derpoeL 1t Is probable that the trial Will last
eral days.