New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-15
THE PANAMA RAILROAD.
Hoe Work on 1t W0s Carried to
Completion-Isthmian Benefactor.


redestal bears bass-relef profile portrait and
n. names carved the portraits are William
n aspinwRII John l. Stephens Henry Chauncey.
This shaft ard pedestal form the monument
erected the builders of the Panama Railroad
three men dauntless and enterprislng as any
the world ever knew. for the work they undertook
was one Of the greatest magnitude. It was In
December. 1S4s that the Colombian government
granted 10 these three men concession for the
construction and operation Of a railway across the
.sthmus connecting the city OF Panama with g
port on the Caribbean Sea coast. In the seven
years intervening between the grant Of the con-
cession ana the year 1855 Aspinwan Stephens and
ChAuncey did their work, and ia the latter year
the road opened 10 traffic. 1t exists TO this
DAY the sole and only medium of transit across
the iSthnus-the artery through which flows
goodly portion of the worlds commerce.
trip over this railroad is well worth while
i is only forty-seven and three-quarters miles
long but IT runs through a country one glimpse
Of which is sufficient to excite the most enthusi-
sstio admiration for the men who first penetrated
into this wilderness to survey its route ana the
advance force engaged the actual work of con-
structon- On either side OF the track. built on
& 5-foot gauge, there IL an almost impossible
swamp. extending from. Colon to Bohio a dis
lance OF fourteen miles. This swamp is not Of
the ordinary kind that be subdued by the
simple process OF filing. Its nature is especial
ly antagonistic to the march OF progress for aside
from the water and the swamp grass that stretch
almost as Tar as the eye can see. with only here
and there 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 variety OF interlaced
vines OF the toughest sort The Chagres, Gatun
and Mindi rivers. ample they are in size.
wholly inadequate for the work of draining these
swarnps. The land is almost a level with the
seas: from the higher ground comes every once in
6 while terrental flow OF water, resulting in the
complete subznerging of the country. and the
ending deluss OF rain all unite IN the hideous
work Of making tbs swamp virtually unconouer-
sbls
WORK OF GREAT MAGNITUDE.
These conditions existed during the work of
railroad construction even more Indignantly than
they do now, for the canal had been opened
from Bohio 10 the sea; the canals TO divert the
now Of the Gatun and Mind rivers had not been
constructed. and the country had hardly been
traversed by a human being. Into this swamp
Aspinwall. Chauncey and stephens plunged how
ever, and with the forces in their employ pushed
with marvellous energy and most consummate
ability the gigantic task Of building railroad
The swamp was not conquered by them 1t was
simply penetrated, but penetrated in such way as
10 make a road capable Of standing for all time.
il was penetrated by means Of fills. bridges and
cuts the trail followed curving with remarkable
frequency. but advancing and ever nearer to
the Pacific side Of the isthmus.
From Bohio 10 Panama the work easier,
# was through higher and dryer ground 1t was
Of magnitude. however. and it was executed
in manner deserving OF the highest praise The
backbone OF the isthmus-the Csrdilleras Noun
tains-had to be broken. and the Job was done so
successfully that the highest point the railroad
Culebra, is only 252 feet above level. In
accomplishing this result. and thereby making
road OF easy grades, the plan OF following wind
ing route adopted. Tunneling was thus
avoided, and the road while extremely tortuous
IS presenting few operating problems In re-
cent years many OF the curves have been reduced
and the road rebuilt with heavier rails and stone
ballast; but even the older portion It shows an
excellent physical condition The many problems
that had to be overcome by the pioneers Of rail-
road construction on the isthmus cannot now be
accurately understood. These men put a rail-
road through unknown and uninhabited Jungle;
to-day the road runs through the same jungle. but
the utter desolation Of il all has been relieved
squalidy, il is true, but. nevertheless, relieved
by villages. remnants Of the active canal
work In its first days earthquakes were much
dreaded. and occasional shaft OF concrete,
standing in solitude amid the tropical vegetation.
shows the scheme resorted 10 TO procure stable
hanging for telegraph wires. The bridges on the
line OF iron-formerly stone was used
and in numerous other details there is evidence
that the departures from original ideas have been
justified by experience
ADVANTAGES TO THE UNITED STATES.
Formerly the road straight to the water
front IN the city of Panama, where a large dock
built. Then all its traffic on the Pacific side
had TO be handled by OF lighters. In these
road invested considerable sums OF
money all Of which is now idle: for the
Tninals at La Boca make Tightening unnecessary.
room being afforded the new steel pier al La
Boca for handling many three ships at a
tine This Improvement, only recently completed,
IS characteristic Of the general state OF the road
which won for II from the American Canal Com
mission valuation of G.oo0,9oo and warmest
praise for its superb physical condition. The road
Is in perfect operating condition and ready 10 be
employed shortest notice for furthering active
canal work. This makes the property invaluable
the United States. and gives TO this route over
the Nicaragaan route for a canal an advantage
difficult 20 estimate. Here the railroad touches
every point Of the proposed canal In Nicaragua
the work OF building railroad would have to pre-
cede 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 s4o.0o0O00 shall be paid TO the
New Panama Canal Company the United States
viii enter into possession of the railroad. Under
the concession granted Aspinwall, Stephens and
chauncey. the road proposed by them was given
a monopoly over transisthmian traffic The con-
cession granted the Panama Canal Company re-
CURED institution. should its interests ever
cash with those OF the railroad, 10 make terms
with the latter The interests OF the two concerns
oid clash, and NJ. Ferdinand de Lesseps settled
with the railroad company by executing the pur-
chase Of a majority Of its stock The property
xil therefore go to the United States along with
the other properties to get in return Tor
s0so0eo 70 be paid the New Panama Canal
Company. As there is certain 10 be no cessation
but instead, an immense Improvement, In trans
isthman traffic during the time the canal is being
constructed 81 VIII be seen that she'll acquire a
revenue producer. The railroad pays annually
,2sooo0 as a rental for its concession Since active
work or the canal was stopped its revenues