The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-13
special Correspondence Of THE GLOBE
LETTER FROM ASPINWALL.
History of the Panama Railroad


AsPINwALL, June 30, 1875.
Editor Rutland Globe Although hay
ing been in operation for twenty-five years
the Panama railroad is comparatively I'M
known to the majority of your readers. l
propose, in this communication, to write
particularly of this road, knowing that it
cannot fail to be of interest, as by it much
can be learned concerning a work which,
since its construction, has been of so much
commercial Importance to the eastern and
western hemisphere. For much of the in
formation am indebted to work by F.
N. Otis, published in 1867, from which l
will draw quite largely.
Previous to the year 1S4S the feasibility
of railroad across the isthmus had been
entertained by men both of our own coun-
try and England, and the republic of New
Granada had made many overtures to in
duee the commencement and completion
of the work. England had looked with
longing eyes toward it, while France had
even surveyed the route and entered into
contract to establish it. but as it was found
that millions of dollars would be required,
they abandoned the project. AT last few
Americans were found who appreciated
the vast benefits that would arise from the
road, especially as in that year-1S4S-the
gold fever in California commenced to rage
and congress had also authorized the estab-
lishment of line of mail steamers from
New York to Chagres on the isthmus
and from Panama to San Francisco. Mr..
William II. Aspinwall secured the contract
on the Pacific side, and George Law on the
Atlantic side, and the two together then
conceived the idea of railroad across the
isthmus. Soon after, Mr.. Aspinwall,
together with Henry Chauncey and John
L. Stephens, contracted with the govern
ment of New Granada for the construction
of the work, and soon after Mr.. Stephens,
in company with Mr.. John L. Baldwin,
made survey and decided that the road
could be built, and found that a gap could
be passed at the summit OF the range Of
level of tide water. A contract was then
entered into with the government on the
most favorable terms. Among the most
favorable concessions made by the govern
ment was one granting to the railroad COM
pany the free use of all the public lands
along the line of the road, while 100000
acres of land were given them, they to be
selected from any of the public lands
The company were granted the privilege
of selecting two ports, one on the Atlantic
and one on the Pacific, which were to be
free, the railroad company to establish
such tolls as they deemed necessary The
contract was to be in force 40 years, but
the government reserved the right to take
possession in twenty years by the pay
ment of $4,000, 900 Give million dollars, }
four millions at the expiration of thirty
years, and two millions at the expiration of
forty years. The road was to be COM
pleted in eight years, land the sum of $780,
600 was deposited as security for its full
fillment, but TO be paid back with interest
if the road was completed in the given
time. In 1s49, Col. G. w. Hughes, of the
United States typographical engineers,
with party of surveyors, were sent down
and line from ocean to ocean was run, the
terminus of the road on the Atlantic side
being located on the shore of Navy Bay
Cat Colon,) and on the Pacific side at Pana.
ma. The geographical position of the
country was such that might have deferred
less hardy projectors from attempting such
work. Commencing at Navy bay for
thirteen miles was morass covered with a
dense jungle, reeking with marlaria and
Astounding with every species of wild
beasts, reptiles and venomous insects found
in the tropics. Further on so great was
the change and so fair and beautiful was
the land that it had been named "Paraiso"
(Pardise,) and the line ran along steep
hill sides, over wild chasms, turbulent rv-
ers, until the summit was reached, when
1t descended almost abruptly to the
Pacific. Situated between parallels c and
90 and only about FIVE hundred miles
north of the equator, a sultry heat pre-
yailing through the entire year, one half of
which the country was deluged with rains
adding greatly to the arduous character of
the work. But very little timber fit for
use could be found on the isthmus. The
native population composed of a monprel
race of Spaniards, Indians and negroes.
were too indolent to be relied upon to do |
much of the work. The laborers and ma |
lerial must be transported thousands of
miles, for the resources of the country
were inadequate for the support of the la.
oorers, and the outlook was dark, indeed.
Notwithstanding all these difficulties. in
lo4o, contract was entered into with
Messrs. G.. M. Totten and j. O. Frautwine
Tor the construction of the road, who with
large force, proceeded Immediately to the
sthmus and commenced work
THIRTY MILES
rom the Atlantic, on the Chagres river is
small native town called Gorgona, and
his was selected as the point where work
hould be commenced. This was chosen
N account of the facilities for communica-
ion with the Atlantic by the Chagres
which was supposed to be navigable for
essels of light draught. For the purpose
+ transporting men and material two light
raught steamboats, were dispatched to
his river, when 1t was found that
iey could not be used, while
le native canoes could only be