The Key of the Pacific

I would here acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. Menocal, the Chief Engineer of the Construction Company for valuable information supplied, and for the assistance he gave me in prosecuting my studies in Nicaragua. To the proprietors of "The Graphic" my thanks are due for permission to reproduce some twenty of the numerous illustrations given in the book. I must also record here the courtesy and attention received by me, in a pleasant journey to and from Central America, at the hands of the officials and officers of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, especially its Secretary, Mr. J. M. Lloyd.

A. R. C.

LONDON:

October 31st, 1895.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE THREE MAIN SCHEMES.

Origin of Panama railroad-Survey of Nicaragua route-Three
well-defined schemes-The Panama Canal-Paris Congress of
1879-Cessation of work in 1889-The Compagnie Nouvelle-
Conclusions regarding Panama-Visit to, and discussion of,
Panama Canal-Tehuantepec ship-railway-Eads-Concession
from Mexico Nicaragua route-U.S. Report of 1876-
Mr. Menocal and canal.

PAGES

I-19

CHAPTER II.

THE CANAL ROUTE, CONCESSIONS AND COMPANIES.

Outline of route-The lake The Eastern Section-The San

Juan river-The rapids-The San Carlos-The San Francisco-

Upper and lower route-Western Section-Concession from

Nicaragua and final survey-The Maritime Canal Company-

The Construction Company-Cessation of Construction Com-

pany and Re-construction

CHAPTER III.

THE QUESTION OF GUARANTEE.

20-43

Senate bill passed-Character of Senate bill-Significant amend-

ment-U.S. Commission to report on canal-Clayton-Bulwer

treaty-Discussion of Question of Guarantee in Congress-

Question of Guarantee considered—Laisser faire versus direct

intervention of State-Renaissance of inland navigation-

Objects of the bill-Project must be under auspices of U.S.

Government

44-55

CHAPTER IV.

THE ENGINEERING PROBLEM.—PART I.

The Excavations and Divide cuts-The "Great Divide ”—Major

Dutton on the "Great Divide "-Discussion of question-

Embankments and dams-The Ochoa dam-Major Dutton

on Ochoa dam-Discussion of dam problem-The Deseado

Swamp The La Flor dam-Drainage-Lockage-Locks-

Cross Sections-Harbours at Greytown and Brito.

PAGES

56—111

CHAPTER V.

THE ENGINEERING PROBLEM.-PART II.

Climate Rainfall - Labour question-Volcanoes and earth-

quakes Time of transit-Cost of canal-Discussion of

estimates-Question of maintenance-Time for completion of

canal-Question of forfeiture of canal concession-Materials

for construction-Comparison with Suez-The Suez Canal ;

traffic, revenue, engineering problem, condemned by English

engineers and politicians-Purchase of Sucz Canal shares by

England-General conclusions
112-143

CHAPTER VI.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INTER-OCEANIC PROJECTS.

1501-1800.

The "Secret of the Strait "-Rodrigo Bastidas-Columbus-
Solis and Pinzon-Ojeda─Nuñez de Balboa first to discover
Pacific-Character and exploits of Balboa-Gil Gonzalez
Davila-Derivation of Nicaragua-Pedrarias Davila-Cortes
and the search for the Strait-Saavedra-Estete-Andagoya-
Gomara's four routes-Batista Antonelli-The Buccaneers-
David's expedition-L'Olonnais-Paterson's Scots Settlement
-William Paterson-Cramer and Corral, Yzasi and Alexandre
-Nelson's Expedition-Galisteo-La Bastide..

144-161

CHAPTER VII.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INTER-OCEANIC PROJECTS.

1800-1884.

PAGES

Humboldt on inter-oceanic communication-Goethe's views―

Congress of Panama - Werweer, Thierry, and Bolivar,

Morazan-The "dreamer of Ham" and the Canale Napoleone

de Nicaragua-Occupation of San Juan del Norte and

Granada-The Clayton-Bulwer treaty-Vanderbilt's transit

company and proposed canal-Félix Belly-U.S. expedition of

1872 The Paris Congress of 1879-The Frelinghuysen