, 1879-06-05
THE PANAMA SH1p-CANAL.
Ltcnt. 1spnHrastn Wyso's protcct-Turms oI
tho Contract with tho Colombian Gov.
prEnont.

AAFHt' I1HHNF"sth Hytek EFhjcGt-TCrmb n
| tho Contract with tho Colombian Cav.
| orbnolt.
ftlo Iorh Timer.
Tie contract which Lieut.. Llcicn Napoleon
Bouapnste Wyse, of the French nayy, rs II dele.
Entn of Tie cornnfttco Of Direction OF tir Civil
international 1ntcroccanIc Canal Society, hollis
from tlle Ubycrnmcnt Of the United Statcs Of
Colombia Tor the construction OF cntlal ncross
ts1e lsthnlus, was signed at Bogota III March,
1873, In the first article 1t contctlcs, q, the
pnrt Of tic Government, tic ''cxelusiye ur,y-
1leec for tl1c cxcayutIng Of cannl between thu
two oceans" said canal to be constructed
"wtholit restrictive st!pulations OF any
cAaractcr.n Tho conditions OF the concession
arc, In substance: The duration OF the priv
1loge shall bo for ntncty.nEue years after tic
opening OF tho cannl; tho Colombian Govern
1nent cannot construct for itself, or cul,ccdc to
canal across its territory to connect the two
oceans: and II tue grantccs wish tn construct Il
railway rs auxilfary to the canal, the Govern
ment canilot eonecdc to my ono else, Or itself
cxcrcisct Tho right to construct another inter
oceanic RAILWAY; m International commission
shHtl, Mt tho cost ot tic grantees, ,rlake a!i
necrsaurs slsryeya n,ld examinations, md deter
mine tue roato; their rroport to the Government,
ut latest III 1851. to Include the scientific laeors
executed nnd an estimate OF tho projected
work; tho grantees shall then hive n prrIut! of
two ycars to fnrm universal etoek ro,llpnnr,
which shall taka ct!nEE0 Of the protect ami Under
1e tlnishel ind placed Mt the serytco of tlip ro-
pic within twelve ycars after ,It Organization Of
such couIpany, with a possible cxtet,atnn BY
executive authority Of Six years, Il in extreme
ahnll 10 found necessary: the canal shall hnyo
length, tlcp:t anl nj! ot!icrcuBditnns necessary
fur tho sailing OF vessels Ito metres long, 10
metres beam, mud metres dranglt, will low
cred topsn!s.
ART. 9 provides for a deposit ot 7;;r,o ,o0o francs
IN tf'e bnnk or banks Of l.oudou. within twelyo
months after tlle international Commission
Shall hare presented the results OF ts stl,.rt,
u be made In certificates If the debt Of Coon-
ha at tho n1arket value, anil to remain tu Tic
credit Of the Treasury atscr the canal is !'nIst,cd
to indemnify ti,e Government for tic cost Of
public offices.
Tlc third article proyilcs That, II the routo
shall pass to the west or north Of a line 1r0ul
Enpo Ihburor to Gornchtnu Point, the grantees
must arraugc nmlcab!y with thu Pn.lal..n Rail-
road CoMiaHy or nay m indemnity, In tlctaIrl-
atIce with thu law of 1867 regarding tic rthts
uf that corporation.
In Art. & lie Government declares noutrn tor
all t'o the wnters Of tlIr canal mud he purts ut
Its tcr1ntui AN! provides TINT any ship whatever
llay navigate the cansl without tifattslctil, tx
clusion, or preference, on payment Of tolls nn.l
observance Of the rules established BIZ the Conl-
pan4 Foreign trooi4s art excepted. H!u1 cannot
Iiass Without permission of Congress. The war
7esae's Of hol'igoEsnt uations shal bc rigorous
" czcluded.
Art. ! provides tint tile grantees shall enYoy
the use Of ports at tho extreites Of The c3jlI
aud ut intermediate points for necessary pur-
poses, a,ld declares That tue ports Of thu ca,,al
1atlonA, no import dutica bng charged except |
oh ncrchnr!dise destined for Use a1,d consunl,.
Hon In The Republic,
In Art. II It Il further declared TINT pnsscn- |
}fA f1int Ill
articles and ELECTS 0f all clnssca transported hy
lie canal s1alt be exempt fr0nl ri! iuttcR, tho
same exemption being extended To nrtie!rs |
.torcd In tbs atozchouscs Or ftatlotls OF tbs /
Company.
1n ArL IL It Is provided tint nil ycsso!a
Ntshng to pass the cnnal stl, at The terminus
1t which they arrive, present their registcra and
'ai1ng documents. at1a, on refusal, mar be do
Art II authorizes tha Company to x.tahltsh
mposts for lighthouses, anchorage, tru,,sit,
'ay!Ka alton. repairs, pilotaGe, townge, hauIlng,
'ni stnraEe, under definite tariff, which may |
hey shall l,o levied oa Ill uilks, Without e1cep.
'on or fnyor, shall be published four months
'ofoEe gotl4, Into effect In the Ukrio Official Ut
l,o doYcrnnotat, andiat the Capital md princt.
rinclpal tolls shall not exreosl to frhucs for
ash cubic metro OF tho submerged portlDn Ut
10 attf. and ihat special tolls for naY'cnt!on
f!afl 30 reduced iu proportion 70 tho c1cess,
hS tllo H1t FsDHlt utElfeH lFttIn II &HAlS tftGEu
= tur cent OF thu capital employed In thu enter
tIaR.
Art. IS provides that tho Colombian noycru-
sent Shall participate to tllH vxtcnt Of 5 per
UT III tho gross rGcetpts.
Art. ~ authurizes payment Of charges to le
'Hnlret 1n advance, and declares lint niup-
:nshs sila!l oe payable In gold, a,ld only ono-
;Art' 4 provides that ships infringing the
lles established by the Company shall bo snl,- :
1T TO fine ttlthtal!ea IN this *tItutca tlrfruf,
which notice shall be given Us tn yusc Of tIle
'rltf, and, IN case Ut refusal to pay, such shtps
aY BE- detained and proceeded against arcurI-
X to law. The sans proceedings uaY be Oh
ryod tn caso Of daanage BY yesscIa.
Art. Is Qiyes the spcc1c authorization for t,lo i
lirersal stuek CoMpanY before msnlione.I, n
. known Us "Iau universal lntcruceunir c
anal Coupaliy,h under the Immediate nrotec-
Da Ut the Colombia Government, to hnya il
stlenea at Bogo,at New York, Loudou, ur !
.rs, a. the gra.!tees may elect, with branches |
hefeyer necessary, md 1t ~ s'understl,Jd i
ut, - tile enterprise IL essentially jn{crua-
Isla! a1Ml tcoHumic.n II sI,atl always bs s'kpnt
70 fruIa political lu.lnrurcH." L
According 10 Art, II the grantees Or their i
reessors may traHafse ttrtr 1fght4 to otiIer
p!!aIists Or financial con,p4utes, but IL ls ntsn-