National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-01
MEXICAN CONCESSIONS.
The Story OF What Has Been Done to
Secure Interoceanic Communication
by the Tehuantepeo Route-The Eads
Ship Railway.

ANU ototy Va "hae AAaD SSoh DOhS w
Secure Interoceanic Communication
by the TeIiuantepec Route-The Eads
Ship Railway.
As Congress has under consideration Mr..
Eadss proposition to construct ship railway
across the isthmus Of Tehuantepec, few his
torical facts may be Of interest, not only to
senators and representative but to the tax
paying people of this country. The following
is history of some of the grants or concessions
made by the Mexican authorities to the adven.
tuTous Americans and others:
CorteZB chief ambition seems to have been
TO construct q highway between the two
idea of lucrative SPECULATION by means of a
road over the isthmus to supply Spain with
the spices Of the East Indies, and tho products
of such new regions as he expected to dis.
x century later citizens OF oaxaca presented
q petition to the yiceroy, under Spain, OF
Mexico. In II they also suggest that canal or
road be constructed across the isthmus.
The Spanish cortes authorized the opening of
acanal across the isthmus on the 3OIh day Of
In iS2l, three years after Mexico became an
independent republic, surveyed the isthmus
with view of constructing highway between
March j, isi2, Gen. Santa Anna. president of
Mexico granted the right of way across
Tehuantepec for communication. This grant
Tor two years. This grant was traded to citizens
OF Great Britain; afterward, In Is49, was trans.
icrred to citizens of the United States.
On the 23d May, 1851, the Mexican congress
declared this grant null and void.
On May II, 1852, the Mexican congress invited
proposals for opening highway across the
on the Ah of February, 1853, the president
of Mexico awarded the contract to Americans
and Mexlcans.
iect for 100000, which he had advanced to
ON the Sd of September, 1857, the president
of Mexico annulled the contract.
on the eth OF September, 1857, President
COmonfort granted the right of way for a rail-
road to the Louisiana Tehuantepec company.
ON the 2stn Of March, 1859, the time of the
ON the 18th OF october, 1860, this grant was
in 1861 Napoleon III declared the grant for
In 1866 Macmillan extended the time of the
grant formerly made blythe republic of Mexico.
Three days later President Juarez granted
line 10 the Tehnantepec Transit Company.
ON the 9th of December 1867, grant was
made ~ he Oh S Mek, S 10 GetSen 0i
isthmus.
ON the 10th of November, 1865 tho general
assembly Of Vermont passed an act ESTABLISHING
Company, organized on the strength ofthe last
mentioned concession from Mexico.
On the 18th OF December, 1870, this company
across the isthmus.
In 1871 this grant was declared forfeited
ON the 22d OF May, 1879, this grant was re-
newed by Mexico.
ON May 81 1879, the Mexican congress declared
all prior grants nun and void.
ON the ID of June, 1879, the Mexican congress
ratified the grant to Edward Learned, OF
Massachusetts, to construct telegraph and
railway across the isthmus.
ON April 20, 1851, the Tehauntepeo ship Rail-
road charter was granted to Capt. J. Ii. Eads.
Three hundred and siNtytwO years have
elapsed since the first proposition was made 70
unite the two oceans by highway. Mr.. sads
has been in possession of his concession from
the Mexican government nearly iiYe years.
And, after presenting his plans and speclilca-
tions 10 the capitalists Of every country for the
purpose Of securing the necessary capital to
commence his scheme; atter his failureto enlist
capital ut home and abroad, he avails himself
of the last resort, the American Congress.
II has been suggested that Mr., Eads is not as
clear in his proposition to Congress as he would
be before capitalists competent to judge of the
"details Of an enterprise OF this nature. That he
can build his "marine docks so as TO dock u
vessel OF the largest size there is no question,
for lie was the constructor of the Sectional
docks at 81 louis Mo. That he can have
built the 100 miles of railroad between the two
oceans Is also fixed fact aud only a question
ofmoney that he can transport a vessel across
the railway without detriment to the vessel or
railway Is also a fact well known to those "who
so down to the sea in ships" and to the gen.
WHY'S Il, then, that private capitalists fail to
see liberal rate of interest upon the invest
MoneSis plenty in this country ana in Eu-
rope Bonds paying a per cent, interest are
sSDS md large amPi i'% With tho FlS Opo
Tf dry docks marine railways,
'oads, do not see their way clear
win this scheme aiier considering 1t