The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-08-14
(By Associated Press.)

l
commerce next Saturday, it will crown
a series of more than score of in
teresting points in the history of the
isthmus. AS briefly told they are:
First Crossing of the Isthmus-By
Balboa, who, on September 25,- 1913,
much to his surprise found himself
gazing upon the Pacific Ocean after
20 days journey ON foot
First Ship 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 Isthmus
The spoils of conquest sent back to
Spain from Peru, which became so
heavy that highways paved with
stone We're laid for the pack trains.
First Thought of Canal-Credited
to Savadera, Spanish engineer, one
of Balboa followers, who was about
to forward his plans to King Charles
v of Spain, when the latter died
First Surveys for a Canal-In 1881
by Spanish engineers who deemed the
project impossible of accomplishment.
First Official Decision on Canal
Project-By King Phillip H., in 1920,
adversely after referring the matter
to the Dominican friars. The latter
desiring to obey the kings orders, but
unable to report intelligently, suggest
ed 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 cen
turtles.
First British Interest-In latter part
of the 18th century, when the eXpedi-
ton launched by William Paterson,
founder of the Bank of England, at
tempted to found community on the
Isthmus of Darien, south of the pres
ent Panama, with the ultimate inten-
ton of establishing a trans-isthmian
route. The plan proved an utter fail
ure. Many other British surveys fol-
lowed in later years.
he h,tr troy
years ago, made this remarkable
prophecy: at is absolutely indespen-
sibe that the United States effect a
passage from the Mexican Gulf to the
Pacific ocean, and I am certain they
will do it."
First Decision to Build-In 1914,
just 100 years ago, the Spanish govern
ment by decree entered upon the con-
struction of an Isthmian canal, but
the idea was blocked because the Cen
| trail 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 fran
chise for a canal at Panama to a
Frenchman, Baron Thierry, who failed
to raise the required capital.
First Action by the United States
In 1885, as the result of resolution
introduced in the Senate by Henry
Clay, Charles Biddle was sent by Pres
ident Jackson to visit the isthmus and
report on the various canal routes
proposed.
First Report to the United States
Government-By Biddle in 1886, favor
ing the Panama route. He had beer
so struck with it that he returned te
the United States without examining
the Nicaraguan, Darien of Tehaunte
pee routes. No action followed.
First Railroad BuiTt-From 1S49 te
1856, more than half as long a time
as has been taken to build the presen
canal. Fever killed so many thou
sands that it was said laborer was
buried under every sleeper on TIM
Panama road
First Actual Canal Building Begun
I'm 1873 the Universal Interoceani'
Canal Company Incorporated in Pari'
by Ferdinand de Lesseps who hat
built the Suez Canal.
First Blast-On Culebra HILL nov
Culebra Cut, on January 10, 1880, D!
the De Lesseps Company, In the pres
ence of distinguished gathering.
| First Failure 1887 the impossl
bility of digging sea-level canal with
in the estimated II years and at tn
estimated cost of $240,0o0,O0O becam
apparent. More than $26O,OOO,oO0 ha'
already been spent. The compan'
| went into bankruptcy.
First Work on Lock Canai-Wa
III 4oIxony -, h., tba Now Panama cana