The chronicle=news., 1914-08-17

dred years ago. made this remark
able prophecy: 1T is absolutely in
dispensable that the United States
effect = passage from the Mexican
Gulf to the Pacific ocean. and l am
certain they will do it
First decision to build: In 1914,
just 100 years ago, the Spanish gov
ernment by decree entered upon the
construction of an Isthmian canal,
but the idea was blocked because
the Central American colonies sue
ceeded In throwing off the Spanish
yoke.
First French interests came in
1925. when President Bolivar of the
Republic of New Granada gave a
franchise for a canal at Panama to q
Frenchman. Baron Thierry, who
failed to raise the required capital.
First action taken by the United
States: In 1895. as the result of a
resolution introduced in the Senate
by Henry Clay. Charles B'ddle was
sent by President jackson to visit
the isthmus and report on the var
ious canal routes proposed.
First report to the United States
Government: BY Biddle in 1896. IA
vorinS the Panama route. He had
been so struck with 1t that he re-
turned to the United States without
examining the Nicaraguan. Darien
or Tehauntepec routes. No action
followed.
First railroad built. from 1S49 to
1855. more than half as long a time
as has been taken to build the pres
ent canal. Fever killed so many
thousands that 1t was said laborer
was buried under every sleeper on
the Panama road.
First actual canal building be-
gun: In 1878 the Universal Inter-
oceanic Canal Company incorporat-
ed in Paris by Ferdinsnd de Lesseps,
who had built the Suez Canal.
First blast on Culebra Hill. now
Culebra cut, on January 10. 1850. by
the De Lesseps Company. in the
presence OF a distinguished gather
ing.
First failure: In 1887 the impos-
of digging a sea-level canal
within the estimated 12 years and |
at the estimated cost of $240.00O,-I
900 became apparent. More than
$260,O0O,000 had already been
spent. The COMPANY went into
First work on a lock canal vas
taken up by the New Panama canal
company in 1894, which practically
ceased operations after five years
worx.
First digging by Americans. May
I. 1904, taking over the rights and |
property Of the French canal COM
oany, and obtaining necessary con-
,ession from the Republic of Pana-
ma.
First union of Atlantic and Pacific
waters: Blowing up of the Gamboa
bike, when President Wilson
ouched an electric button in Wash
ngton. October 10, 1913.
First boat of any kind to make
passage: A nameless
mud scow of the Panama railroad.
which passed from the Pacific en-
france to Culebra cut in November.
1918. and was sent to the Atlantic
entrance in December. 1913.
First vessel to steam through
anal: The crane boat, Alexander
Ia Valley. an old French boat OF
200 tons. which passed from the
to the Pacific on January I.
1914
First man to swim through the
anal was alfred Brown, an Ameri-
an. who swan from Gatun Locks to
3alboa. a distance OF thirty miles on
November "a last in is hours. 35
minutes actual swimming time.
First vessel to pass completely |
lround South America by way of the
anal was the tug Reliance, Captain
R. c. Thompson. which sailed from
'olon. February IL, 1912. voyaged \
L0.50O miles around South America 4
md returned to the Atlantic Ocean
through Gatun locks, February first