The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-14
The Concession of the United States Of
Colombia to French Promoters.
IMPORTANT PRIVILEGES GRANTED.
The Canal To Be Neutral in All Respects
and Under All Conditions.
FULL TEXT OF THE CONTRACT.

Sanai across tuc lsthmus OF fanama, the
government OF the United States OF Co.
lombia has taken an active interest In
promoting such scheme, and In cooperation with
the Civil International Society OF Ineroceanic
Canal has brought 1t forward In definite form. The
terms OF the concession made by the Colombian
government are gwen In full below. They embrace
conditions to govern tho construction Of extensive
works and the occupation OF a large area
Of tho national territory for canal purposes
during q period set forth In the instru nent.
Precautions are taken TO render tho canal
neutral channel and its termini ports free for ves-
sells making the passage. The scheme is very COM
prehenslve one and worthy OF tho attention Of the
American people.
Eustortio Salgar, Secretary OF tho Interior and
Foreign Relations Of tho UnIled States OF Colombia
duly aui hOrized on the one hand and on the other
Luc'anoN Is. wyse chief OF exploring cx.
petition oil he lshmus 1875 1877 and 1878 member
and delegate OF tho Civ International Society OF the
lnteroceanic Canal presi led by General Etenne
Pars, dated 9th anI 10th October, 1877 which he
submitted IN due form, have made the following con-
tract
ARTICLE 1.-The governments Of the United States
Of Colombia grants TO Mr.. LucianoN. e. Wyse VINO
accepts II ia the name OF the lntcroceanic Canal So
ciety represented by It's Committee OF Direction, the
exclusive privilege OF making through Its territory
and exploiting the maritime canal between the Attain
TIC and Pacific oceans Said canal may be Constructed
without restrictive stipuatious of any kpd.
This concession Is made under the following cond-
tions:-
l. The duration OF this privilege shall be Of ninety
and niue years, to count from the DAY which
public service, or when the grantees or their repre-
sehtatyes begin TO levy transit and igaton tolls
Alter the appreciation OF the present contract by
the Colombian Congress Tor The opening the Inter-
oceanic Canal, the government Of the Republic
not grant 70 any company or individual under what
ever title, tho right to construct another canal
which shall put the two oceans into commu III
cation through the Colombian Territory nor construct
one Itself. Should tue grantees dcstrc TO construct
(snve and except existing rights shall not grant TO
any company or Individual the right establish an
pther interoceanic rvrsad nor construct one itself
during tho time granted 10 construct and the
canal
The 1pal examination Of the ground and the selcc.
ton OF the line OF the canal will be tho cost Of
the grantees by an international commission OF COM
petent persons and engineers, which shall in
clude two COLOMBIAN engineers The COM
mission must determine tho general plan OF
ment directly, or its diplomatic In tho United
States or IN Europe, OF the results obtained ny the
latest ~ the year 1884, except IN duly proved
possibility should prevent It, The report under cou-
FEDERATION must INCLUDE the duplicate OF scientific
works executed and tho estimate OF the protected
4 Tho grantees will then have delay OF two
years TO form universal, anonymous company,
which will undertake the enterprise tho
lion OF the canal This term viii begin to count from
Tho end OF the delay mentioned In the preceding par
ayraLh.
s. The canal must be completed and placed at tho
service Of the pubic within the twelve following
years, counting from the date OF formation OF the
universal anonymous society which shall be orgauized
70 construct IT: but tho Executive power is
10 grant further delay OF Six years IN case
obstacles Independents the good wl Of the COM
pany, AMI IT, alter the CONSTRUCTION OF than the
third part OF the canal 1t is considered 10
nnish the Work within the above mentioned twelve
years
g. The canal viii have the width, the depth ana ali
necessary conditions 10 enable sailing vessels ATS
tcel In length 80 fee beam and rs feet draft to pass
with their topmasts taken down.
Z. The unappropriaed lands necessary for tho bed
oil the canal harbors stations landing places, bcrths
moor NJ stages, storehouses, and IN general Tor
canal and Tor the service Of the same
are coded gratutously to the grantees, we'll Tor
tho railroad. II 1t suits them to one. These
lands will revert the domain Of the Republic along
with the canal and railroad, at tho expiration of
concession.
s. There Is also conceded for the OF the canal
strip 81 land zoo yards wide on either side ana along
Us whole extension, Whatever that may ne. but the
proprietors Of the banks win have the right to
easy access to tho canal aud IT'S harbors aud also
the use VI The roads which the grantees mey con-
struct without pay ment OF any toll the pany.
Q. Where The lands through winch the canal or the
railroad may nave 10 pass arc private properly, the
grantees VIII have the right TO demand that the ex-
preparation shall be effected by the government alter
all the legal iormaites have been fulfilled. Tho IN
demnity TO DO pad 10 the proprietors shall be
~ the Charge OF tho grantees, and snail be
based on the actual vaine OF the lands Tho
shall enjoy ID THIS case anu In that OF temporary oc-
cupation oil private property, all the faculties and
privileges which existing legislation coniers on the
nation.
exploit such topographic lines they may deem u
d auxiIiaes 70 tho construction ana working OF Tue
canal.
ART. 2-wtnn the term OF twelve months, counted
from the dato on which the International CON-
mission presents the definite results OF ITS studies,
The grantees must deposit in the Lonoon bank
or banks which the national executive power
may designate the sum OF $50 000f, security tor
she execution OF the work. ruc receipt which tho
mentioned banks may give will DO accepted az good
latin of thc above mentioned engagement The de-
post will DO made 10 ,nds OF tho exterior Colon.
ban debt, at tho market pr ce, on tho day
oil delivery. IL Is agreed that should the
grantees lose TINS deposit In virtue OF what
al arl tcl IN nj tho
present contract the sum referred to- with It's inter-
est-, shall become integraIly the properly OF the
COLOMBIAN government on the completion Of tho
cansl the sum deposited as security will 10 TO the
benefit Of tho treasury TO indemnify for the outlay IL
may nave made, or may make Tor tho service Of pub
lie Offices.
Ant. a-shoud the course Of the canal to be con.
sructed IRON ocean 10 ocean pass to the east TO
the north OF the idoa direct line which Joins Cape
Tiburon TO The point called 1arachin6. the grantees
shall amlcab'y arrange VITA the Panama Rail-
winch snail DO regulated according to tho
conditions laid down by tho Law 10 Of the 10th Of
August 1857, (which approves tho contract made on
tue 9th OF july 1861, supplanhg that OF tho 10Th Of
April, 1850, relating TO tho construction OF nne OF
!eroad rom one ocean TO the other by way oil the
tstnmus OF Panama.
In case tho International commission shoald select
the Atralo other wafer way at presen Tor
ono OF the entrances tue the canalizcd mouth
shall DC considered parts the pr ncipal
work and maintained In the same state as IL inc
laval navigation oi the upper part OF the river lar
a. u has not tor object the use OF the canal shall DO
open to comm cree aud Tree IRON all toll
Art 4.-in addition 10 tho lanas granted by para
graphs anu vi article there shall be adJudged TO
Inc grantees anu at their choice 10 900 hectares
appropriated lands, WIN the MINES winch they may
Contain THIS adjudication shall be made directly by
Tue national Executive power The unapproprialod
lands situated on the coasts tho banks Of canal
or oil rivers snail DO DIVIDED possible 10 alter.
nate lois between tho government ana the company,
containing, u the lands viii permit Il, a su.
pcrncios oil from ono to two thousand hec-
tares. Tho survey shall be maze tho
cost Of the grantees and with tho intervention oil the
government commissioners. The inappropriate
lands thus granted, with the mines they may contain,
shall be adjudcatcd TO The grantees as soon as Dc.
handed alter the deposit 81 tho security
ART. 5.-fbc government OF the Republic declares
neutral forever tho ports at either extremity OF tne
canal aud the waters OF the latter, sea TO he
other; and In consequence oil this, IN the OF war
between other nations, or between and
some OF these, or between these and
Colombia the passage through the canal
shall not be interrupted on this account, and the
merchant ships OF all the nations OF the world will
be able TO enter SAID ports and pass through tne
sanal0eithout suffering moes taton or detention In
gener1i any snip Will he allowed to pass freely,
without any distinction, exclusion or preference OF
mr. mai nm i'm nj