The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-13
WM. L. ASPINWALL.
JOHN l.. STEPHENS.
HENRY CHAUNCEY.


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This shaft and pedestal form the monu-
unent erected TO the builders of the Panama
RailrOad-three men as dauntess and en-
terprising as any the world ever knew. for
the work they undertook was one of the
greatest magnitude. IL was in December
is4s that the Colombian government grant
ed 10 these three men a concession for the
construction and operation of a railway
across the fsthmus, connecting the city of
Panama with a port on the Caribbean sea-
coast In the seven years intervening be-
tween the grant of the concession and the
year 1855 Aspinwall Stephens and Chauncey
did their work, and in the latter year the
road was opened 10 traffic. 1t exists to this
day as the sole and only medium Of tran
sit across the isthmUs-the artery through
which flows a goodly portion Of the worlds
commerce.
trip over this railroad is we'll worth
while. 1t is but forty-seven and three-quar-
ter miles long, but IL runs through a coun-
try one glimpse of which is sufficient to ex-
cite the most enthusiastic admiration for
the men who first penetrated into this
wilderness 10 survey its route and the adj
vance force engaged on the actual work of
construction. On either side of the track,
built on a five-fOOt gauge, there is an al
Colon TO BOhiO. a distance OF fourteen miles.
This swamp is not of the ordinary kind that
can be subdued by the simple process of
filling. Its nature is especially antagOnistic
to the march of progress. for. aside from
the water and the swamp grass that stretch
almost far the eye can see, with only
here and there a small volcanic peak to
break the monotOny OF the landscape, there
Is the jungle growth of bamboo, palms, wild
bananas. kOkO-bOlO, cane and myriad
riety of fnterlaced vines of the toughest
Trl
ers. ample as they in size. wholly
inadequate for the work OF draining these
with the seas; from the higher ground
comes every once in while torrential
dow OF water, resulting in the complete sub
merging of the country, and the never
ending deluge of rain ali unite in the hide
ous work OF making the swamp virtually
unconquerable.
WORK OF GREAT MAGNITUDE.
These conditions existed during the work
Of railroad construction even more malig-
nantly than they do now, for the canal
had not been opened from Bohio to the sea;
the canals to divert the flow OF the Gatun
and Mndi rivers had not been constructed,
and the country had hardly been traversed
by human being Into this swamp Aspin-
WALL Chauncey and Stephens plunged, how
ever. and with the forces in their employ
pushed with marvellous energy and most
consummate ability the gigantic task os
building railroad. The swamp was not
conquered by them 1t was simply pene-
trateds but penetrated in such a way TO
make a road capable Of standing for all
time. 1t was penetrated by means of fills.
bridges and cuts; the trail followed cdrvines
with remarkable frequency, but advancing
ever and ever nearer to the Pacific side of
the isthmus.
From Bohio to Panama the work was
easier, as IL was through higher and dryer
ground II was one OF MAGNITUDE how
N a de-
serving the highest praise. The backbone
OF the isthmus-the COrdilleras mountains
had to be broken, and the job was done so
successfully that the highest point on the
railroad, near Culebra, is only 252 feet above
sea level In accomplishing this result and
thereby making road OF easy grades, the
plan OF following g winding route was
adopted Tunneling was thus avoided and
the road. while extremely tOrtuous, is one
presenting few operating problems In re-
cent years many OF the curves have been re-
duced. and the road rebuilt with heavier
rails and stone ballast; but even on the older
portion II shows an excellent physical condi-
ton The many problems that had to be
overcome by the pioneers of railroad con-
structiOn on the isthmus cannot now be ac-
curately understood. These men put a rail-
road through an unknown an uninhabit
Jungle; to-day the road runs through the
same jungle. but the utter desolation of IL
all has been relieved-suualidly, il is true
but, nevertheless, relieved-by numerous
villages. remnants of the active canal work
In its first days earthquakes were much
dreaded. and an occasional shaft OF con-
crete. standing in solitude amid the tropical
vegetation. shows the scheme resorted to
wires. The bridges on the line are now of
lron-forrnsrly stone was usedLand in nu-
departure from original ideas that have
been justified by experience.
ADVANTAGES TO AMERICA
Formerly the road ran straight 10 the
waterfront IN the city of Panama. where a
large dock was built. Then all its traffic on
the Pacific side had to be handled by
means of lighters. In these floats the road
invested considerable sums of money. all of
which is now idle: for the new terminals
at la Boca. OF which I have already writ
ten. make lightering unnecessary. room be-
ing afforded at the new steel pier at La
Boca for handling as many as three Of
these ships at a time This Improvement
only recently completed is characteristic
OF the general state OF the road which won
for IL from the American Canal Commits
sion valuation OF 100000. and Warmest
praise for its superb physical condition
That the road IS actually worth s. O0 600 to-
lay is doubtful IL is diminutive affair and
with modern facilities IL could be construct
ed for a smaller sum. There is however
to be borne in mind these facts: The road
Is actually here, In perfect operating condi-
tion and ready 10 be employed on shortest
notice for furthering active canal work
This makes the property invaluable TO the
United States and gives TO this route over
the Nicaraguan route for a canal an ad-
vantage difficult 10 estimate. Here the rail-
road touches every point or the proposed
canal. In Nicaragua the work OF building
a railroad would have 10 precede the work
Of cutting a canal. a simple fact which
means that much time can be saved by the
selection OF this route.
Aside from this advantage there is the
fact that The moment the $50 100000 shall be
paid 10 the New Panama Canal Company
the United States viii enter into possession
OF the railroad! Under the concessions
granted TO Aspinwall Stephens and Chaun-
cey. the road proposed by them was given a
monopoly over trhnsisthmian traffic The
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