The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-09-19

Inches. so that all locomotives and cars
used on the Panama railroad have to
be specially built with wheels set far
ther apart.
The total cost had been $7.407 .553 or
about Sl5S.000 mile. Dividends were
paid every year from 1853 to 1892 and
from 1901 to 1908 when it became
United States property.
The great prosperity of the railroad
suffered Il serious setback with the
completion of the California overland
railroad in 1869 Thenceforward the
valuable bullion shipments avoided
Panama. as well ns passenger and
FREIGHT business. The business shows
steady decline from that year.
Colombia turned to the French after
negninting fruitlessly with the United
States over Il canal concession. and
the company headed by NJ. de Lesseps
was granted right of way. 1t
bought the road for S1S,004 600 In 1881,
paying considerably more than it was
worth or $3.50 share for siSty-eight
sevpntiethS Of the capital stock.
The French neglected the CONNER
rinl possibilities even more than the
American owners had. though diri-
dpnds were earned during the life of
the first company. When the United
States bought the interests Of the
French company in 1904 the Panama
railroad was one of the properties
transferred 1t was sadly run down.
but under the Americans 1t was made
over into modernly equipped and OPP
Grated system, though Subordinated as
Il commercial proposition to the con
structlon of the canal.
Passenger rates dropped from $50
one way ticket in 1875 to $40 under
the Americans today. The trip from
Colon to Panama Is two hours and a
| half, and the coaches are painted vel
! low because that color best stands the
sthman climate.
The plans for the canal as adopted
by the Americans in 1906 played havoc
with the right Of way of the railroad
so in June, 1907. the work of relocat-
ing it back among the hills out Of
| reach of Gatun lake was begun. After
| five years work, or as long as 1t re-
gurpd to build the original line In
1909. the new line was opened to
traffic in 1912
This twentieth century Panama rail-
road has cost $0000.O00, as compared
with the cost of the nineteenth CEN
tury road, $7,000,000. an increase Of
| $2.0OO.000 after lapse of sixty years.
The dream of Il pan-Americnn rail-
road has been entertained ever since
steam locomotion came into use. When
several gaps are filled in there will be
railroad communication through Mex
leo. Guatemala and Nicaragua to Costa
| Rica, which adjoins Panama. The re-
public of Panama has been planning
an interior railroad system that would
be part of an all rail route from the
| United States to the canal. Before
many years 1t is likely that a bridge
will span the canal in railroad sys
TEN that reaches from Canada through
Panama to the mainland of South
America. thence down the west coast
to Valparaiso.
Ferdinand de Lesseps and his Pana-
ma career vindicate strikingly the
truth of the adage that nothing sue
cccds like success. The French Pana
| mn Canal compnnv WAS HOn ted on the
strength of his achievement in cutting
il sea level passage from the Mediter
rNnean to the Red sea, thus making an
island of Africa.
When he turned his attention to Pan
anna as new field for glory the
French people enthusiastically applaud
ed his audacity and. what is more sig
nifcant and substantial, invested, first