The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-08-13
INTERESTING POINTS
IN CANAL HISTORY
Beginning with First Crossing Of Pan
ANA Isthmus by Balboa and the
Discovery Of the Pacific
Ocean.

/
the Panama canal is opened to worlds
commerce next Saturday, ii will crown
series OF more than score of inter
esting points in the history of the 18th
mus. AS briefly told they are:
First crossing of the isthmus BY Bal
boa, who, on Sept. 25, 1913, much TO his
surprise found himself gazing upon the
Pacific ocean after % days journey on
| foot.
First ships to cross the isthmus; In
1914, Balboa and his men carried two
small ships, piecemeal, across the 18TH
mus, intending to use them for further
exploration in the Pacific.
First settlement of old Panama, in
1917, to become known later for time
as the richest city in the world,
First regular traffic across the 18TH
mus: The spoiIs of conquest sent back
to Spain from Peru, which became so
heavy that highways paved with stone
were laid for the pack trains.
First thought of canal; Credited to
Savadera, Spanish engineer, one of
Balboa's followers, who was about to
forward his plans TO King Charles ".
Iof Spain when tbs latter died.
I Fist surveys for a canal: In 1881 by
Spanish engineers who deemed the pro
ect impossible of accomplishment.
First official decision on canal project;
BY King Phillip H., in 1920 adversely
after referring the matter to the domin-
| lean friars. The latter, desiring to obey
/ the kings orders, but unable TO report
intelligently. suggested that the project
was sacreligious They quoted from the
Bible: "What God hath joined together,
let no man put asunder." Accordingly
the project was put on the shelf for
three centuries.
First British interest in latter part
of 18th century when the expedition
launched BY William Paterson, founder
of the Bank of England. attempted to
found community on the Isthmus of
Darien. south of the present Panama,
with the ultimate intention of estab-
fishing a trans-isthmian route. The
plan proved an utter failure. Many
other British surveys followed in later
years.
The German poet Goethe, 100 years
ago made this remarkable prophecy, 1T
is absolutely indispensable that the
United States effect passage from the
Mexican gulf to the Pacific ocean, and !
am certain they will do it."
! First decision to build In 1914. Just
100 years ago. the Spanish government
by decree entered upon the construction
OF the isthmian canal. but the idea was
blocked because the Central American
colonies succeeded in throwing off the
Spanish yoke.
! First French interests came in 1925.
when President Bolivar OF the republic
| of New Granada gave franchise for a
canal at Panama TO a Frenehman. Bar
on Thierry, who failed to raise the re-
lquired capital
First action by the United States: In
| 1875, as the result of resolution in.
troduced 10 the Senate by Henry Clay
Charles Biddle was sent by President
Jackson to visit the isthmus and report
on the various canal routes proposed.
First report to the United States gov
eminent: BY Biddle in 1896, favoring
the Panama route. He had been so
struck with it that he returned to the
United States without examining the
Nicaragnan, Darien or Tehuantecpec
routes No action followed.
First railroad built, from lS49 to 1880,
more than half as long a time as has
been taken to build the present canal.
Fever killed so many thousands that it
was said laborer was buried under
every sleeper on the Panama road.
First actual canal building begun: In
1878 the Universal Interoeeanic Canal
Co incorporated in Parisby Ferdinand
de Lesseps. who had built the Suez ca
nal.
First blast on Culebra hill, now CUE
bra cut. on Jan. 10, 1880, by the DE
Iesseps company. in the presence Of a
distinguished gathering.
First failure; in 1887 the impossible
| ity of digging sea-level canal within
the estimated II years and at the esti-
mated cost of S240,000,000 became APP
parent. More than s260,0O0,000 had al
ready been spent. The company went
into bankruptcy.
First work on a lock canal was taken
up by the New Panama Canal Co. in
1861 Milcu piathiNHiig SteD'N "fN'''NA
after five years work.
First digging by Americans. May 4,
I9O4-taking over the rights and prop
ert1 of the French canal company, and
obtaining necessary concession from the
republic OF Panama.
First boat of any kind to make trans
isthmian passage: A nameless mud
scow OF the Panama railroad, which
passed from the Pacific entrance to Guile
bra cut in November, 1918, and was sent
TO the Atlantic entrance in December,
1918.
First vessel to steam through canal:
The crane boat. Alexander LaValley, an
old French boat of | 200 tons, which
passed from the Atlantic TO the Pacific
on Jan. Z, 1914.
First man to swim through the canal
was Alfred Brown, an American, who
swan from Gatun locks to Balboa,
distance of 80 miles on Nov. "a last. in
I6 hours. IS minutes actual swimming
time.
First vessel to pass completely around
South America by way of the canal was
the tug Reliance. Captain R. C. Thomp-
son. which sailed from Colon Feb. ii,
1912. voyaged 1880 miles around South
America and returned to the Atlantic
a Tel 4 Last