The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1881-01-14
The Tehuantepec Ship Railway,

--r--
i a. 0. Democrat. .rt .g.
The rapid progress made by
Capt. Eads in his magnificent and
novel project demonstrating a ship
railway across the Isthmus OF
/ Tehuantepec, and thereby doing
/ away with the necessity tor a canal
4 such as Lesscps proposes to con
4 struct at Panama aud Grant in
Nicaragua, warrants the belief that
before five years have passed we
shall witness the successful inaug-
uruon of what may well be re
garded as the eighth wonder OF the
world--Shall see the merchant
fleets of all nations aud their ships
OF war conveyed across the isthmus
from ocean to ocean almost as rap
idly as passenger trains move upon
ord-lary railways.
This would seem like a hazardous
prediction were it not for tue fact
that Capt. Eads, the foremost en-
gineer of the age, and most of the
renowned engineers OF this and
other countries, assure US that the
feat is entirely feasible and pre-
sents no engineering difficulties that
may not be resldily overcome by
money, braiS>rtmd modera appli-
anCes,
A great point has been gained
in securing a liberal concession
from the Mexican government and
the enthusiastic support the au-
thorities and people of that coun-
try, aud the faith of Capt. Eads in
his ability to carry out his views
was fully exempli6ed in his origin
al propositions, published in our
columns last year, to build the en-
tire road and prove its thorough
practieability before asking the
government to become responsible
for a dollar.
The bill which was introduced
last spring in the national house
incorporating James b. Eads and
his associates into q COMPANY en-
titled the Interoceanics Transit
Company, was referred to the spe
clal committee on inter-oceanl'
canals, consisting of Singleton, o
Illinois, Conger and Waldo Hutch
lnson, and is now before that com
mlttee for consideration. The bill
empowers the company to sissu
capital stock to any amount, ant
TO Impose such rates and tolls a
may seem proper, but these charge
are to be subject to the revision Q
congress whenever the dividend
oil the company shall exceed pc
cent. per annsm.
The company is given the righ
10 acquire from other persons an
governments controlling rights c
way, territory, harbers, ETC., BY Il,
gOtlatlon or treaty, and the gov
trhment binds itself not 70 charte
any other ship railway or caui
across the isthmus for fifteen year
from the passage of the act, PR
Vlded the company begin the col
suuctlon of The road witinns tw
years from the. passage of the az
anu diligently prosecutes the wol
10 completioE spe govefnmel
guarantees protec}sn of the cor
pany In constructiu9Nnd operatiu
inc road, and applopriates OF
uundred thousand dollars to ASST
making unnecessary surveys.
:. whenever the company reques
=, the president is to appoint
ooard of engineers, consisting
anree members, one from the arm
suother from the navy and OF
IRON civil life to examine the ra
way, and If the company, In pre-
snce OF this board, safely al
promptly transports on q roi
@ acToss the isthmus a 40O0-ton ve
.s,, ts, Tue fact shall be reported al
"ae guarantee Of the governme
~ ~ once attach. The governme
q also TO guarantees q dividend
v, per cent. on stock, provided t
veA W, s1all not exceed $50, 900, ,0C
tat Mnat deficiency below o per cel
! '"'re may be tho government is